Belgium’s industry body AVBS welcomes Hebe grower Erik Boterdaele as its new chairman

The Belgian board for ornamentals growers, florists and landscapers (AVBS) has appointed Hebe grower Erik Boterdaele from Wetteren as its new chairman. Boterdaele succeeds Filip Goossens, who will join the board of directors of Belgium’s farmer’s union Boerenbond.

Second-generation Erik Boterdaele runs a wholesale plant nursery specialising in evergreen shrubs. Boterdaele is committed to minimising and reducing the adverse environmental impact of his nursery by a range of good agricultural practices.

A bit of history to start with. In 1960, Erik’s father began growing tropical houseplants including tuberous Begonias, Asparagus and Cissus before settling on producing evergreen shrubs such as Hebe, Choisya ternata, Euonymus, Fatsia, Hedera, Prunus and Viburnum. Hebe, endemic to New Zealand and North America, is currently the company’s core product.

Erik and Isabelle Boterdaele took over the business from Erik’s parents in 2000. Today, Erik Boterdaele bvba, which has 1 ha under glass and 4 ha of field production, sells its plants to  retail and wholesale customers.

The company offers all the professional capabilities of a major national plant nursery along with the dedicated customer care and flexible service you would expect from a long-standing family business with a proud 50 year history. Erik, named Belgium’s Grower of the Year in 2014, and his team have worked hard to create an atmosphere of eco-friendly practices in their two locations. In 2016, FCI magazine visited Boterdaele’s company.

AVBS’ board of directors also elected Mr Géry Heungens as Chairman Ornamental Horticulture and vice chairman of the organisation.