You’re on Camera! The Great Greenhouse Cover Stories of 2021
December 28, 2021 There’s a great story behind every company in the horticulture industry, and sometimes that story is so fascinating it deserves to be recognized in its own spotlight.
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Keep reading below, or check out the slideshow above, for a closer look at eight companies featured on the cover of Greenhouse Grower magazine in 2021, and how they are forging new paths for their own operations, and for the entire industry.
Two Leading Growers on the Power of Plant Certification
Being able to show your customer and your industry partners what you are doing to reduce pest risk and improve plant quality can go a long way in building trust. Certification is one of the best ways to concretely build that trust. Two of these operations are North Creek Nurseries in Landenberg, PA, and D.S. Cole Growers in Loudon, NH. Greenhouse Grower reached out to Madeline Maynor (pictured), Greenhouse Production Coordinator at North Creek, and Chris Schlegel, Head Grower at D.S. Cole, about why they entered the SANC program, what they had to do to get SANC-certified, and what they learned along the way. Read more here.
How Creek Hill Nursery Brews up the Expected, and the Unexpected
Creek Hill Nursery isn’t your average perennials grower. In fact, the company is at its best when its untypical behavior sets it apart. From unusual niche plants to compost tea brews to a team of passionate plant and insect geeks that make up the heart of the company, this greenhouse operation specializing in starter plants embraces innovation and diversity, leveraging the unexpected to work to its benefit. Today the operation sells liners of hardy perennials, grasses, shrubs, and succulents to wholesale growers. Read more here.
Little Prince Is Making a Big Impact in Horticulture
Since it was founded by Ketch de Kanter and Brett Francis in 1997, Little Prince of Oregon Nursery has been in a constant state of evolution, both inside and outside the greenhouse. Today, the day-to-day operations at Little Prince are led by Nursery Manager and Head Grower Mike Hicks, Director of Business Development Mark Leichty, Marketing Manager Joan Dudney, and Director of Administration and Sales Ryan Seely. In talking with them over Zoom in late June, their spirit of teamwork and collaboration was undeniable. While they each share individual responsibilities, they are also focused on being able to adapt as a company based on both consumer needs and market fluctuations. Read more here.
2021 Head Grower of the Year Steve Garvey Does Whatever It Takes in the Greenhouse
Steve Garvey of Dallas Johnson Greenhouses will be the first to tell you he is not an easy person to work for because he doesn’t take shortcuts. That may mean putting in extra hours or effort, even occasional time away from home beyond traditional working hours during the busy season. In the end, the result is always worth it for this year’s Medal of Excellence Head Grower of the Year winner. Any wholesale supplier can turn out products that, from all outward appearances, look enticing on store shelves. The real triumph comes in having satisfied and loyal customers, whether it’s the retailer you supply or the person who purchases the plant for their home. Garvey understands this all too well. Read more here.
How Dickman Farms Built a Legacy of Leadership
Any company that’s been around for 100 years-plus is likely to have seen a lot of change. The key to maintaining long-term success during periods of change, however, is the ability to let your strengths as a company guide you along the way. A great example of this is Dickman Farms, the 2021 Greenhouse Grower℠ Medal of Excellence Operation of the Year. From its strong family legacy to its focus today on innovation, leadership, and meeting consumer needs, the team at Auburn, NY-based Dickman Farms is always looking to make things better, not just internally but for the entire horticulture industry. Read more here.
Women Growers Make It Happen at Costa Farms
Cultivating a diverse team of growers is top priority at Costa Farms, which follows the motto “we grow people.” Like producing healthy crops, it’s key for a grower to nurture a diverse team. Costa Farms strives for that across its farms in South and Central Florida, North and South Carolina, and the Dominican Republic. From the fresh talent just getting started in the industry to experts with decades of experience, the Costa Farms growing team is energetic, diverse, and focused on growth. Part of facilitating a diverse team is including growers of different genders and backgrounds. In the horticulture industry, men still make up more than 50% of the industry. But that tide continues to change as more talented women join the industry. Read more here.
Roseville Farms Crafts a New Legacy With Hemp
Roseville Farms in Apokpa, FL, is a 30-acre nursery with 560,000 square feet of benched greenhouse space, plus an additional 45,000 feet of indoor grow and production space. The company, which was #96 on Greenhouse Grower’s 2021 Top 100 Growers list, was launched in 1996, and for most of the last 25 years the only crop it consistently grew was clematis vines. In fact, for more than 20 years, Roseville has been the primary source for clematis liners and retail-ready flowering clematis for most major retailers and nurseries in the country. However, even with this legacy, Roseville Farms President and CEO David Raab is not one to rest on his laurels. He knows the importance of adapting for the future, and recently, this has led to a somewhat profound shift. Read more here.
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