Whangarei's Patrick Malley is will be representing the Bay of Plenty when he competes for the 2014 Young Grower of the Year title on August 14.

Patrick, 30, is the contracting manager/director at Onyx Capital kiwifruit and avocado orchard in Maungatapere and won the Bay of Plenty Young Grower title in June.

Patrick Malley, from Whangarei, will represent the Bay of Plenty at the Young Grower of the Year 2014 finals in Christchurch on August 14.

'The support I've had from the kiwifruit and avocado industries in the Bay of Plenty and Northland since that win has been fantastic and I'm really looking forward to the national finals,” says Patrick.

He was eligible to enter the contest because there is no young fruit grower event in his region.

Patrick says his win has added renewed interest in establishing a Northland young grower event.

'New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc is keen to hold some of its young leaders' forums in Northland which will help. The problem here is that the industry is quite spread out in the region which stretches from Pukekohe in the south to Kerikeri north.

Patrick has been practicing his public speaking skills in preparation for the national finals in Christchurch but says it's not an easy event to prepare for because 'anything can be put before you – much like what happens in your day to day work in the industry”.

Patrick will go up against three other competitors for the national title in the final, run by Horticulture New Zealand in Christchurch on August 14.

He will also compete against the two other young fruit grower finalists from Hawke's Bay and Nelson for the Young Fruit Grower of the Year 2014 title, at the same time.

During the final, contestants will face a series of practical and theoretical challenges, designed to replicate those faced in an orchard or on-farm working environment.

The finalists will then deliver a speech in front of the judges at a dinner event, before the winner is announced.

Three regional Young Fruit Grower winners and the national Young Vegetable Grower 2014 will face each other in the final, they are:

• Nelson Young Fruit Grower 2014 - Steve Thomas, Kiwifruit New Variety Manager and Coolstore Manager for Thomas Bros (Riwaka)
• Young Vegetable Grower 2014 - Brett Parker, Assistant Crop Manager for Hinemoa Quality Producers (Pukekawa)
• Hawke's Bay Young Fruit Grower 2014 - Graeme Hodges, Orchard Manager at Rutherglen Orchard (Havelock North)
• Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower 2014 - Patrick Malley, contracting manager/director at Onyx Capital kiwifruit and avocado orchard in Maungatapere (Northland).