The National Awards for Excellence recognise the outstanding contributions that individuals and companies make to the Australian industry and will be presented throughout Hort Connections 2019, including at the renowned Hort Connections Gala Dinner.

Nominations for the 2019 National Awards for Excellence are now open! This is a great opportunity to put someone forward to be recognised for the hard work they put in to their business and to helping our industry succeed, whether it’s your mate, your neighbour or someone else you admire in the industry.

While the National Awards for Excellence are a dedicated celebration of the horticulture sector, winning one of these awards is also often a sign of great things ahead for people who are making their mark on all of Australian agriculture.

In the last few years alone, previous grower award-winners have received a range of other industry accolades:

If you know a grower or other industry member who deserves recognition, find more information below or head to our online form to make a nomination.

Award categories

The Awards for Excellence span multiple categories so that we can identify and celebrate the work being done throughout all sectors of our industry, and several are sponsored by industry partners who look to support key values and practices:

  • Syngenta Grower of the Year (sponsored by Syngenta) celebrates a grower who is outstanding across all aspects of production, who is innovative and who actively contributes to the broader industry.
  • MOYA – Marketer of the Year Award celebrates an individual or team who has shown excellence in fresh fruit, vegetable or floral marketing in the past year.
  • Corteva Young Grower of the Year (sponsored by Corteva Agriscience) celebrates the next generation of our industry and recognises a future leader who is committed to enhancing agriculture and the land.
  • Bayer Researcher of the Year (sponsored by Bayer) celebrates a researcher who is making a valuable impact on the future course of our industry.
  • Industry Impact celebrates an individual or business that has invested in creating or implementing a system outside the norm that adds value to their business.
  • Innovation Partner celebrates a business that has delivered an innovation directly benefiting growers and has made a positive contribution to our industry.
  • Boomaroo Women in Horticulture Award (sponsored by Boomaroo) celebrates a female industry member who has demonstrated outstanding ability and success in their chosen field.
  • Community Stewardship celebrates an individual or business that is committed to the good of the broader community, including through going above and beyond in on-farm safety or engaging with the local community.
  • Butler Market Gardens Environmental Award (sponsored by Butler Market Gardens) celebrates an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to implementing sustainable farming practices on-farm.
  • Exporter of the Year celebrates a grower who has demonstrated a strong commitment to exporting and who supports the broader industry in achieving its export goals.

These awards are a valuable chance for us to celebrate the individuals and companies who embody the values and the practices that make our industry great.

Put forward the name of somebody you know who’s working hard to support Australian horticulture, whether it’s through helping out with research trials, connecting with local schools to develop a new generation of growers, or anything else that’s helping our industry grow into the future.

Find the online nomination form here!

Hort Connections 2019 will be held at the Melbourne Convention Centre from 24-26 June 2019. Register online today!

This post appeared in the AUSVEG Weekly Update published 19 February 2019. Subscribe to the Update using our online form to receive the latest industry news in your inbox every week!