Art Smith has been presented with the Industry Award of Merit by the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association.
Smith recently retired as the Association's CEO.
Chair Ray Duc says Smith has been a tireless advocate on behalf of Ontario's fruit and vegetable growers for decades.
That includes time as a grower and board member as well as holding senior staff positions in a number of horticultural organisations.
As CEO, Smith helped create a stronger voice for the Ontario organisation at the national level through the Canadian Horticultural Council.
He was also credited with leading lobby efforts that have led to ad-hoc payments of more than 200 million dollars to fruit and vegetable growers from successive Ontario governments over the last decade.
