Presenting Greenhouse Grower’s 2026 Medal of Excellence Award Winners
July 13, 2026 Greenhouse Grower was back in Columbus, OH, this week, holding its annual Evening of Excellence event on Monday, July 13, during Cultivate’26. The awards reception celebrates those greenhouse operations, plant breeders, technology companies, and other organizations that strive for excellence.
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As expected, there was much of that to be found during the event, which was supported by sponsors Container Centralen, Conley’s Greenhouse Manufacturing, Exxon Mobil, Hortica, Nufarm, and Prospiant. Keep reading to learn more about this year’s award winners, and check out the slideshow above for a closer look at all the winners, and highlights from this year’s festivities.
Spotlight Award: 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.
Readers’ Choice Award: Petchoa CitraNova Series (Ball FloraPlant)
CitraNova™ are the first petchoa class from Ball FloraPlant. They have cold tolerance and good branching, holding up in the wind and rain. They also have the bright colors of calibrachoa with the large blooms and strong root system of petunia.
Technology of the Year: Pot-in-Tray Machine (BOLD Robotic Solutions)
The Pot-In-Tray Machine is an efficient, reliable solution to one of the industry’s most repetitive, time-consuming tasks. By automating the task of loading pots into trays at high-speed, BOLD has helped greenhouses cut back on unproductive overhead and operational volatility. The Pot-In-Tray Machine’s compact design maximizes tight workspace efficiency without sacrificing power, delivering a high-speed output of up to 15 trays per minute. Fast modular changeovers allow for effortless transitions between sizes, creating a streamlined workflow that requires minimal manual intervention. The machine also offers an open-access design that simplifies maintenance and ensures the mechanics are always easy to reach and service.
Industry’s Choice Award: Begonia Rudbeckia ‘Claire Orange’ (Takii)
The world’s first pollen-free F1 hybrid Rudbeckia, this compact, early-flowering plant boasts a tidy, uniform habit and an abundance of bright, clear orange blooms.
Industry Achievement Award: 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.”
Operation of the Year: 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. The company looks for ways to reduce repetitive work through innovations such as a custom pot-nesting solution and AI-generated micro-training tools. 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.
Editor’s Choice Award: Agastache ‘Honeysticks Gold’ (Dümmen Orange)
Honeysticks Gold features bright-yellow tubular flowers with hints of orange on upright flower spikes that stand above the body of foliage.
Head Grower of the Year: 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.
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