Announcing the Finalists for the 2026 AIPH International Grower of the Year Awards
Banner logo for the 2026 International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) Awards. | International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH)
There are 10 ornamental horticulture growers from around the world that have reached the finals for the 2026 AIPH International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) Awards. Organized by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) in collaboration with headline sponsor MPS, the IGOTY Awards celebrate innovation, sustainable practices, and the outstanding expertise that drives excellence in the global horticultural industry.
The IGOTY Awards recognize excellence across four categories:
- Finished Plants & Trees
- Young Plants
- Cut Flowers & Bulbs
- Sustainability
From among these categories, only one winner will be crowned the ‘AIPH International Grower of the Year 2026’ and receive the ‘Gold Rose’.
2026 International Grower of the Year Awards Finalists
The IGOTY 2026 Finalists are (in alphabetical order):
- Chengdu Yimei Horticultural Technology Development Co., Ltd — China
- Fitoralia — Spain
- Flores El Capiro S.A. — Colombia
- Herburg Roses Group — The Netherlands
- Hillier Nurseries Ltd — U.K.
- Jiuquan Lanxiang Horticultural Seedling Co., Ltd — China
- Kisima Farm Ltd — Kenya
- Kwekerij Dirk Mermans — Belgium
- Longchi Mudan Industrial Co., Ltd — China
- Yunnan Holyflora Horticulture Co., Ltd — China
International Jury for the 2026 IGOTY Awards
An international jury of leading industry experts assessed the competition entries against specific criteria relating to economic performance, innovation, market insight, sustainability, and human resources. The Jury included:
- Mr. Jack Goossens, AIPH Vice-President (Netherlands)
- Prof. Charlie Hall, Texas A&M University (U.S.)
- Prof. KiByung Lim, Kyungpook National University (Republic of Korea)
- Mr. Pablo Bazzani, General Manager, Plazoleta Flowers (Colombia)
- Mr. Jeff Olsen, CEO, Brookdale Treeland Nurseries Ltd (Canada)
- Ms. Melanie Asker, General Manager, Greenwood Plants (U.K.)
- Ms. Luka Snels, Managing Director, Plant Select (Belgium)
Commenting on the finalists, AIPH Secretary General Tim Briercliffe says, “Once again this competition has identified high-quality businesses from around the world that demonstrate the very best in our sector. I would like to thank the Jury, who dedicated so much time and effort in assessing each entry. With such a high standard, this was not an easy task. Despite the challenges that exist, it is a testament to the amazing companies in our industry that we can celebrate such industry-leading businesses.”
Winners of the 2026 IGOTY Awards will be announced during a dedicated ceremony on Tuesday, Jan 27, 2026, at IPM Essen, Germany — bringing together the global horticultural community to honor innovation, dedication, and excellence in ornamental plant production. Finalists will join industry leaders, sponsors, and media partners in celebrating the people and businesses shaping an exciting future for horticulture. Find out more and register your interest in attending the Awards Ceremony via the AIPH website.
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