“ After 54 year of productive oeuvre , I recollect that it ’s clip to do something different . Because of Covid-19 , I ’ve found new rocking horse and really pay more attention to family . Now I can do more of that , ” says Cees VandenEnden , a late retired person of the glasshouse industry whose 50 + of experience began in Holland and led him around the public before settling in Alberta , Canada .
A life-time in the glasshouse industryOriginally from Holland , Cees explain that his father began his glasshouse operation in 1947 and initially uprise vegetables . Over time , he switch over to commercial propagation – it was that decision that pulled Cees into the nursery industry and startle his recollective , celebrated career .
“ After my schooling , my founding father inquire me what I want to do and I say that if he wanted to continue with propagation , I ’d wish to join . And so I did , ” says Cees .
finally , his Father-God determine to hit the hay and Cees took over the business concern . It was time for the nursery to expand , but the current location could n’t patronize this expansion so Cees come up a dainty location to work up the two - hectare facility . At this stage , it was 1977 and the opportunities for expanding upon simply sustain coming but the price kept rise . When the chance for propagation popped up in Canada in 1988 , Cees and his kinsperson emigrate to Canada . Through an interesting turn of events , Cees worked in generation for a few years before taking up a new opportunity grow peppers .
tight - forward another few age and Cees had worked briefly in Mexico and then came back to Canada , this metre moving to Leamington to work with Nature Fresh Farms . That opportunity led Cees into greenhouse consulting and to found HortiSource Consulting Inc. in 2003 , through which he worked with nursery operator throughout the Americas . When his children moved to western Canada , Cees and his married woman moved to Alberta to be closer to their children and have hold out there for the past fifteen years . When Covid-19 restricted Cees ’ travel , both business and personal , he decided it was the natural clock time to retire .
The nursery industry - always in flux“The constant development made it all worthwhile , ” says Cees . “ The nursery industriousness is not a stagnant one . Just look at what has changed in the preceding mates of year and what is still change . ”
One of the big change Cees expects is the continued teddy towards organic production method acting through the development of constitutional fertilizers and completely pesticide - loose products .
“ In the past tense , constitutional production meant that you ’d lose at least 30 % of your production electrical capacity , but that is n’t necessary anymore . multitude are now producing constituent nutrients that have similar mineral levels as synthetic fertilizers , so the price of organic produce can become more competitive , ” says Cees .
He also notes that consumers can look to see more crop diversity in greenhouse output soon enough . For good example , one of his customer in Guatemala was bring forth peppers alongside tropical fruits like papaya and pineapple , of which Papaya might have glasshouse potential . Even a few growers in Europe are experimenting with this . Soft Charles Edward Berry output can also be expected to increase , with strawberries lead the complaint keep up by blueberries and raspberries .
“ Technically , it does n’t matter what you farm . you’re able to grow anything hydroponically and in a greenhouse but you require to make it commercially feasible , ” says Cees .
Greenhouse operators not as open as they used to beWhile the glasshouse industry has experienced numerous positive change over the year , Cees also notes that company social structure and manufacture collaborations are also changing , often in a way that closes hustler off from each other .
“ The horticultural industry was previously pretty open , with growers attending study group together . Now you maybe have grower contact through merchandising organizations , but it otherwise is n’t very exposed and I ’m afraid that it wo n’t come back , ” explains Cees .
glasshouse operations also seem to be getting larger and magnanimous , with private equity getting involved and company structured in a more private , capitalistic style . This is realise it more difficult for industry entrant to establish themselves as they ’d need strong financial patronage and resource to build quickly and recruit the grocery .
“ As much as I care the manufacture , I think it will be more difficult to get into . You need a lot of capital behind you to be disposed to build rapidly . It seems that five hectare is the fresh lower limit for commercial functioning , ” Cees says .
But after 54 twelvemonth in the industry , Cees is trading these nursery challenges and opportunities for a well - earned retirement with his wife , minor , grandchild , and newfound rocking horse taking center - stage .
Cees , the HortiDaily squad wishes you and your kinsfolk all the best in this next chapter of your living !
This was part 19 in the series ' Andere Tuinbouwtijden ' . A series in which a group of ' seasoned actor in the field ' look back and onwards and in which we wait at what their workplace did for the current horticultural industriousness . bakshis for the serial are more than welcome and can be email to:[email protected ]
Part 1 : Piet Bom -Will your next greenhouse be made of Fiberglass?Part 2 : Henry van der Lans -We slept in the same little hotel … Part 3 : Rob Grootscholten – 42 days of greenhouse mental synthesis … Part 4 : Peter Stuyt – As a Dutch American , I care to compound … Part 5 : Leo Alsemgeest -Bit by bit a step backPart 6 : Harry Dullemans – Never say you are not there … Part 7 : Kees de Groot -We must make something unlike than … Part 8 : Leo Alleblas – The itch for risky venture is in our bloodPart 9 : Carel Zwinkels -“A grower needs to keep on produce in … Part 10 : Willem van Dorssen -“Willem , watch out for your sheeny … Part 11 : Cees and Leo van der Lans -“If you want to do everything … Part 12 : Marten Barel -The development that gardening has … Part 13 : Hans Zeeman -Grateful our kinsfolk name still … Part 14 : Johan de Hoog -After a storm , we clean house up togetherPart 15 : Ton van der Kooij -I transformed myself for one night … Part 16 : Cees Overgaauw -Without a guardian holy person I still would … Part 17 : Bram van der Ende -“It took a dog bite for the customer to accept the offer"Part 18 : Henk Koot:“I’m no salesman , but I am good at deal cognition "
For more entropy : Cees VandenEndenHortiSource Consulting Inc. PO Box 186Water Valley , AB T0 M 2E0CanadaPhone : ( 403 ) 637 - 2775 office(519 ) 796 - 4327 ( cell)Email:[email protect ]
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