Katikati's Craig Ward is preparing to battle it out next month for the national title of Young Grower of the Year 2015.

The technical advisor from kiwifruit company Apata Group Limited triumphed over seven other local young fruit growers to ­be crowned the Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower 2015 in June.

Craig Ward of Katikati will represent the Bay of Plenty at the 2015 Young Grower of the Year title in Christchurch in August. Photo: Supplied.

He will be looking to impress the national judges as he goes up against three other fruit growers and one vegetable grower for the national title, during the final, run by Horticulture New Zealand in Christchurch on August 13.

Craig and the young fruit grower finalists from Otago, Nelson and Hawke's Bay will also be competing for the Young Fruit Grower of the Year 2015 title.

'Once again, the competition has attracted an incredible degree of talent,” says Julian Raine, President of Horticulture New Zealand.

'We can't wait to see the range of skills and knowledge the competitors will bring to this year's final.

'Now in its seventh year, the Young Grower of the Year competition continues to be about supporting young people in the horticulture industry and recognising their exceptional abilities.

'It gives us huge confidence in the future of the industry and no matter what the outcome, each finalist has such a promising career ahead of them.

'We are looking forward to seeing what they do on the day.”

Four regional Young Fruit Grower winners and the national Young Vegetable Grower 2015 will face each other in the final. They are:

• Nelson Young Fruit Grower 2015: Canaan Balck, Block Manager at Hoddy's Orchard (Waimea Plains).
• Young Vegetable Grower 2015: Hamish Gates, Carrot Washline Supervisor at AS Wilcox & Sons (Pukekohe).
• Hawke's Bay Young Fruit Grower 2015: Andrew Kearney, Assistant Manager, Orchard Operations and Development at T&G Pipfruit (Hastings).
• Otago Young Fruit Grower 2015: James Huffadine, Site Manager at Parkburn Management (Cromwell).

The final will see the competitors go head-to-head in a series of practical and theoretical challenges, designed to replicate those faced in an orchard or on-farm working environment.

The finalists also take part in a leadership panel-discussion, before delivering a speech in front of the judges at a dinner event, where the winner is announced.

Young Grower of the Year 2014, Patrick Malley, who also won the Bay of Plenty title last year, says the competition is a fantastic way to form relationships within the industry.

'The competitors are seen as future leaders in the industry,” explains Patrick, 'so the opportunity to interact with those currently leading the way in horticulture is immensely valuable.

'I also really enjoyed meeting the other competitors who, since the competition, have really become my colleagues and peers in driving the industry.

'The organisers do an exceptional job of making each year's competition unique. I can't wait to see what this years' finalists will show us.”

The final of Young Grower of the Year will take place at Rydges Latimer, in Christchurch on August 13.