One crop, one community and one career pathway at a time.
As New Zealand marks the International Day of Rural Women today, women from across the horticulture sector have highlighted the crucial role they play in building a more sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient industry.
This year’s United Nations’ theme, “Rural Women Sustaining Nature for Our Collective Future,” has a global spotlight on women’s contributions to biodiversity, climate resilience, and land stewardship. Here in New Zealand, women in horticulture are not just sustaining the land, they’re shaping the future of the sector.
Women in Horticulture (WiH) and United Fresh have united in their mission to shine a spotlight on the vital role thousands of rural women play across the horticulture sector.
Horticulture New Zealand equally has made significant strides in advancing women into governance and senior leadership roles, reinforcing the importance of diverse voices at decision-making tables and across the value chain.
Kirsti Lovie, Business Performance and Sustainability Manager at Craigmore Sustainables and Associate Director on the Horticulture New Zealand Board, believed that women bring a fresh and essential perspective to leadership in rural communities.
“When it comes to women in horticulture, I see more opportunities than challenges. There are so many career pathways and already many examples of women in prominent leadership positions,” she said.
Lovie, who is also taking over a 120Ha Canterbury growing business with her partner, added that supportive networks and leadership programmes across the sector have played a vital role in her journey.
“Mentoring, micro-credentials, governance training — the pathways are there. Now we need to keep communicating that.”
Manpreet Kaur, Assistant Orchard Manager with T&G Global in Hastings and a Horticulture New Zealand Leadership Scholar, agreed. A migrant woman who started in the packhouse in 2009, she now uplifts others as a leader in the orchard.
“When I started, there were just a few women working alongside me — now more than half of our team are women. For me, International Rural Women’s Day is about celebrating the community, the skills, the determination and resilience of rural women and the ability to uplift one another, and communicating that to future generations,” said Kaur.
Kaur has completed national qualifications in horticulture and now mentors others on their career paths.
“I’m proud to be part of an industry that helps feed people and supports communities."
Phoebe Scherer, 29, is the newly crowned Young Grower of the Year 2025 and is proof that the next generation of women is already making waves. A lab manager at Apata in the Bay of Plenty, Phoebe didn’t come from a rural background, but she found her purpose through science, mentoring and community.
“You can come from any background and become a rural woman, but it is the community that is all-important to attracting, supporting and retaining people with key skills,” said Scherer.
United Fresh’s Women in Horticulture initiative continues to build on this momentum, offering leadership development, networking, and visibility for women across the fresh produce value chain.
“Whether it’s managing orchards, leading research, or sitting at the board table, rural women are at the heart of a thriving, sustainable future for horticulture in New Zealand,” said Stephanie Wrathall, Project Manager for Women in Horticulture.
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