Color Point Will Acquire Mid-American Growers

Color Point is the primary annual vendor at Lowe's stores in the Cincinati market.

Color Point is the primary annual vendor at Lowe’s stores in the Cincinati market.

Color Point, ranked No. 74 on Greenhouse Grower’s Top 100 Growers list for 2014, has signed a letter of intent to purchase Mid-American Growers, which ranks number 13 of the Top 100 Growers. Owners Ken and Art VanWingerden confirmed that the two businesses have agreed to the purchase.

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Art and Ken Van Wingerden, who are the two youngest sons of industry icons Aart and Cora Van Wingerden, released the following statement regarding the purchase of Mid-American Growers, which is owned by their older brother, Nick Van Wingerden.

“Color Point and Mid-American Growers have signed a letter of intent for Color Point to purchase Mid-American Growers. The familial ties between the owners of Color Point and Mid-American Growers made it possible for Color Point to step in and assist Mid-American during a time of significant change in the industry, which has impacted the company. Color Point has taken over the day-to-day management of Mid-American Growers and merging of the two organizations will start with the closing of the purchase, to be completed as soon as possible.”

Mid-American Growers, based in Granville, Ill., spans 3,500,000 million square feet of environmentally controlled greenhouses. The operation grows flowering potted plants, ornamental bedding plants, potted foliage and vegetables for 75 Lowe’s stores and supermarkets throughout the Midwest, as well as contract-grown material for other growers including Color Point. The operation was established in 1971 as Van Wingerden, Inc. by the Van Wingerden family.

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Color Point is a 1,000,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility based in Paris, Ky. The facility also includes a 116,000-square-foot production and shipping barn, allowing it to reach markets all over Kentucky, as well as parts of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Color Point focuses on efficiency and streamlined, high-volume production with production automation and robotics, boom and ebb and flood irrigation, operable roof ventilation, computer-controlled environment, floor heating and overhead basket systems

The operation produces annual and perennial bedding plants and seasonal flowering potted plants, servicing 135 Lowe’s stores in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee. Other accounts include Sam’s Clubs and Rural King stores.

According to the Color Point website, the operation’s long-term plans include building out to a maximum 45 acres of greenhouse space in its Paris, Ky. location.

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