His years of service - he thinks it was about 15 - to the board was recognised when Mr Weaver received the award during the conference's formal dinner in Queenstown on June 6.
SFNZ's research and development manager Dr Chris Hale was also given a life membership and SummerGreen facilitator Terry Fraser was given a special recognition award.
Simon Tallon, co-opted marketer on the board, of Fresh Direct, was awarded the Mack Nicol Award for commitment to excellence.
About 240 attended the 25th two-day conference, which included visiting Suncrest and Lake Terrace Cherries orchards in Cromwell.
He said he knew he was going to receive the life membership, as he had attended a meeting when the award had been proposed.
He had previously received a similar one from Horticulture New Zealand to recognise his services to the industry, about 18 months ago.
Mr Weaver will continue to run his consultancy, Weaver Horticulture Ltd, and will also work on his cherry orchard
in Springvale.
''I am going to get my life more in balance,'' Mr Weaver said.
He had enjoyed being involved with SFNZ's research projects.
'''I found that, for me, was a challenge and fun.''
Mr Weaver will also continue as a board member for the grower co-operative, Apricot Co, which is overseeing the release and marketing of new apricot varieties, Nzsummer2, Nzsummer3 and Nzsummer4.
''There were 20,000 trees budded during the last budding season and in the near future we will be calling for orders again,'' he said.
''We are still working on the operations model [for the co-op], and the financial model is still being thrashed out.
''The varieties have been launched to the growers but still under trial agreements until we get the Apricot Co formalities sorted,'' Mr Weaver said.
