Two Bay of Plenty kiwifruit growers with wide experience in the industry, have been elected to the Horticulture New Zealand Board.

John Cook and Mike Smith begin their term on the board at the HortNZ annual general meeting in Rotorua on July 28.

John Cook, left, and Mike Smith.

John Cook has an extensive background in agriculture and horticulture, owning both a dairy and sheep farm, and has worked on and had investments in pipfruit, summerfruit and kiwifruit businesses in Australia and New Zealand.

John is a member of Zespri's industry governance development programme, new variety steering group, and Green 14 product development group, and a member and founder of the ZesprI ‘BIGTIK' committee (Bringing Innovative Growers Technology in Kiwifruit.

John has a diploma in agriculture from Lincoln University and was a recipient of a Kellogg Rural Leadership Scholarship.

Mike Smith has been in the kiwifruit business for more than 20 years, and has a background in dairy farming and the stock and station industry. He is an alumni of the HortNZ Leadership Programme, a member of the New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc Forum and the kiwifruit industry representative to the Horticulture Industry Forum.

Mike is also chair of the Green Kiwifruit Growers Association and a member of the Bay of Plenty Young Fruitgrower Committee.