Reporoa grower among New Zealand's best

New Zealand's Young Vegetable Grower of 2017 runner up Chris Cowie (left) and T&G's Jason Greene, Grower Manager, Covered Crops. Photo/Jo Boyd

A man from T&G in Reporoa has placed runner up in New Zealand's Young Vegetable Grower of 2017.

Chris Cowie, 26, says it was his first time taking part in the competition, which showcases and celebrates the industry's top young talent.

The overall winner competes against other regional winners at the annual Young Grower of The Year final.

Despite coming a very close second, Chris did not leave empty handed, winning the best business category, and taking home $500 and invaluable lessons from the experience - leaving him confident about competing again next year.

"It was a tough battle against some great young growers from around New Zealand," he says.

"I took some key learnings from the competition and will be stepping up my preparation to compete again next year."

Chris says it was cool to mix with different industry people, because in Reporoa there were not many other growers.

He says parts competition he found tough were those around seeds and fertilisers, as he does not deal with that area of horticulture.

Chris says at university he was studying geology, but when he got a job at a nursery in Hamilton while studying he enjoyed it so much he carried on.

He is looking forward to competing again next year.

"I think I learnt a lot from this experience that can be put into next year and hopefully will win it."

As one of six competitors, Chris was judged on a series of practical and theoretical exercises designed to test the skills needed to run a successful vegetable growing business.

These included demonstrating his knowledge of agri-chemicals, successfully completing finance and marketing exercises, and operating a tractor.

"Chris is a great representative of T&G. He's passionate about the industry, his role within it and producing a great product for our customers," says Jason Greene, grower manager, covered crops.

"We're on a journey to consistently deliver the highest quality fresh produce to the world, and our ability to attract world class growers like Chris, who is one of the best young vegetable growers in the country, puts us in good stead to achieve our goal."

"We'll definitely be supporting his development as he prepares to compete again in 2018."