+ + + Greenwood Plants wins the coveted Golden Rose

The International Grower of the Year award ceremony entered its 16th round on the first day of IPM Essen. Every year since 2008, the best ornamental plant growers from all over the world and their commitment to horticulture have been honored with an award.The coveted golden rose was presented to Greenwood Plants by Leonardo Capitanio, President of the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH).

"The team is delighted to win the award," says Melanie Asker, Managing Director of Greenwood Plants. In addition to the Golden Rose, Greenwood Plants also won the "Finished Plants & Trees" and "Sustainability" categories. The prizes were presented to them by Torben Brinkmann, Project Manager of IPM Essen, and Sarah von Fintel, Account Manager for GlobalG.A.P. The jury's verdict: "Greenwood Plants is an innovative manufacturer of landscape-oriented plants and a recognized market leader in its field. The company always acts with environmental sustainability in mind and has innovatively marketed its products and the industry as a whole."

Young International Grower of the Year 2024

Colin Fernandes from Kenya won the Young International Grower of the Year 2024 award, which recognizes dynamic individuals aged 25-40 who will lead the industry into the future. The participants were graduates of the Jungle Taks Pro Manager Master Course. Before Colin joined ornamental plant producer Marginpar, there were no trial sites in Kenya. One of Colin's notable achievements is the launch of the Sanguisorba - Red Dream variety. This is the first time this variety has been grown commercially in Africa.

"It's an incredible feeling to have won this award," said Colin. "I couldn't have done it without my team. It's a great stepping stone that will help me in the future. The Master's course was one of the best experiences I've had so far. A two-week intensive course with some really inspiring people, it was incredible."