Metrolina Greenhouses was named 2022 International Grower of the Year on Tuesday by the International Association of Horticultural Producers at an awarding ceremonial at the GreenTech Amsterdam , the international horticulture trade show . The coveted ‘ Gold Rose ’ award was present to Metrolina Greenhouses by Royal FloraHolland CEO Steven van Schilfgaarde .
Metrolina Greenhouses and eight other companies were named as finalists for the International Grower of the Year Awards , recognizing the estimable producers of young works , ruined plant , and nursery plants and trees .
In addition to the Gold Rose Award , Metrolina Greenhouses also won Gold in the Finished Plants & Trees category . The honour was presented by AIPH Secretary General Tim Briercliffe . This is a recognition of its condition as a world loss leader in horticulture , innovation , and sustainability . Metrolina focuses on quality mathematical product driven by innovation in robotics , machinery , and greenhouse structures that optimize labor and outer space efficiency , and the accolade judges said they applaud how Metrolina meets the change want of consumers with hundreds of new items every year .
Metrolina Greenhouses is a in private owned wholesale greenhouse performance found in 1972 by Tom and Vickie VanWingerden , who immigrate to the United States in 1971 with their honest-to-god two sons , $ 5,000 , and a dreaming of progress a 12 - acre nursery operation . Today , the operation is still have and operate by their six children – Art , Abe , Michael , Thomas , Helen , and Rose – along with Vickie , and the byplay spans more than 200 Akka of glasshouse , over 230 acres of out-of-door production place and more than 1,000 acres of total land at two locations in Huntersville , North Carolina and York , South Carolina .
Metrolina Greenhouses employs 800 people full - time and more than 400 seasonal workers during peak time of year . The surgery ship 90 million industrial plant annually to more than 1,400 retail outlets for three main , large - scale leaf retail client , including Lowe ’s Home Improvement , The Home Depot , and Walmart , and carry through online rescript for those retailers , shipping plant to consumer ’ threshold in all 50 land .
One of the most innovative glasshouse operations in the United States , Metrolina ’s Huntersville , North Carolina readiness is the largest heated single - website , single - history edifice in the country . The operation has committed to four master pillar of sustainability , admit an extensive nationwide recycling computer program that it created in cooperation with its retail client . To date , Metrolina reuses and recycles up to 6 million gross ton of plastic annually .
Its water retention and recycling program that holds , reuses , and reprocess nearly 350 million gallons of water makes Metrolina nearly completely self - sufficient from using city or well water . Metrolina ’s wood kettle system burn off permissive waste and scrap wood from the local construction and baseball bat industries , providing the operation with more than 95 % of its heat needs . lastly , the surgical operation has go through biologic command to reduce chemical control use by more than 25 % in the preceding few years . Through a better selection of plant genetic science , improved spray , and sanitation practices , the operation continue to strive for reduced use of chemical substance .
Metrolina Greenhouses was the only American agriculturist in rivalry for the awarding . To escort , only one other U.S. grower has been call International Grower of the Year .
“ We want to give thanks AIPH for the nominating address for International Grower of the Year on behalf of our whole company ; all 1,500 of our associate degree are really excited about this nomination , ” said Metrolina Greenhouses co - CEO Abe VanWingerden .
“ What ’s nerveless is this is also our 50th anniversary as a company here at Metrolina , so this is just ice on the bar on what ’s been a smashing year for us lionize our 50th year . We recognise that awarding like this are n’t for anything we ’ve done in one class or just a brace of twelvemonth , but what we ’ve been able to attain over many year . ”
Paolo Bazzani is the first Young International Grower of the YearDuring the same ceremony , Paolo Bazzani advance the inaugural Young International Grower of the Year .
This laurels is unexampled to the long - running International Grower of the Year ( IGOTY ) Awards , hosted by the International Association of Horticultural Producers ( AIPH ) . Looking after the future of the decorative gardening industry is vital , which is why AIPH partner with Jungle Talks to premise the new award class to recognize the ambition of unseasoned entrepreneurial professional .
Winner Pablo Bazzani is General Manager of Plazoleta Flowers , Colombia , where he is responsible for leading and superintend financial , output , sales , and logistics procedure and results . Prior to this role , he gained experience as a Marketing Assistant and Marketing Manager for Perfection ® Group , Colombia .
Jury member Leonardo Capitanio , who presented Pablo with the accolade , commented : “ Pablo is a young drawing card in our manufacture who shows focal point and vision to achieve nifty things . He works hard to modernise the potential of others in his company and the wider industriousness . He is exceptionally intimate and an prominent embassador for our industry . ”
Other IGOTY 2022 class victor were :
Young Plants
Finished Plants & Trees
Cut Flowers & Bulbs
Sustainability
“ Over the last two geezerhood you have all proven the strength and resilience of our sector and despite all the challenges facing the world , we have drive it forwards . Tonight we fete truly outstanding businesses that are countersink the example and leading the way for where our manufacture needs to go , ” said Bernard Oosterom , AIPH President .
For more information : Metrolina Greenhouseswww.metrolinagreenhouses.com
Plazoleta FlowersPablo BazzaniEmail:[email protected]www.laplazoleta.com
