Grahame Parrish and his team from FB Parrish & Son received the Syngenta Overall Grower of the Year Award 2003 at a gala awards ceremony at the Royal Lancaster hotel in London.

The business, which started life in the 70s growing and supplying a small range of vegetables, now specialises in providing brown, red and special mild onions.

The farm - originally an 11-acre smallholding – now grows around 3,000 tonnes of onions each year. They are stored, graded and packed on the site, which today extends to 300 acres.

The business is committed to environmental farming practices. The latest investment was in composting equipment that allows onion leaves to be recycled on the farm.

Judges for the awards, presented annually by the NFU and Nexus Horticulture, said the discipline and confidence of the management team and the clear business development strategy earned FB Parrish & Son the coveted title.

Parrish's also took the title of Flamingo Holdings Vegetable Grower of the Year.

Congratulations also went to Matthew Naylor (29), from Spalding in Lincolnshire – this year's NFU Young Grower of the Year.

Matthew joined the family business KW Naylor & Son in 1994 where he carved out a niche market supplying lupins and delphiniums. The company is now one of the leading suppliers of these cut flowers to multiple retailers.

NFU president Ben Gill said: 'UK horticulture has earned itself a well-deserved reputation for producing some of the best business minds in the country.

'Growers have risen to the challenges of today's fiercely competitive market to carve out an important place for UK produce around the globe. These award winners are a testament to that.' Other award winners for 2003 are: HSBC Business Initiative of the Year – Trans-Aqua Ltd, Sutton Scotney, Hants.

HRI Science into Practice Award – Parigo Horticultural Company, Newlands Nursery, Lagness, Chichester, West Sussex.

New Spitalfields Market Top Fruit Grower of the Year – David Budd, Stevens Farm, Hawkhurst, Kent.

Field Koppert Soft Fruit Grower of the Year – Stephen and David McGuffie, RD McGuffie & Sons, New Farm, Elmhurst, Lichfield, Staffs.

Rijk Zwaan Salads Grower of the Year – Flavourfresh, Aldergrove Centre, Marsh Road, Banks, Southport.

Lingarden Cut Flower Grower of the Year – F Dring & Son, Double Roof, Moulton, Spalding, Lincs.

Bulrush Pot Plant Grower of the Year – Oppermans Plants, Littleworth Mission, Deeping St Nicholas, Spalding.

Fargro Bedding Plant Grower of the Year – Porters Horticultural, Moss Side, Formby, Merseyside.

HTA Nursery Stock Grower of the Year – James Coles and Sons (Nurseries), Uppingham Road, Thurnby, Leicester.

Marks & Spencer Organic Grower of the Year – L V Heathcote & Partners, Warbourne Farm, Bourne, Lymington, Hants.

Waitrose Leaf Marque Grower of the Year – Russell Smith Farms, College Farm, Duxford, Cambridge.

HTA Product of the Year Award – Evenproducts for Trolitun.

Elsoms Seeds Lifetime Achievement Award – John Woodhead, Hilliers Nursery, Ampfield House, Ampfield, Romsey, Hampshire.