2016 marks the twentieth anniversary of the highly coveted Potato Industry Award, to be presented to a new winner at the AHDB Seed Industry Event dinner, Fife, Scotland on 3 November.
A new, second category of honour has been announced, two decades on from the launch of the original award, to partner the long-standing accolade for high achievers.
The 'AHDB Above and Beyond award' will recognise up-and-coming, passionate and dedicated individuals in GB’s potato industry.
“Many unsung potato heroes go ‘above and beyond’ in their role to make a positive impact on the potato supply chain and we feel the industry should have the opportunity to recognise their efforts,” said AHDB Potatoes Sector Strategy Director, Dr Rob Clayton.
“We are calling for nominations of individuals such as store managers, field persons and agronomists who support businesses and research establishments.
"Those people deeply involved in making things work ‘on the ground’.”
Making a different to potato industry
Recipients can be at any stage of their career, but must have made a difference to the GB potato industry.
Looking back to 1997, the launch year of the original Potato Industry Award, Jim Godfrey OBE said: “The purpose of the award was simple, to sing the praises of and showcase the best of the British Potato Industry.
“Our enthusiastic, energetic and innovative sector is full of great people and it’s vital they receive recognition from their peers. This is just as important 20 years on.”
The first ever recipient of the award was Charles (Mac) McCarthy, McCain Foods, then Chairman and a pioneer of the British frozen chip industry.
AHDB Potatoes continues to support the industry’s leaders in marketing, innovation, research and development, by presenting this award each year and recognising the dedication and entrepreneurial spirit of those who have made outstanding contributions to the overall GB potato industry.
Nominations for the new 'AHDB Above and Beyond award' are straightforward and can be submitted for a significant achievement from over the last five years.
Nominations are simple to submit online here.
The closing date for submissions is 3 October 2016.
