Some of the biggest names in the industry were rewarded for their toil and innovation at this year's UK Grower Awards.
Mack (top/stonefruit grower of the year, in partnership with Charles Highwood), Branston (best new vegetable or salad variety for Inca Bella) and Freshgro (vegetable grower of the year for chantenay carrots) were among the prize-winners.
Individual winners included Vitacress' Steve Rothwell (outstanding contribution to the industry) and Abbey View Produce's Brian Hibberd (lifetime achievement award).
East Malling Research's Malling Centenary Strawberry won the best new variety prize in the top/stonefruit category, AJ and CI Snell landed the gong for best soft fruit grower, salad grower of the year went to Home Harvest Salads, and the award for potato grower of the year was given to LF Papworth.
Speaking of the methods that helped his business land the latter prize, Tim Papworth said: “Growing on loamy soils in north Norfolk, we have built a reputation for the long-term quality storage of our salad potatoes. Developed in-house, our unique potato box-loading methods help us provide year-round supply.
“To improve irrigation efficiency, an accurate boom system with smart computerised reels has replaced overhead rainguns. The mobile phone start-up in the pumphouse saves us valuable time and fuel, while the smart phone canopy check app enables accurate assessment of yield potential of individual crops.”
See the UK Grower Awards website for the full list of winners.
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