Murray Porteous receives Arysta Golden Apple Award

Norfolk County farm leader wins Golden Apple award

January 13, 2016

News Release

For immediate release

Niagara Falls ON, January 13, 2016 – Norfolk County apple grower Murray Porteous is the winner of the 2016 Arysta Golden Apple Award.

Porteous is part of his family operation, Lingwood Farms, which is comprised of 750 acres of apples, pears and sour cherries and 100 acres of asparagus. He was presented with the award at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association annual meeting in Niagara Falls on January 12.

“Murray is no stranger to the horticulture industry. He’s been involved with many fruit and vegetable organizations both provincially and nationally, working tirelessly on behalf of growers to support our sector,” says Charles Stevens, Chair of the Ontario Apple Growers. “His passion for innovation and his skills in lobbying and media relations have helped advance fruit and vegetable growing across Canada.”

He is a former president of the Canadian Horticultural Council and former chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, as well as serving on the boards of the Ontario Apple Growers and Asparagus Farmers of Ontario. He’s also been chair of the Agricultural Adaptation Council, the Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council and the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario.

Porteous has served as an advisor to the Premier on Ontario’s Innovation Agenda as a member of the Ontario Research and Innovation Council, and most recently, has been appointed as Chair of the Board at Agricorp. He has been active as a public spokesperson for agriculture with both CropLife Canada and AGCare (now Food and Farm Care Ontario).

“Murray’s commitment to leadership in the agricultural sector is unwavering, and he’s never afraid to step up and become involved to help make a difference, whether for fruit and vegetable growers or for farming as a whole,” adds Stevens.

A 1983 agricultural business graduate of the University of Guelph, Porteous was named Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmer in 1998. He was nominated for the Golden Apple Award by the Norfolk Fruit Growers’ Association.

The Arysta Golden Apple Award is presented annually to a recipient who has made outstanding contributions to the Ontario apple industry. The Ontario Apple Growers represents the province’s commercial apple farmers. Visit www.onapples.com.

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For more information:

Charles Stevens, Chair – Ontario Apple Growers, 905-259-5279 or charles@wilmotblueberries.com
Kelly Ciceran, General Manager – Ontario Apple Growers, 905-688-0990 or kciceran@onapples.com