Sheridan Nurseries in Georgetown, Ontario, Canada has been announced the winners of the coveted Golden Rose for the second year in a row at the Gala dinner in Niagara Falls on 11th September. Organised as a partnership between AIPH and FloraCulture International the awards dinner, sponsored by Bylands Nurseries, Canada, attracted guests from all over the world. The judges were impressed with Sheridan Nurseries’ commitment to and achievements in innovation, environmental responsibility, efficient production and people management.The nursery, which covers 400 hectares of hardy nursery stock and container tree production, is a major supplier to customers across Canada and the USA including to its own chain of nine Garden Centres in the Toronto region. The business produces two million plants each year including 600 perennial and 800 nursery stock varieties. It is celebrating 100 years in business this year. Sheridan Nurseries’ Chairman, Bill Stensson and President, Karl Stensson collected the award.
Orchid grower, Sion from The Netherlands won the Silver Rose award with judges commenting specifically on the remarkably strong growth and clear vision that the business has shown. Sion was producing 12 million young orchid plants in 2008 and this had increased to 30 million in 2013 with its innovative marketing supporting business growth.
Belgian Amaryllis grower Romberama won the Bronze Rose with Whetman Pinks from the UK taking fourth place. The judges noted that all these four winners were outstanding businesses within their areas of specialisation.
Commenting on the results AIPH President Vic Krahn said “Sheridan Nurseries is a worthy winner of the top prize at this years’ awards and to win it for two years in a row really shows how special this business is. I know the judges applied rigorous standards when scrutinising the nominations and the positive comments they have made is such a compliment to all four of these winners. These awards are a celebration of the very best in ornamental horticultural production and I am delighted that we can recognise them in this way”.
