Presenting Greenhouse Grower’s 2026 Head Grower and Operation of the Year Finalists
July 5, 2026 
Greenhouse Grower will give out several awards at the Evening of Excellence during Cultivate’26 on July 13. Here’s your chance to get to know the finalists for this year’s Head Grower of the Year and Operation of the Year awards before the winners are announced.
Head Grower of the Year Finalist: Matt Girman, Andy Mast Greenhouses
As the Director of Growing Operations at Andy Mast Greenhouses, Matt Girman is responsible for the company’s high-quality standards. A former horticulture instructor, he excels in teaching other growers the hows and whys of growing. His influence extends well beyond the greenhouse walls through his active collaboration with vendors and regular site visits with contract growers, ensuring that every plant meets the operation’s rigorous benchmarks for excellence.
Matt has shaped three separate locations and molded them into a homogeneous growing operation. He has helped Andy Mast Greenhouses grow beyond instinctual growing into a systematic management of complex growing practices of many different plant species simultaneously.
Matt has doubled up efforts on scouting and monitoring insect and disease pressure. By prioritizing scouting and economic thresholds, he is moving the operation from calendar spraying to prescription-based management. This approach directly benefits the bottom line and the environment.
Head Grower of the Year Finalist: Christy King, King Farm
Christy is a self-taught grower who strives to produce the best quality bedding plants on the market at a 5-acre greenhouse facility. She actively monitors what her peers are doing, and is constantly testing new varieties and growing techniques.
She continually refines growing processes at King Farms through soil testing and and equipment upgrades to boost both quality and efficiency. She will implement new technology if it helps reduce labor strain, minimize waste, and allow the team to focus on the art and science of growing premium plants.
Christy says building a strong growing team starts with treating everyone like family, and she invests in training, clear communication, and fostering a collaborative environment where ideas for better growing practices are always welcome.
Head Grower of the Year Finalist: Juan Ponce, Metrolina Greenhouses
Juan Ponce exemplifies modern, high-quality production practices through his commitment to standardization, precision, and continuous improvement. He has developed comprehensive SOPs that ensure consistency across all crops, and enable every team member to follow clear, repeatable best practice workflows.
Juan is committed to helping his team grow, and has built a strong growing team through communication, trust, and continuous learning. He invests time in learning from the team and understanding how they operate at every level. This allows him to place people in roles where they can be successful, while also supporting their professional development.
Juan’s background in entomology has helped him develop a preventative approach to crop production that supports both plant health and operational efficiency. He wrote and is continually updating Metrolina’s IPM manuals that clearly define the pillars of IPM and standardize practices across teams to ensure consistent implementation.
Operation of the Year Finalist: Blooma Farms, Arvada, CO
Blooma Farms is focused on flexibility for everyone, from the customer to the employee. The company empowers its team members to become experts of their craft and inspire passion from their peers.
Through its partnership with the Colorado State University Flower Trial, Blooma Farms is at the forefront of new genetics and bringing new innovations to the market.
The company looks at automation as a path to providing a better-quality plant for its customers while staying cost-competitive in the market, and nimble enough to adapt as the market shifts.
Operation of the Year Finalist: Lord’s Landscaping and Garden Center, Millville, DE
Lord’s is focused on keeping its team valued and educated, which has led to a high rate of employee retention. Growing team members are encouraged to stay up to date on industry trends and share hot topics with each other.
Lord’s works to ensure financial sustainability and profitability by growing a majority of its own plants. A recent update to its inventory system makes it easier for customers to shop for plants, and Lord’s also implemented a Plant Finder Program this year that allows customers to build wishlists for plants.
The motto at Lord’s is “Growing for Good”, and it gives back to its community through planting classes, fundraisers, and donating unsold veggies and herbs to local kids gardening programs.
Operation of the Year Finalist: Spring Creek Growers, Waller, TX
Spring Creek has built a strong team by making sure every employee understands how their work contributes to the success of the company and its customers. Through an annual Spring Creek University Field Trip, employees learn how their role impacts the customer experience by meeting retail and landscape professionals firsthand to better understand challenges faced beyond the walls of the greenhouses.
Beyond production, Spring Creek looks for ways to reduce repetitive work through innovations such as a custom pot-nesting solution and AI-generated micro-training tools. A recent investment in a new transplanter reduced labor needs on the planting line and allowed those employees to focus on higher-value work elsewhere in the operation.
Regular financial reviews help Spring Creek identify trends and react quickly to changing input costs and supply chain conditions. The company also places a strong emphasis on supplier relationships, which often provide early visibility into market changes and allow the company time to prepare rather than being caught off guard by abrupt increases in input costs.
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