Renowned soft fruit-grower Marion Regan has been appointed MBE for her services to the fresh produce industry.
Regan, who runs the family farm in Kent with her husband Jon, was included in the recently-revealed New Year Honours List.
She began work at Hugh Lowe farms in 1987 after studying botany at Oxford University, and following the completion of a master's degree in horticulture in the US.
The 480ha farm, started by Regan's great-grandfather, has been in the family for 115 years, and specialises in soft fruit, producing more than 2,500 tonnes of strawberries and 300 tonnes of raspberries annually.
Regan is a current director and former chairman of growers co-operative Berry Gardens.
She said: 'I am delighted and surprised to be recognised in this year’s honours list. Farming has been a large part of my life, and I have been lucky enough to be able to share it with my husband, as well as with a great team at Hugh Lowe Farms and Berry Gardens.
'Over the last 20 years or so the industry has developed at an incredible pace and no doubt will continue to do so. I enjoy working with other like-minded growers within the Berry Gardens group and am looking forward to 2014.'
The Berry Gardens Ltd Twitter account, meanwhile, shared the co-operative's delight:'Congratulations to Marion Regan on her MBE in this year's #NYH for services to fruit and vegetable industry.'
And Kent county councillor Janet Sergison, said:'Delighted to see that Marion Regan of Mereworth has been awarded the MBE. Many congratulations Marion. Very well deserved.'
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