A Herefordshire grower whose berries are sold to shoppers across the country has won a coveted award at NFU Conference for his dedication to the county and food production.
Hereford grower Anthony Snell, of Windmill Hill Fruits, Harewood End, was named the Midlands winner of the NFU鈥檚 Meurig Raymond Award.
The award is named after the former NFU President and was presented to Mr Snell in front of more than a thousand farmers and industry representatives at the NFU24 dinner in Birmingham on 20 February.
Deserving winner
Anthony runs a first generation farm business with his wife Christine, which he has managed since 1987 producing fresh and frozen soft fruits, grown sustainably for the health of the nation.
They grow and pack more than 2,000 tonnes of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, chuckleberries聽and聽organic blackcurrants聽on the farm each year.
A former NFU West Midlands horticulture and potatoes board chair he has also been a staunch industry advocate on its national board, working with those in farming, stakeholders and other organisations for decades.
For the awards the judges looked at how Anthony worked with the NFU regional team on campaigns, his representation of the NFU locally and nationally, his positive engagement and work to drive sector and industry change.
Anthony said: 鈥淚 was delighted to receive this coveted award at the well-attended NFU Conference dinner in front of 1,200 guests.
鈥淣FU24 was excellent with many speakers including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who spoke positively about supporting our important British agriculture and horticulture industry.
鈥淚 was also pleased to donate some of our Herefordshire grown frozen soft fruits for part of the NFU dinner and these are sold on our .鈥�
Flying the flag for sustainable production
Robert Newbery, NFU Midlands regional director said: 鈥淗orticulture is often a sector which feels unrepresented, but Anthony has ensured at every point the voice of these members has been heard 鈥� both locally and nationally, and within and outside the NFU,鈥� he said.
鈥淚n more recent years he has flown the flag for sustainable production within the horticultural sector and the environmental measures which he, and other growers, have put in place.
鈥淭his has been critical in a county like Herefordshire where there is huge pressure on farmers to deliver environmental benefits.
鈥淎t every opportunity Anthony promotes the work of the NFU and is a huge advocate for everything it does.鈥�
Overdue and well deserved
Ali Parker, NFU Herefordshire county adviser said: 鈥溁始一薶orticulture and potatoes sector covers a huge range of crops, from tomatoes to garden plants.
鈥淒espite only producing a handful of the crops himself Anthony has always ensured every crop is presented as being equally important.
鈥淭he huge amount of respect other horticulture and potato growers have for Anthony is testament to this.
鈥淗e is also a very effective ambassador for the NFU with a wide range of groups and people, including the next generation - he has welcomed hundreds of school pupils on farm over the years to learn about what he does and of course eat some of his delicious fruit.
鈥淚 am absolutely thrilled Anthony has won this award, which I know he will share with Christine and the team at the family business, it鈥檚 overdue and very well deserved.鈥澛犅犅�