Chairman of the NFU Board for Horticulture Graham Ward was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grower of the Year awards in London.
The man perhaps best known for his time with Snaith Salads, for whom he is still a consultant, has been a horticultural pioneer since joining ICI Plant Protection 40 years ago. Presenting the award, sponsor Elsoms Seeds led the tribute: "Nobody has achieved more for horticulture in the past few years than Graham Ward. He is nationally recognised for his dedication, determination and passion for an industry that he has the utmost respect for," said a statement.
"One of Graham's unique attributes is his ability to bring together all the diverse aspects of horticulture so that of instead of many different sectors potentially working against one another the industry becomes one effective force for the interests of all."
Ward was credited with restructuring Snaith Salads from top to bottom after joining them in 1991 from his managing role with Home Grown Salads.
As well as being chair of the NFU Hort board, he is currently chairman of the Glasshouse Lettuce Technology Group, the UK Protected Lettuce Growers Group and UK Lettuce Growers Technology Group. He is a member of the HDC Protected Crops Panel, an independent member of Defra PSD Pesticide Residues Committee, chairman of North Yorkshire Agricultural Partnership, and director and chief executive of Stockbridge Technology Centre.
Ward also collected his OBE, for services to horticulture, from Buckingham Palace this week.
He confessed to being "demob happy" after his many happy years in the industry and thanked his wife Pat, who he said would not know what to do with yet another trophy.
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