Greenwood Plants, a UK wholesale nursery, has been awarded the title of International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) 2024 by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH).
The coveted ‘Gold Rose’ award was presented to Greenwood Plants by AIPH President Leonardo Capitanio at the AIPH IGOTY Awards Ceremony 2024 on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at IPM Essen, Germany.
Click here for the photo report made at the reception before the awards ceremony
Founded in 2009 with the support of FloraCulture International, the AIPH IGOTY Awards recognize best practices in horticulture by the top ornamental production nurseries from around the globe, celebrating the expertise and energy they give to horticulture.
Greenwood Plants is a landscape supply nursery that specializes in the newly built property, commercial, and infrastructure sectors. With over 100 acres, it produces around six million plants a year across its six nursery sites. In 2023, the company was awarded the HTA Peat-free Grower of the Year due to its commitment to sustainability.
“The team will be so delighted to have won this award,” said Melanie Asker, Managing Director of Greenwood Plants. “They’ve been really excited, and it’s an absolute credit to their hard work. It’s a great accolade, and the support that we’ve had from across the industry in the UK has been amazing, so it’s something everyone can be proud of.”
In addition to the Gold Rose Award, Greenwood Plants also won the Finished Plants & Trees category, presented by Torben Brinkmann, Head of Projects, IPM Essen, and the Sustainability category, presented by Sarah von Fintel, Key Account Manager for GlobalG.A.P. and G.N.N. Label.
The IGOTY 2024 jury commented: “Greenwood Plants is an innovative producer of landscape-ready plants and is a recognized leader in what they do. They conduct every action with environmental sustainability in mind, and they have been proactive in innovatively marketing their products and the industry as a whole.”
The IGOTY 2024 category winners are:
Young International Grower of the Year
Winner: Colin Fernandes (Kenya)
Finalist: Tomasz Dźwigoń (Poland)
Finalist: Zhuoer Fang (China)
Cut Flowers and Bulbs
Winner: Beyond Chrysant (Netherlands)
Finalist: Yunnan Yunxiu Flower Co. Ltd. (China)
Young Plants
Winner: Sjaak van Schie (Netherlands)
Finalist: Guangzhou Flower Research Center (China)
Finalist: Yunnan Shining Flora Co., Ltd. (China)
Finished Plants and Trees
Winner: Greenwood Plants (UK)
Finalist: Huverba BV (Netherlands)
Finalist: Kwekerij Dirk Mermans (Belgium)
Sustainability
Winner: Greenwood Plants (UK)
Finalist: Beyond Chrysant (Netherlands)
Finalist: Fitoralia (Spain)
Finalist: Kwekerij Dirk Mermans (Belgium)
For more information about each of the winners, take a look at the digital Winners Brochure.
Also this year, an AIPH Young International Grower of the Year 2024 has been announced, namely oClin Fernandes, Kenya.
Colin Fernandes, Trial Site Coordinator for Marginpar, Kenya, received the Young International Grower of the Year Award at an International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) awards ceremony held on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, in Essen, Germany.
This award is part of the AIPH International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) Awards 2024, which celebrates the best of the best in ornamentals production. The Young IGOTY category recognizes vibrant 25-40 individuals who will lead the industry into the future. Entrants were participants in Jungle Talks’ Pro Manager Mastercourse.
Before Colin joined Marginpar, there was no trial site in Kenya. Colin was responsible for setting the location up and its subsequent management. After just four years, the location has become a productive trial site under the cohesive work of Colin and his team. One achievement of Colin’s of note is the introduction of Sanguisorba - Red Dream to the market. This is the first time this variety has been commercially grown in Africa.
“It feels absolutely amazing to have won this award,” Colin said. “I couldn’t have done it without my team. It’s a great stepping stone that will help me in the future to come. The Mastercourse has been one of the best experiences I’ve had so far. A two-week intensive course with some really inspirational people, it’s been amazing.”
Colin, along with the other finalists, presented his ideas to an international jury of horticultural professionals. The judges were: Leonardo Capitanio, President of AIPH and owner of Vivai Capitanio, Italy; Eliot Barden, Past YIGOTY winner and Aftercare, Apprenticeship and Training Director for Majestic Trees, UK; and Puck van Holsteijn, CEO of World Horti Center and CEO of HortiHeroes, Netherlands.
Leonardo Capitanio commented: “Colin has rapidly achieved an important role in Marginpar. He has a good eye for the future, developing products and people and effectively managing teams in different countries. This, alongside his valuable international experience, makes him an inspirational manager and grower and a worthy winner.”
Click here for the photo report made at the reception before the awards ceremony
For more information:
AIPH
www.aiph.org 