The conference was cancelled, but the horticulture industry awards continue to roll out.
Horticulture New Zealand has awarded two Environmental Awards this year, one to Robin Oakley, a fifth-generation grower from Canterbury, and the other was presented to Market Gardeners Ltd Auckland Branch, in recognition of its commitment to environmental sustainability.
HortNZ usually gives out its awards at the annual Horticulture Conference, but the conference had to be cancelled this year due to pandemic uncertainties. Nevertheless, the HortNZ Board felt it was important to celebrate growers’ success in what has been another challenging year, so decided instead to present this year’s awards at various grower events, and concluding with the presentations at the HortNZ AGM in Nelson on 21 September.
Danny Bearsley has also won the horticulture Bledisloe Cup for 2022. Danny is credited with saving the Hawke’s Bay process vegetable industry in the 1990s. This industry now processes more than 5,500 hectares of produce sourced from the Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne and Manawatu regions. The horticulture Bledisloe Cup is awarded annually in recognition of an outstanding contribution to commercial growing in New Zealand over decades.
‘The nominations the HortNZ Board received this year were of a high calibre and for the Environment Award, we chose to recognise two of the organisations nominated, said HortNZ Vice President, Bernadine Balle-Guilleux, who presented the Environmental Award to Robin at a function in Christchurch on 4 August. The Market Gardeners (M) award had been presented at a vegetable growers’ function in Pukekohe on 27 July. ‘Where the HortNZ Board determines there are exceptional circumstances and more than one award should be made, we can choose to present an additional award.” Balle-Guilleux said.
Winner Robin Oakley said, ‘Oakley’s is dedicated to continuous improvement, I am proud that our efforts have been recognised by HortNZ and want to share with New Zealanders the good work that is done on our farms.’
HortNZ says: Oakley’s Premium Fresh Vegetables grow potatoes, beetroot, broccoli, pumpkin and arable crops including grass seed, wheat, peas and maize on more than 450 hectares. They wash, grade and pack produce on site.
“In recent years, Robin has taken considerable steps to reduce, monitor and manage greenhouse gas emissions, nitrogen leaching and improve soil quality, through initiatives such as the Sustainable Vegetables System project. In particular, Robin has looked to power usage and installed 564 solar panels at Oakley’s Southbridge post-harvest site in April this year. These 390-watt panels will account for around 40% of the site’s annual energy demands.”
MG has won the award in recognition of its real commitment to environmental sustainability,” said HortNZ President, Barry O’Neil who presented the award at a vegetable growers’ function in Pukekohe on 27 July.
“Thanks to MG’s focus and investment, the cooperative has made a measurable long-term difference, delivering a 57% reduction in carbon emissions by converting to natural refrigerants, installing solar and diverting food waste away from landfill at its flagship branch in Auckland.”
Two years ago, MG signed off on its first sustainability roadmap, which has set the direction and defined improvement targets. This included focusing on their Auckland branch, having worked out that the bulk of their carbon emissions came from electricity consumption, refrigerants and food waste.
“As a co-operative, we have a strong focus on making decisions today that benefit future generations,” said MG General Manager of Communications and Sustainability, Ellery Tappin. “While the sustainability projects delivered at our Auckland branch have been driven by the MG Board, management and team on-the-ground, the improved performance is delivered on behalf of the grower-shareholders who own our co-operative. We are particularly proud that our investment in sustainable projects is not window dressing – rather, it’s making a real, measurable difference.”
Horticulture New Zealand represents the New Zealand horticulture industry comprising of growers of fruit and vegetables for export and domestic consumption.
