The search is on to find the 2015 Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower of the Year, with entries for the event closing on May 22.

The competition is an excellent way to get ahead in a fast-growing industry, and there are some great networking opportunities and fantastic prizes up for grabs, says Lara Harrison of the organising committee.

Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy with Patrick Malley who won the 2014 title of Bay of Plenty Young Grower and went on to win the NZ Young Fruit Grower of the year. Photo: Supplied.

The winner receives $1500 and goes forward to represent the Bay of Plenty at the national final of the NZ Young Fruit Grower in August 2015 in Christchurch.

The winner of the NZ Young Fruit Grower also competes against the NZ Young Vegetable Grower for the national title of Young Grower of the Year.

The Bay of Plenty competition is on Wednesday June 24 and will be held at Mill Reef Winery in Tauranga for the first time.

Some of the best young talent and future horticultural leaders in the fruit industry will go head-to-head for the regional title.

Contestants will compete in a series of theoretical and practical activities during the day and continue in the evening with a quiz and speech competition at the gala dinner.

Competitors will do this in front of horticultural participants, industry leaders and guest speaker and judge Todd Muller, National MP for the Bay of Plenty.

Entries close at 4pm on May 22.To enter, go to: www.nzkgi.org.nz/events

Tickets for the gala dinner in the evening are on sale now at $90 each or a table of ten can be secured for $850. A table of 12 is $1000.

To buy tickets, email: [email protected]. Suppliers, packhouses, growers and the wider industry are encouraged to book.

The day event doesn't cost anything to attend.

When: Wednesday June 24, 2015

9am – 3pm, Day Events

6pm – 10pm, Evening Gala Dinner

Where: Mills Reef Winery, Moffat Road, Bethlehem, Tauranga.