A Whangarei orchardist is the 2014 Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower of the Year after a day-long contest in Tauranga so close entrants had to deliver a second speech at last night's awards dinner to find the winner.

Patrick Malley, who is contracting manager and a director of his family's business Onyx Capital Limited of Whangarei, was eligible to enter the contest because there is no young fruit grower event in his region.

Patrick Malley sorting signs in the agrichemical safety test to put on a chemical shed.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy with Patrick Malley of Whangarei, winner of the 2014 Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower of the Year.

The 30-year-old narrowly defeated Chris Clement, 27, operations advisor for Kiwifruit Vine Health and second runner-up Simon Bowker, 27, from Katikati's Hume Pack and Cool, to take the title.

Craig Ward, 25, technical advisor with Apata Group Limited and the contest's first female entrant for four years, Samantha Mansell, 25, who is Line Quality Manager for Eastpack of Te Puke, were not far behind the winners at the end of eight practical, theory and public speaking events.

Patrick says it will be an honour to represent the Bay of Plenty region at the NZ Young Fruit Grower contest later in the year and that he appreciates the opportunity to take part in the Bay of Plenty contest.

'We have nothing like this in Northland. The five of us put everything we had into the competition.

'I wasn't expecting to walk away with the top prize as it meant I had to beat four others who are at the top of their game, and it was a really close competition throughout the day,” he says.

Patrick impressed speech judges Minister of Primary Industries Nathan Guy and President of New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated, Neil Trebilco, with his two speeches to the audience of 160 people who attended the dinner.

In his addresses Patrick described how, in only two years in the fruit growing industry, he has created 26 new full time positions, many for previously unemployed people. He aims to increase that number to 40 by 2016.

Patrick won a $1500 cash prize, a one-day media and presentation course in Auckland and an all-expenses paid trip to Christchurch to compete for the national 2014 Young Grower of the Year title in August.

'I know the national competition will be quite a step up from this, but with the support I've had getting to this point, I know I'll certainly be giving the other finalists a run for their money in August.

'If you're a young fruit grower, you should definitely consider doing this competition next year. You get to meet some really supportive people, who can help you with your career, and it's a good way to push yourself in all respects as a young fruit grower,” Patrick says.

The day-long competition at Baypark in Mount Maunganui involved a range of practical and theoretical challenges to test skills necessary in running a successful fruit growing business.

Neil says the competition is an opportunity for young fruit growers to put themselves out there and showcase their talent.

'We consistently see a high calibre of young fruit grower every year, and it's promising for the industry to know that they're being encouraged to push themselves professionally and personally from an early point in their career.”