An outstanding leader in the kiwifruit industry, former KVH Chairman Peter Ombler was awarded horticulture’s premier award, the Bledisloe Cup, at the Horticulture Conference 2017 on Thursday 13 July.

Peter was a foundation member of KVH and our second Chairman, bringing almost 40 years of kiwifruit industry experience to the organisation – particularly in leading critical issues, like the initial response to Psa. After Psa was first discovered in Te Puke in late 2010, Peter applied his on-orchard knowledge to the search for solutions as well as strategies for longer term management of the disease.

Peter was also instrumental in the first steps taken by KVH to move from a Psa focus to acting for the kiwifruit industry on all biosecurity risks. This wider role remans a focus of the organisation.

We congratulate Peter on his award and acknowledge his great service to the kiwifruit industry, and kiwifruit growers. The skills and experience he bought to his roles at KVH have helped shape the organisation into the strategic and innovative grower-focussed organisation it is today.