Outgoing Hawke’s Bay 2018 Young Fruit Grower of the Year Lisa Arnold is calling on more young people to get involved and take the lead in her industry.

“Hawke’s Bay needs more young people for our horticultural industry because its growing careers.  Every year the region is planting thousands of apple trees and more orchards, along with creating new sustainability initiatives,” Arnold said.

“We want young people to get involved and take the lead.”

Arnold, a HB Young Orchardist Group member, is an orchard operations assistant with Bostock New Zealand.  She created history last year as the first woman to win the prestigious and strongly contested local title.

Attending the Horticultural Field Days this week, Arnold says she’s looking forward to supporting this year’s finalists in the HBYFG competition, which is going from strength to strength.  She is also featuring at the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s stand as part of highlighting productive sector success.

Ask her what the future holds for both her and Hawke’s Bay and the first word that springs to mind is – Wairoa.

She recently purchased an acre of good fertile land in Wairoa where she hopes to grow crops in a district she says is on the cusp of exciting opportunity and growth.

“Wairoa’s on the move, it’s going to be the place to be.”

“It has great soil, weather and access by road and rail is improving, locals are friendly and there’s available land with affordable housing, not to mention the weather and being close to the beach!”

Growing up in Gisborne and now living back home in Hastings where she was born, Arnold says as well as work, Hawke’s Bay is a really great place live.

“You can get outdoors, we’ve got Te Mata Peak, the beaches and it’s a great place to get out walk your dog”.