Horticentre Charitable Trust Becomes the Exclusive Sponsor of Grower2Grower

We are extremely honoured to announce that the Horticentre Trust is now the Exclusive Sponsor of Grower2Grower. We share a goal of offering future growers, and existing growers, a tool set, of credible trusted information, to achieve better outcomes. Our plan is to engage with educational institutions to endorse the protected cropping industry, promote the opportunities available and all the benefits to those pursuing a future and career in the horticulture industry.

The Horticentre Trust will have the opportunity to be Premier Sponsors for any event we hold in the future. Covid-19 stalled events we hoped to host over the past two years but as we move forward, we plan to host events to bring growers and suppliers together

Marie and I would like to personally thank the Horticentre Trust Board for their sponsorship. Their support will make it possible for us to continue to promote what sustainable protected cropping can offer to New Zealand, we are excited for what the future holds.

THE NEW ZEALAND HORTICENTRE TRUST

STATEMENT OF SERVICE PERFORMANCE

The NZ Horticentre Trust was entrusted with the trading asset (Horticentre Ltd) of the Auckland Vegetable and Produce Growers Society following the latter’s cessation in 2006. The Trust’s income is solely provided by the Horticentre Group’s trading in horticultural supplies and services.

The intention of the Trust’s Deed is to benefit Aotearoa New Zealand’s Commercial Horticulture Industry in all of it sectors by way of distributing the proceeds of the Horticentre Group’s trading to foster research, market intelligence, innovation, scholarships, educational training and especially advancing future leadership through Young Grower and Young Achiever competitions. The Trust works closely with respective industry bodies to leverage funding for these programmes.

The following covers the Trust’s funding grants and sponsorship’s for 2022 financial year.

Research:

The first year of a three-year research project by a Massey University PhD student on wine grape growing to increase productivity, quality, and critical use of water.

Market Intelligence:

Plant and Food Research’s FreshFacts horticultural annual industry profile and statistical report

NZ Horticulture Export Authority’s Barriers to our Export Trade biannual report

 NZ Export Growers Orchids (NZEGO) Cymbidium Monitor that guides the Orchid Industry with export variety selection.

Innovation:

Hawkes Bay A&P Association’s Primary Sector Awards – Horticulturalist of the Year

Hawkes Bay Fruitgrowers Association Innovation Awards

Education and Training

Grow NZ Women Nelson – training awards (2)

Hawkes Bay Turf Managers Association – apprentice training award

Advancing Future Leaders

Horticulture NZ’s Young Grower of the Year (Platinum Sponsor) and its regional competitions: –

• Pukekohe
• Bay of Plenty
• Hawkes Bay
• Tasman/Nelson
• Central Otago

NZ Plant Producers Industry Incorporated (NZPPI) – nursery industry’s Young Achievers Competition (main sponsor)

Royal NZ Institute of Horticulture’s Young Horticulturalist of the Year – Community Services Award.