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Calling the best growers of finished plants and trees

Growers of ornamental finished plants and trees are encouraged to show the world how good they are by entering the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) International Grower of the Year Awards (IGOTY) 2017.

In partnership with Founding Partner, FloraCulture International (FCI), the awards recognise best practice in horticultural production. In addition to a category for ‘Finished Plants and Trees’ there are also categories for ‘Young Plants’ and ‘Cut Flowers and Foliage’.

Winning the gold finished plants and trees award in 2016 was Costa Farms, USA, that went on to become the overall 2016 IGOTY winner. Silver went to Majestic Trees, UK, and bronze was shared by Dutchmaster Nurseries, Canada and Dashun International Flower Co. Ltd, China.

Costa Farms is one of North America’s largest growers of ornamental plants regularly bringing new products to retailers on an international scale. It is one of the largest indoor plant growers in the world and one of the largest growers of annual bedding plants and perennial plants in the United States. Overall it grows a wide range of plants, including houseplants, orchids, indoor and outdoor cacti and succulents, tropical shrubs, annual bedding plants, and perennial bedding plants, and is the United States’ largest grower of hibiscus, mandevilla, Norfolk Island pine, Boston fern, majesty palms, and several other crops.The jury said Costa Farms was, “A leading company combining tradition and new technology with a most innovative way of reaching the market place. This company has added so much value to the simple job of supplying large trees and shrubs to the end user that it has left its competitors behind.”

Jose Costa, Executive Vice President of Costa Farms foliage division, said, “While we’re humbled by the support and recognition we’ve received from the industry, the AIPH International Grower of the Year award is really an acknowledgement of all of the incredible employees that make up the Costa Farms family. It’s exciting to see how the award has increased our team’s drive to continue to grow, improve, and be the very best we can be. It was an amazing way to kick off the 2016 season!”

Once again the awards will take place during IPM Essen, Germany. The event commences with a drinks reception followed by a gala dinner and ceremony. After the awards there will be an evening of celebration with live entertainment and international networking.

The deadline for entries is 31 July 2016. Last year ornamentals growers from Canada, China, Germany, Netherlands, Turkey, UK and USA reached the finals.

For more information, including a video from the IGOTY 2016 awards, visit: www.aiph.org/groweroftheyear [vc_button2 title=”Back” align=”left” style=”square” color=”sky” link=”url:%2Flatest-news%2F|title:Latest%20News|””>


Rachel Wakefield

Communications Executive and Associate Editor
United Kingdom

rachel.wakefield@aiph.org