Listen: Zespri chair Peter McBride wins horticulture's Bledisloe Cup

Zespri Chairman and winner for the Bledisloe Cup for Horticulture, Peter McBride. Photo / John Borren

Mention the Bledisloe Cup and people generally think of rugby, but there is also a Bledisloe Cup for horticulture.

This year's recipient is the Chairman of Zespri, Peter McBride. He spoke to The Country's Jamie Mackay about the award, which he received at the Horticulture Conference 2018 last night.

"It's a great honour to be recognised and it's very humbling, it takes a bit of time to sink in," says McBride.

Very similar to the famous rugby Bledisloe Cup, horticulture's version was one of three cups Lord Bledisloe presented to New Zealand in 1931, the third cup is for Māori farming, the Ahuwhenua Trophy.

Listen below:

Horticulture New Zealand President Julian Raine has said the Bledisloe cup celebrates, "a person who has made an outstanding and meritorious contribution to the New Zealand horticulture industry, and Peter McBride certainly epitomises that," pointing out that McBride has "fought hard for horticulture and is a key interface between growers, industry and the Government.

Along with his work for the kiwifruit industry, Peter McBride has had an equally long history of service to charitable organisations. He was a former director of Longview Charitable Trust Board (Dairy) in the Waikato and was also a Director of Centrefarm Aboriginal Horticulture.

Also in today's interview: Peter McBride addresses the rumour he has been asked to run for Fonterra's board of directors.