Kiwifruit orchard manager Matthew Greenbank was named Bay of Plenty Young Fruitgrower of the Year at an awards dinner at Baypark Conference Centre on Wednesday evening.
The 25 year old, who works for DMS Progrowers, manages approximately 45 hectares of kiwifruit orchards in the Te Puna and Tauranga areas.

Bay of Plenty Young Fruitgrower of the Year Matthew Greenbank.

Matthew fought off close competition to take the title, according to New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc. CEO Mike Chapman.
He won the health and safety, tractors and implements, hortisports, quiz sections and tied with Keiran Harvey in computing and accounting.

Bay of Plenty Young Fruitgrower of the Year Matthew Greenbank (centre) with runner-up Clint Wall (left) and third place getter Andrew Hill.

Second place winner Clint Wall, who works for KSL and is based in Te Puke, won the avocado grading and speech sections. Third place went to Corogrow Kiwifruit Ltd orchard manager Andrew Hill, who works on orchards in Te Puke and Paengaroa. Andrew won the pests and diseases and agrichemicals sections.
This is the third year Matthew has entered the competition. He placed second last.

Bay of Plenty Young Fruitgrower of the Year contestants: (front) Andrew Hill, Keiran Harvey and Miguel Perterle; (back) Matthew Greenbank, Daniel Green and Clint Wall.

DMS Progrowers manager - client services Bruce Macdonald says Matthew did a very good job in the competition, which saw six contestants compete in a day of challenges relating to computing and accounting, employment relations, health and safety, tractors and implements, pests and diseases, agrichemicals, and avocado grading. Contestants also took part in a fun hortisports competition.
'We've seen tremendous growth in Matt in the last few years and his involvement in the competition has been part of that,” says Bruce.
The other contestants were Daniel Green and Miguel Perterle.
The event was sponsored by ZESPRI International, Satara Co-operative, Farmlands Trading Society, Horticulture New Zealand, Radio Network ZM 98.8 FM, Te Puke, Tauranga and Katikati Fruitgrower Associations, ACC, Aongatete Coolstores, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, Bennett Gibson Group, Department of Labour, Fruition Horticulture, Massey University, NZ Horticulture Industry Training Organisation, NZ Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated, R&R Tractors.

Matthew Greenbank and Daniel Green.

Clint Wall and Andrew Hill.

Bay of Plenty high school students and industry representatives watch the contestants competing.

Clint Wall and Andrew Hill.

Bay of Plenty high school students compete in their own junior hortisports competition.

Bay of Plenty high school students try avocado grading.

More junior hortisports action.