Marten van den Berg, director-general Agro of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture and Dutch physician and ESA astronaut André Kuipers have presented the 2024 Dutch Horticultural Entrepreneur Award to fourth generation Stolk Brothers. The potted Anthurium grower from Bergschenhoek won the award on Wednesday 6 March at De Arendshoeve in Aalsmeer.
The Dutch Horticultural Entrepreneur Award recognises progressive growers who embrace technology, modern and sustainable production practices, market innovation, strong customer service and demonstrate their position as an industry leader.
The jury voted unanimously for Stolk Brothers to win the 37th edition of the coveted award. Operating from a state of the art greenhouse complex in Bergschenhoek, near Rotterdam, brothers David and Pieter Stolk take the environment and their responsabilities seriously. A prime example of the company’s green credentials are its progress made in peat free plant growing and biological crop control. Stolk Brothers also heavily invested in eco heating options for their 8ha greenhouse complex and is now ready to link up to a collective source of more sustainable heat.
Stolk Brothers battled it out against three other competitors: tissue culture laboratory Iribov from Heerhugowaard, tropical plant grower VDE Plant from Woubrugge, and garden plant grower Roobeek Group from Arcen, all shining examples of outstanding horticultural entrepreneurship.