2025 competition dates: Wednesday 5 & Thursday 6 November, Karaka, South Auckland
Winner: Jason Greene (NGIA), sales manager for Rainbow Park Nurseries.
Second: Jim Smith (Fruit sector Hort NZ) technical manager for Satara packhouses and orchards in the Tauranga region. Now working at Seeka Industries.
Third: Toby Potter (Vege sector Hort NZ) employed by Ginseng Growers in Te Puke, is now working for Aerocool, Te Puke.
Unplaced finalists: