Grower Of The Year Award: All-Time Winners

2012

Operation Of The Year – James Greenhouses, Colbert, Ga.

Head Grower Of The Year – Joe Moore, Lucas Greenhouses, Monroeville, N.J.

2011

Operation Of The Year – Bob’s Market & Greenhouses, Mason, W.Va.

Head Grower Of The Year – Mike Friddle, Speedling, Sun City, Fla.

2010

Operation of the Year – Metrolina Greenhouses, Huntersville, N.C. 

Head Grower Of The Year – Regina Coronado, Stacy’s Greenhouses, York, S.C.

2009

George and Louise Lucas, Lucas Greenhouses, Monroeville, N.J., for its high-tech and modern production.

2008

Mark Elzinga & Roger Rosenthal, Elzinga & Hoeksema Greenhouses, Portage, Mich., for their investment in sustainable production and alternative energy.

2007

Tim Wada, The Plug Connection, Vista, Calif., for creating opportunities for growers in organics and leadership in young plants.

2006

Raker Family, C. Raker & Sons, Litchfield, Mich., for their progressive corporate culture and leadership in young plants.

2005

Lloyd & Candy Traven, Peace Tree Farm, Kintnersville, Pa., for championing small, successful wholesale growers and embracing technology.

2004

Jeff & Henry Huntington, Pleasant View Gardens, Loudon, N.H., for making customers successful and leadership in Proven Winners.

2003

Ken & Deena Altman, Altman Plants, Vista, Calif., for their innovative marketing programs for large retailers, including the VIVA! brand.

2002

PJ Ellison, Ellison’s Greenhouses, Brenham, Texas, for her passion promoting our industry and the endowed floriculture chair at Texas A&M in her family’s name.

2001

Gary Mangum, Bell Nursery, Burtonsville, Md., for setting a new standard serving large retailers and breathing new life into contract growing networks.

2000

Terry Smith, Smith Gardens, Bellingham, Wash., for vision, enthusiasm and success leading his family business into a new century.

1999

Lorence Wenke, Wenke Greenhouses, Kalamazoo, Mich., for leadership among Michigan’s growers and as an elected official and community leader.

1998

John Rader, EuroAmerican Propagators, Bonsall, Calif., for his vision creating the Proven Winners brand and more markets for growers driven by innovative plants.

1997

Jim Leider, Leider Horticultural Co., Buffalo Grove, Ill., for national industry leadership and dedication to business management and focused, high-quality production.

1996

David Wadsworth, Suncoast Greenhouses, Seffner, Fla., for excellence in young plant production and industry leadership.

1995

Tom Smith, Four Star Greenhouse, Carleton, Mich., for embracing innovations from computer software and cutting-edge production to the Magic Planter flat.

1994

Russell Weiss, Kurt Weiss Florist, Center Moriches, N.Y., for mass-market leadership and his efforts to uphold Quarantine-37 restrictions.

1993

Larry Windham, Windham’s Greenhouse, Glenwood, Ga., for leading the Georgia Commercial Flower Growers’ efforts to get a state law passed, requiring manufacturers to label contents of growing media.

1992

Kalamazoo Valley Plant Growers Cooperative, Kalamazoo, Mich., for its growers serving markets together while setting standards for quality, packaging and pricing.

1991

Kee Kitayama, Kitayama Brothers, Union City, Calif., for spearheading the formation of the California Cut Flower Commission.

1990

Norm White, White’s Nursery & Greenhouses, Chesapeake, Va., for leadership growing blooming potted plants and efforts developing grades and standards.

1989

Tim Haley, Pikes Peak Greenhouses, Colorado Springs, Colo., for fighting for fair international trade in cut flowers.

1988

Sonny Connor, Heritage Greenhouses, Mt. Dora, Fla., for leadership promoting foliage plants through the Foliage Marketing Institute.

1987

Arne Thirup, Pajaro Valley Greenhouses, Watsonville, Calif., for efforts to form the Floral Trade Council to represent cut flower growers on trade issues.

1986

Jim Youngsman, Skagit Gardens, Mt. Vernon, Wash., for ingenuity turning problems into opportunities, including embracing infrared heating.

1985

Jack & Peter Van de Wetering, Ivy Acres, Calverton, N.Y., for their entrepreneurial spirit and leadership in the bedding plant industry.