A Central Otago fruit grower has won the horticulture industry's premier award, the Bledisloe Cup, for services to horticulture.
Basil Goodman is a board member of the Horticulture Export Committee, but has also served as chairman on Summerfruit New Zealand and the Summerfruit Export Council.
He was instrumental in the development of the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme, which was introduced three years ago to overcome seasonal labour shortages in the horticulture industry, by allowing growers to hire workers from Pacific Islands to help with harvesting.
In another horticultural award announced this week, Gareth Holder, 30, of Hawke's Bay has been named Young Grower of the Year.
He works as a field consultant and has also recently started his own vegetable growing business, producing both fresh vegetables and grain crops.
