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Top Stories
October 19, 2026
Phoebe Scherer is the first to point out the irony – she is an award-winning kiwifruit grower but she isn’t an orchardist
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.
October 19, 2026
Have your say and win!
A Lighter Touch is surveying growers and crop protection advisors about whether growers are moving to a more integrated approach to pest and disease management.
October 19, 2026
Dane’s deep-rooted passion for conservation
Young Horticulturist of the Year finalist Dane Sales is fervent about looking after native trees – and he wants to educate others.
October 20, 2026
VentureFruit launches ADORE™ apples:
A global premium programme uniting new climate-resilient varieties under one brand
October 20, 2026
Winter cucumber trial shows spectrum control can lower energy costs without compromising yield
Signify’s Philips GreenPower LED toplighting force fixtures enable precise control of different wavelength areas:
October 20, 2026
Powerplants – Purpose built facility will support leading research in crop production
The University of Tasmania is investing in the future of Australian agriculture with the development of a state of the art research greenhouse complex at its Newnham Campus in Launceston.
October 5, 2026
No opportunity wasted for plant producer
Clayton Hart is an opportunist – he is always on the hunt for ways to grow and develop his career as a plant producer. So much so, that every job he has had, came from opening doors, not responding to job vacancies.
Ten years in the horticulture industry is the result of equal measures of tenacity and skill for the Auckland 27-year-old who will compete in this year’s Young Horticulturist of the Year competition in November.
October 5, 2026
Thanet Earth uses intelligent Philips LED lighting to grow cucumbers and tomatoes throughout the full UK winter
Located in East Kent, Thanet Earth supplies premium tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers to UK retailers
October 6, 2026
Meg wears her work on her sleeve
Meg Spittal sees horticulture as an art form, so much so that many of the tattoos she has inked are species – both wildlife and plant form.
October 5, 2026
Viticulturist’s thirst for knowledge started at seven
Anna Kelland was more than a decade away from being legally able to drink when she declared she wanted to be a winemaker when she grew up.
October 5, 2026
Update: 2026 Grower2Grower Golf Day Cancer Society Raffle Raises $5,000
Together, growers smash our fundraising record for the Cancer Society
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August 11, 2026
Cucumber Grafting: Insurance Policy or Unnecessary Cost?
Grafting can provide a stronger root system and valuable insurance against root-zone problems – but it won’t protect the canopy from fungal disease.
September 7, 2026
Keeping the Door Shut: Are Insect Screens the Next Step in Greenhouse IPM?
As thrips and other pest pressures continue to increase, it may be time to rethink how we stop pests entering the greenhouse in the first place. As we head into spring, and following the recent Mini Covered Cropping NZ Conference, one pest issue continues to stand out: the ever-increasing threat posed by thrips.
August 25, 2026
Why Are Growers Not Using the Geothermal Calculator?
A free tool has been developed specifically for New Zealand’s covered crop industry – so why aren't more growers using it?
September 7, 2026
The promising future of strawberry cultivation
After the classic greenhouse vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers), strawberries are also on the rise in high-tech greenhouses.
September 7, 2026
Reducing Natural Gas Reliance: New Support, Funding and a North Island Roadshow for Growers
Businesses across New Zealand that rely on natural gas now have access to expanded support to help them plan their energy future.
August 25, 2026
A Well-Deserved Thank You to Barry O’Neil
Eight years at the helm of TomatoesNZ recognised with Lifetime Achievement Award. At the recent Covered Cropping NZ Conference and TomatoesNZ AGM, Barry O’Neil was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to TomatoesNZ and the wider covered cropping industry. The award also marked the end of an eight-year chapter, with Barry stepping down after eight years as Chair of the TomatoesNZ Board.
