From starting as a teenager growing salad crops in Bognor Regis, to supplying tomatoes to major supermarkets and holding leading roles in the industry, John now uses his experience to work as an adviser to major growers across the country.
He said: “I was hugely surprised when I heard that I would be receiving this award.
“I have spent my life working in horticulture and it is an industry I am very passionate about. I am absolutely delighted to be recognised like this for my work.”
A respected advocate for horticulture
John, from Felpham, West Sussex began his horticulture career, aged 18, with his first business growing salad crops at Shripney Nurseries, Bognor Regis in 1970.
Twenty years later his company, John Hall Nurseries Ltd, was operating from one of the largest glasshouses in the country at Runcton Nurseries, Chichester and supplying tomatoes to the UK’s leading supermarkets.
John gained corporate experience in senior leadership roles across fresh produce and ornamentals and founded John Hall Consulting Ltd in 1999.
He has worked as an adviser, predominantly to major growers, giving strategic and planning advice, and gained extensive specialist knowledge in estate management, reservoirs and energy centres.
John established the consultancy firm Grow Partners in partnership with his daughter Rebecca Beveridge in 2024 and has served as president and chair of WSGA, a specialist horticultural branch of the NFU.
He has been a member of the NFU since 1977 and has served as chair of Defra’s Farming and Rural Issues Group South East.
John continues to be a respected advocate for the horticulture sector through political engagement at national and local level.
John Hall with NFU East Regional Director Zoe Leach at the South of England Show. Picture: James Ratchford.
'A worthy winner of this award'
NFU Regional Director for the East of England Zoe Leach said: “John has made an exceptional contribution to the horticulture industry for six decades, using his expertise to help growers across the country to navigate numerous challenges and to achieve success.
“He is a very worthy winner of this award, and he should be extremely proud of everything he has achieved.”
WSGA Chair Richard Hopkins said: “Time and time again I see John giving his time freely to support and educate others.
“His enthusiasm for the horticulture sector is genuine and infectious.
“He is never protective of knowledge or his relationships; on the contrary, he firmly believes that collaboration across the industry is essential if it is to thrive. It's an honour to work with him and call him a friend.”
Rachael Williams, who succeeded John as consultant to the WSGA Executive, said: “From day one, John could not have been more helpful and encouraging.
“In the beginning, he was very happy for me to shadow him whilst I learned about the sector and almost four years into the role, he continues to readily share nuggets of his wisdom and invaluable little pointers."