Instead the 30-year-old helps hundreds of other growers improve kiwifruit yield and quality, skills she hopes will set her apart when she competes in this year’s Young Horticulturist of the Year.

“That’s why I also love the industry, it’s so inclusive. I don’t have an orchard, but I may have a far bigger impact than an orchard owner, because I am influencing hundreds of growers,” she says.

“If I can get a message across to someone about reducing their chemical use, or helping soil biology in a positive way, then hopefully that’s having a bigger impact.”

Phoebe recently joined grower shareholder organisation East Pack as a technical representative, focussed on the Prospa Orchard management team’s kiwifruit growing – liaising on orchard management plans and best practice.

“That’s anything from fertilisers to sprays and pest control, to how many fruits should we be hanging, and how do we get the best out of the vines so that they get the most fruit and the best pack out,” she explains.

The Bay of Plenty woman was working at local kiwifruit packhouse Apata when she won the Young Grower of the Year, providing a pathway to the wider sector competition, Young Horticulturist of the Year, in November.

Having been a guest at the grower competition several times, she plucked up the courage to enter on her last eligible year, and won. It’s just another example of serendipity leading her where she believes she is supposed to be.

The eldest of two daughters for a Kiwi dad and British mum, Phoebe grew up in the Bay and was planning to seek a career as a scientist working in wildlife conservation. While on an OE in Namibia she realised she had become disheartened by a career in academia.

“I was meant to be doing my PhD when I came home. I needed work and got a job counting kiwifruit with Fruition Horticulture. The people there saw my potential and gave me so many opportunities.

“For a long time I went, ‘Oh, should I go back to science? Should I study?’ Now I’m confident that it is what I want to do. And I use my science background to help growers grow bigger, better fruit.

“I feel very privileged that I’ve had some really cool mentors on my journey who have given me that time and also inspiration,” she adds.

“You’re always told in school you’ve got to go to university, you’ve got to get a good paying job – I could do all of that in the Bay.”

Phoebe graduated with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in biology degree in genetics and evolution from Auckland University. She has gone on to work on feasibility of orchard conversions and land use in south Taranaki and Gisborne.

She looks back at her achievements thus far and is proud to have played a pivotal role in the local horticulture industry, saying: “This season it’s been quite challenging in terms of kiwifruit maturity, but with my suggestions and guidance, I feel like we made some really good decisions around harvest timing  and optimising fruit quality.”

“There is a lot of the lab stuff and interpreting data. And I get a quick turnaround to see improvements within a season if you’ve interpreted the data the right way.”

Recently back from a month-long winter break, Phoebe is looking forward to preparing for the competition that is in its 21^st year.  Run by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture Education Trust (RNZIH Ed Trust) with the support of official sponsors Woolworths, T&G Fresh and Fruitfed Supplies, it showcases the industry’s most promising young professionals and helps them develop the skills, knowledge and leadership needed to shape the sector’s future. Phoebe will compete in a series of technical, practical, business and leadership challenges, with four others across the wider horticulture sector.

“I am interested in learning about the other sectors –  it’s very easy to become isolated in your own little bubble, but this is horticulture-wide,” the keen horse rider and runner says. “I am keen to learn about what other people do, and have a challenge.”

Grand Final Awards Dinner

Celebrating the achievements of the 2026 finalists across the horticultural industry.

https://www.younghort.co.nz/young-horticulturist-of-the-year