Entries are open for the 2017 Fresh Carriers Hayward Medal, with the judging panel once again asking the New Zealand kiwifruit industry to nominate their finest leaders.
The 2017 winner will be announced at a gala dinner early in the new year, which will also mark the 20th anniversary of the Zespri brand.
Paul Jones, chairman of the kiwifruit Industry Advisory Council (IAC), said the sector remained on track to more than double sales to NZ$4.5bn by 2025. Jones urged stakeholders across the industry to nominate peers who have been a key part of this success.
“Kiwifruit is New Zealand’s largest horticultural exporter, employing around 18,000 people throughout the season, and we’ve got some of the best people in the country on our team,” Jones explained. “The Fresh Carriers Hayward Medal has been set up to acknowledge and celebrate the excellence, commitment and leadership they’ve shown over the years, driving our industry’s success.”
The winner will join a select group of recipients, including Plant & Food Research plant breeder, Russell Lowe, and last year’s winner Sir Brian Elwood, who was recognised for the leadership he displayed as chairman of industry regulator Kiwifruit New Zealand (KNZ) over 10 years.
Established by IAC in 2012, the medal is named after the green Hayward cultivar and acknowledges the contribution horticulturalist Hayward Wright played in shaping the industry.
Nominations for the 2017 award close on 9 December.
