Herefordshire soft-fruit grower AJ & CI Snell snapped up the 2008 Grower of the Year award at the Royal Lancaster hotel in London last night.
Judges selected the company for its “outstanding example of a commercial horticulture business that is continually moving forward thanks to great business management backed up by a clear strategy, strong leadership, a commitment to operational efficiency and a willingness to invest for the future”.
AJ & CI Snell was the winner in the awards’ edible categories, with Majestic Trees picking up the Ornamental Grower of the Year.
The other big winners of the evening were:
• Cut Flower Grower of the Year - Springfields Fresh Produce
• Best New Variety - Jazz apple, Worldwide Fruit
• Vegetable Grower of the Year - Watton Produce
• Top Fruit Grower of the Year - Highland Court Farm
• Salad Grower of the Year - The Watercress Company
• Prepared Fresh Produce of the Year - Alfred G Pearce
• Organic Grower of the Year - Loveden Estates
• Consumer Marketing Campaign of the Year - Wendy Akers PR for the Watercress Alliance
• Business Initiative of the Year - Hillier Nurseries - The Streetwise Range
• Trade Marketing Campaign of the Year - John Woods Nurseries
• Science into Practice - New Farm Produce - Development of asparagus heating project
