A Sneak Peek at Two Greenhouse Grower Medal of Excellence Award Winners
June 30, 2026 
A majority of the award winners recognized at Greenhouse Grower’s Evening of Excellence event at Cultivate (learn more here) are announced live during the event. However, you don’t have to wait until July 13 to learn more about two of this year’s winners.
Industry Achievement Award Winner: Hans Hansen, Walters Gardens
Born and raised on a dairy farm in rural Minnesota, Hansen had a keen interest in plants at an early age. His parents gave him space for a garden and helped him order seeds. After growing up going to garden club meetings with his mom and riding along with master gardeners for plant tours, he earned a degree in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Minnesota. He worked at Shady Oaks Nursery in Minnesota for 15 years before becoming Director of New Plant Development at Walters Gardens. “It has been my dream job,” Hansen says. “I was one of the rare individuals that knew from an early age what I wanted to do with my life, and that was working with plants.”
Nepeta ‘Cats Pajamas’ is probably the best-selling plant Hansen introduced. It was significant because of its compact habit, earliness to flower, and flower coverage. He’s also introduced several species of hosta, baptisia, and hibiscus.
“The thing that brings me the most satisfaction is working with my colleagues and watching them grow and surpass me in their technique and talents,” Hansen says. “I have incredible respect for my coworkers and peers in the industry, who are among my closest friends.”
Spotlight Award Winner: Sustainabloom
Established in 2022 by the American Floral Endowment, Sustainabloom is a collaborative initiative dedicated to leading the floriculture industry toward a future enriched with sustainable practices at every level. It supports the need for continued floriculture research and communication around increased sustainable practices throughout the industry by creating user-friendly guides and resources. These resources are broken down by topic, allowing businesses to assess where they are and where they can do more.
“Our mission at Sustainabloom is to lead the floriculture industry towards more sustainable practices at every level while making this journey understandable and accessible for everyone. As your resourceful guide and advocate, we are here to empower you with easy-to-understand resources, practical guides, insightful industry knowledge, and news on sustainability efforts in floriculture,” says Debi Chedester, Executive Director of American Floral Endowment. “Together, we aim to inspire and support businesses in embracing operational excellence and responsibility, fostering a culture of sustainability that benefits our planet and its people.”
Please join us in recognizing Hans Hansen and the team behind Sustainabloom during the Evening of Excellence event at Cultivate’26!
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