Benjamin James beat off tough competition from nine other Hastings and Napier finalists to win the Hawke's Bay Young Fruit Grower competition for 2012.
Mr James, 27, works as an assistant crop manager with Mr Apple NZ. He won a $1000 cash prize and a trip to Nelson, where he will visit a number of South Island apple growers and packing operators.
Second place went to Jamie Kershaw, 27, crop manager with Mr Apple. Shane Flynn, 23, crop manager with Crasborns, Hastings was placed third. Vee Puna, 27, supervisor with Orchard Investments, Napier, won the Best Speech award.
This year's competition received a record number of entries including three women, the largest number in the event's history.
Mr James will now compete for the Young Grower of the Year title at the national competition, held at the Horticulture New Zealand Conference in July.