Jager has been chief executive since 2008 and is retiring later this year.
In his time with Zespri annual global sales almost quadrupled from $500 million to $1.9 billion.
He was credited with an open, accessible and direct style of communication along with an ability to make complicated information understandable.
Jager said the only way the Zespri "ecosystem" worked was through communication.
The kiwifruit industry had good stories to tell about the recovery from devastating disease and the innovations along the value chain.
"We rely on agricultural journalists to share our stories around the world and we recognise the challenges you face through pressure on resources and the effects on the quality of what you do," he said.
The award was sponsored for the first time in 31 years by Ravensdown. Its innovation and strategy general manager Mike Manning said agricultural communication was vital when the primary sector's social licence to operate was under severe jeopardy.
"We need to communicate in ways that are not flippant or cynical," he said.
"I am not sure how we do it but we must do better."
