Congratulations to the winners of AIPH International Grower of the Year 2023

Sarah von Fintel, of GLOBAL G.A.P., and Xiamen Ican Seed Co., Ltd.

Brookdale Treeland Nurseries Ltd (BTN), a Canadian ornamentals grower, has been awarded the title of International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) 2023 by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH).

The coveted ‘Gold Rose’ award was presented to BTN by Royal FloraHolland CEO Steven van Schilfgaarde at the AIPH IGOTY Awards Ceremony 2023 on Tuesday, 24 January 2023, at IPM Essen, Germany.

Founded in 2009 with the support of Royal FloraHolland and FloraCulture International, the IGOTY Awards recognise best practices in horticulture by the top ornamental production nurseries from around the globe, celebrating the expertise and energy they give to horticulture.

BTN is one of Canada’s largest and most respected growers of garden plants. They service garden retailers, landscape contractors, municipalities, and golf courses throughout Canada and the United States. With four farms in Ontario and one in British Columbia, BTN has more than 800 acres of land.

Jeff Olsen, President and CEO of BTN, commented: “We feel amazing, so blessed, to be honoured with these awards. It means so much to me personally and our whole team back in Canada. We’re so excited to tell them the news.”

Jason Rekker, National Production Manager for BTN, added: “The level of competition here is extremely high, and that humbles us. There are so many fantastic growers here, so it feels very special for us to be recognised in this way.”

In addition to the Gold Rose Award, BTN was awarded gold in the Finished Plants & Trees category, presented by Bernard Oosterom, Chair of the IGOTY 2023 Jury, and bronze in the Sustainability category by Sarah von Fintel, Key Account Manager for GlobalG.A.P. and G.N.N. Label.

Bernard Oosterom commented: “Brookdale Treeland Nurseries stands out as a business focused on the future; with a wide assortment and a flow of new varieties, it brings something new to the industry all the time. The business prioritises sustainable production and innovation with a commitment to knowledge exchange and growing a strong team. Its dynamic approach has enabled it to develop new products and markets and is well founded to lead the industry in the years ahead.”

Leonardo Capitanio, AIPH President, said: “Congratulations to Brookdale Treeland Nurseries and all the winners. Once again, we have seen top-class businesses in this competition from around the globe. These results give all of us a reason to celebrate, and they mean we can look forward with confidence in the future of our industry.”

THE WINNERS

Young International Grower of the Year
Eliot Barden

Young Plants
Gold: Morel Diffusion, France
Silver: SB Talee de Colombia SAS, Colombia
Bronze: Xiamen Ican Seed Co., Ltd., China

Finished Plants & Trees
Gold: Brookdale Treeland Nurseries Ltd, Canada
Silver: Giorgio Tesi Group, Italy
Bronze: Fructoplant SP. Z O.O., Poland

Cut Flowers & bulbs
Gold: Royal Base Corporation, Chinese Taipei
Silver: Zhejiang Toyoshima Co., LTD., China
Bronze: Zentoo, the Netherlands

Sustainability
Gold: Allensmore Nurseries, UK
Silver: Xiamen Ican Seed Co., Ltd., China
Bronze: Brookdale Treeland Nurseries Ltd, Canada

For more information about each winner, look at the digital Winners Brochure.
Entry for IGOTY 2024 is now open! Find more information and begin your entry here.