What a wonderful experience this has been! Last Short Course, when Reinoud Hagen from Dutch flower breeder/producer Fides asked if I’d like to join a group of growers he would be hosting in South Africa, I knew it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I couldn’t miss. The trip began immediately after Horti Fair, so many of the growers came to Amsterdam early to catch a couple of days of the show before heading more than 10 hours south to Johannesburg. We arrived Sunday night and our journey began on Monday. Most of the growers are blooming potted plant specialists in Canada. Kalanchoe is a specialty for them and Fides, which has been producing cuttings in South Africa for many years. Here are the growers I’ve had the pleasure of traveling with this week:
Ed and Joanne Boekestyn, Boekestyn Greenhouse, Jordan Station, Ontario
This family runs a growing operation and a wholesale division. They specialize in weekly blooming pot crops, including mums, kalanchoes, poinsettias, Easter lilies, potted bulbs. An additional spring crop is geraniums. While they do not grow bedding flats from see, they do buy them in prefinished from local growers. In addition to producing crops in 220,000 square feet of greenhouse, the wholesale division buys and sells products Boekestyns don’t grow.
Mickey Ferragine and Tony Gutta, Bradford Greenhouses, Barrie and Bradford, Ontario
Out of the Canadian growers on the tour, these are the bedding plant growers. Interestingly, Bradford Greenhouses has always relied on the Canadian market versus exporting plants to the United States. Two key retail chains they serve are Loblaws and Canadian Tire. They also have two independent retail locations of their own in Bradford and Barrie. Mickey says his wife has been decorating more than 80 trees for XMAS sales and that I really should see it. Tony, the production manager, has worked there since he was a kid, for 25 years. They have 15 acres of greenhouse production at the two locations. Mickey celebrated his birthday out here today. He got serenaded by the help this morning at breakfast and again at dinner, where we all got to try a kahlua like liquer called amarula.
Bert and Jane De Bolster of Hanemaayer Greenhouses in Vineland, Ontario
This operation is a true kalanchoe specialist, supplying 13 wholesalers with 10,000 pots a week. Production declines a little for Christmas and ramps up more for Mother’s Day. Greenhouse production is 3 acres under glass on a 13.5 acre site.
Sim and Debra McMurry, Metrolina Greenhouses, Huntersville, North Carolina
As many of you know, Metrolina Greenhouses is the largest of the Van Wingerden operations, owned by Tom Van Wingerden and now managed by eldest sons Art and Abe. Sim manages all the production for 150 acres! It was nice to meet Debra, who teaches second grade. Metrolina is a powerhouse in bedding and blooming potted plants.
Bob and Joanne Newhouse, Walden Gardens, Wainfleet, Ontario
They are blooming potted plant growers who sell to finished plant wholesalers. Specialities include kalanchoes, Calandivas, gloxinias and exacum.
Duane and Marion Van Alstine, Balfour Greenhouses, Fenwick, Ontario
This couple is the next generation managing Balfour Greenhouses, founded by Marion’s father. They have eight acres under glass and sell blooming potted plants to wholesalers. Key crops include kalanchoes, orchids, caladiums and poinsettias.
Stuart and Liz Van Staalduinen, Bayview Flowers, Jordan Station, Ontario
Bayview Flowers is one of the larger blooming potted plant specialists in the Niagara area. In addition to growing kalanchoe, orchids and bouvardia, Bayview produces cut gerbera. The company sells to supermarkets and the Van Staalduninens, along with most Canadian growers, are smiling that the U.S. dollar is improving again.
Reinoud and his wife, Rian, have been wonderful hosts. They are both from Holland but live in Canada, where they manage Fides North America’s activities.
We’ve also enjoyed our highly knowledgeable guide, Elsabe, a Dutch Afrikan from Exclusive Safaris. In South Africa, you need to pass rigorous exams to become a certified national travel guide.