The Hayward Medal judging panel is once again asking the kiwifruit industry to nominate their finest leaders for the prestigious 2017 award.
The kiwifruit Industry Advisory Council (IAC) established the pan-industry Fresh Carriers Hayward Medal in 2012 to honour the people who set up and led the industry to become New Zealand's largest horticultural export.
IAC chairman Paul Jones explains the New Zealand industry is on track to more than double sales to $4.5 billion by 2025 and he's asking people right across the industry to nominate those people who've been a key part of this success.
"The industry gala dinner this year, where the medal will be presented, marks the 20th anniversary of the Zespri brand, so this is a pretty special award for us.
We're calling on our colleagues to nominate the people they think have made a defining contribution right across the fields of leadership, innovation and technology to the industry success we see today, 20 years on from setting up our world-class brand.