Raspberry grower Van der Avoird Trayplant wins highest accolade in Dutch horticulture

Avoird Trayplant, a grower of raspberry starter plants and recipient of the Dutch Horticultural Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Dutch agriculture minister Piet Adema has presented the 2023 Dutch Horticultural Entrepreneur Award to Van der Avoird Trayplant. The raspberry grower from Bavel won the award on Wednesday 29 March at the fossil-free greenhouse of cresses and microgreens supplier Koppert Cress in Monster.

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 Van der Avoird to win the 36th edition of the coveted award. Because of the winner’s efforts to maximise greenhouse space by using a multi-tier growing system, find sustainable growing solutions for a carbon neutral production of their raspberry starting plants.

Van der Avoird Trayplant battled it out against three other competitors: Chrysanthemum grower Beyond Chrysant from Hoek van Holland, perennial nursery Griffioen from Boskoop, and ‘Red Naomi’ and ‘White Naomi’ rose grower Porta Nova from Waddinxveen, all  shining examples of outstanding horticultural entrepreneurship.

Theelers, winners of the 2023 ‘New Crops, New Uses’ Award.

This year, the event organisers launched a new award: the ‘New Crops, New Uses’ Award to highlight and honour companies that have done particularly well in terms of their product innovations and their success in the horticultural industry.

Theelers, a partnership between Corn Bak, GOVA, De Kruidenaer,and Westlandpepers, scooped up this inaugural award for the manufacturing of herbal tea, a perfect example of the valorisation of horticultural waste.