Six of the region's best young fruit growers vie for the title of Bay of Plenty Young Fruitgrower of the Year at Baypark Conference Centre on Wednesday night.
Kiwifruit orchard managers Matthew Greenbank, Keiran Harvey, Clint Wall, Andrew Hill, Daniel Green and Miguel Perterle – who also works in the pipfruit industry – spent today competing in a series of challenges at Baypark before presenting a final round speech at the awards ceremony this evening.

Four of the six Bay of Plenty Young Fruitgrower of the Year contestants with sponsors of the Young Grower of the Year competition: (front) Matthew Greenbank, Keiran Harvey, Horticulture New Zealand director Ru Collin; (back) Clint Wall, Andrew Hill and Zespri CEO Lain Jager.

Approximately 150 people from throughout the horticulture industry will be present at the awards. Zespri CEO Lain Jager will join New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated's Neil Trebilco to judge the speeches, which will be on the topic ‘The kiwifruit industry's invaluable single point of entry structure'. Lain will also provide a keynote speech.
Today's events included challenges on computing and accounting, employment relations, tractors and implements, pests and diseases, agrichemicals, and avocado grading. Contestants also took part in a fun hortisports competition, watched by high school students who were taking part in the ICEline Cool Careers day organised by Horticulture New Zealand and Priority One.

Check SunLive on Thursday morning for results from the night.