Gary Taylor, managing director of Valley Grown Nurseries has been selected as part of the new year's honours list with an MBE for services to the UK pepper industry.

Taylor admitted the honour was “quite a surprise” and paid tribute to Lee Stiles, secretary at the Lea Valley Growers’ Association and the one who nominated him. “It is a great honour,” said Taylor. “This is good news for horticulture and particularly the protected edibles sector which is such a small and endangered part of horticulture in the UK. Anything that raises its profile is good. The honour is particularly pleasing for me and the company I work for; Valley Grown Nurseries.”

Taylor founded and is chair of the Pepper Technology Group and also chairman of the Lea Valley Growers Association. His career achievements include playing an active role on 14 different committees, and steering groups and associations such as the Horticultural Development Company and the National Farmers’ Union local, regional and national bodies.