Exceptional skills bode well for the future

Bay of Plenty technical lab manager Phoebe Scherer has won the coveted 2025 Young Grower national title. Scherer works for Apata in Tauranga and is also the Bay of Plenty regional champion.

This year’s finalists, from left: Sam Carter, Jack Haddon, Amelia Marsden, Rhiannon Morrell, Lydia Goodman, Phoebe Scherer and Steen Rink.

The 29-year-old recently competed against six other regional winners in a series of challenges at Lincoln University in Christchurch. Runner up was Steven Rink, the Canterbury regional champion, who is a production manager for Oakley’s Premium Fresh Vegetables in Southbridge. Third spot went to Amelia Marsden, representing Nelson, who is a kiwifruit manager at Willisbrook Orchards in Brightwater.

The seven finalists competed in a series of practical and theoretical horticulture modules, testing their vegetable and fruit-growing knowledge and skills needed to be successful growers.

Scherer says she thoroughly enjoyed stepping up to the many challenges. “The science and technical modules were my ‘safe space’ but others I found much more challenging, particularly the machinery section. We had to drive a big tractor along a GPS line. It was the biggest piece of equipment I have ever stepped into but we were very well supported.

“It was a very high calibre field of competitors and everyone did so well. I could not have asked for a better cohort to have shared such a great experience with. In some ways, it didn’t feel as if we were competing because we were all so supportive of one another—it was more like being among friends, all going out there to take on the challenges and do our very best.”

Scherer gained an evolutionary biology degree and did an OE before taking a job in the kiwifruit industry in Tauranga seven years ago. That led to a laboratory job and ongoing career progression. She joined Apata, a specialist service provider for New Zealand kiwifruit and avocado growers, last year.

The Young Grower competition celebrates the success of young people in the industry as well as encouraging others to consider a career in horticulture.

Scherer also won the Best Technical award and Steven Rink the Best Innovation award. Lydia Goodman, representing Central Otago, won the Outstanding Leadership Award. Goodman is assistant orchard manager at Central Orchard Management and Packing Manager at CentralPac.

Regional organisers host and run the regional competitions independently, with Horticulture New Zealand hosting the final in a different part of the country each year. Entry is open to both commercial fruit and vegetable growers from across the regions, up to the age of 30.

HortNZ chair Bernadine Guilleux says the regional and national competitions play an important role in raising awareness about the many career and personal development opportunities across the horticulture sector.

“The exceptional skills we once again saw in all our finalists, and the support, passion and enthusiasm from participants, organisers and supporters really sums up the spirit of the horticulture sector.”

HortNZ chief executive Kate Scott says it’s an exciting time for the industry as it focuses on an ambitious goal to double the farmgate value of horticulture in NZ.

“We need many more highly skilled young people, like our finalists, who want to build rewarding careers in jobs they really enjoy, take advantage of the many opportunities for professional development and be prepared to step up as the leaders of the future.

“There are many opportunities, from crop management and machinery operation to soil science, quality control and marketing and much more. We are always very happy to hear from young people who would like to know more about the range of options the industry offers.”

Fellow 2025 finalists were:

Gisborne: Rhiannon Morrell, a member of the technical team for apples for Craigmore Sustainables.

Hawke’s Bay: Sam Carter, from Havelock North, assistant manager for T&G’s Pakowhai Sector.

Pukekohe: Crop manager Jack Haddon who oversees the cauliflower and cabbage operation for Balle Brothers.