New Zealand Young Horticulturist of the Year, Patrick Malley, recently completed an agricultural tour of California, visiting avocado, berry, kiwifruit, and stonefruit operations throughout the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California.
Malley also attended the Southern California Fresh Produce & Floral Expo in Anaheim, California on 14 July.
The 31-year-old orchardist from Whangarei, New Zealand, entered the Young Horticulturist competition after being awarded the 2014 Young Grower of the Year award. The competition is organised by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture's Education Trust. His additional awards received in 2014 include New Zealand Young Fruit Grower of the Year and Northland Business Excellence Award – Large Business.
As part of his prize for winning Young Horticulturist, he received a $7,500 travel and accommodations package for a trip to observe and interact with the horticulture industry in different regions of the world.
“I was astonished to become the first Northlander to ever enter and then win the Young Grower and Young Horticulturist competitions,” said Malley. “I chose to visit California because I really wanted to experience the growing conditions in the ‘fruit bowl of America,’ as well as focusing on the drought condition that farmers are facing.”
Along with his wife Rebecca Malley and 10-month-old son Austin Malley, he visited California from 2-21 July. His trip featured a visit to Giumarra’s stonefruit operations in Reedley, California, including the company’s test orchard for Nature’s Partner DulceVida fruit. He also toured Giumarra’s Ventura avocado operation, a kiwifruit grower, and test berry orchards in Watsonville, California.
Malley, along with his parents Dermott and Linzi Malley, previously worked with Giumarra to market fruit from the family’s former apple and pear orchard in the Hawke’s Bay region of New Zealand. In 2011, they purchased a kiwifruit and avocado orchard in the Northland region of New Zealand, where they also operate an orchard contracting and management business.
“I am thankful to have met with retailers and suppliers from the California region,” added Malley. “The experience will not only positively affect our growing practices, but also immersed me in the North American market. This will help us identify future opportunities in the US.”
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