OK Plant finalist International Grower

OK Plant from Naaldwijk is a finalist in the pot plant category for the International Grower of The Year Awards 2019. This has been announced by the AIPH (The International Association of Horticultural Producers). These prestigious prizes will be presented on 22 January during IPM in Essen.

“We are delighted and surprised that we can represent the Netherlands in this international competition,” said Rob and Désirée Olsthoorn of OK Plant. They were nominated for the Horticulture Entrepreneur Prize last year. This remarkable recognition prompted the organisers to nominate the entrepreneurs for IGOTY 2019. “The fact that they have now reached the final provides great international exposure for these entrepreneurs,” says Michiel F. van Ginkel, chairman of the Horticulture Entrepreneur Prize.

Family business OK Plant specialises in the cultivation of a wide range of pot plants. The main crop is Phalaenopsis in a 9 cm pot. This wide range is marketed under the brand name Little Kolibri Orchids. Rob and Désirée also growing seasonal products such as potted asters, campanula, cyclamen and Primula obconica. Last year they moved into the newly built premises at the company’s primary location in Naaldwijk.

The company has a surprising high quality marketing strategy, in which storytelling plays a key role. What is also notable is the good personnel policy, whereby the entrepreneurs have the ability to bind people to their business. That makes OK Plant a worthy representative of the Dutch floriculture sector.

Nine finalists

IGOTY 2019 will take place on 22 January during the IPM international floriculture trade fair in Essen. This year there are nine finalists from China, Denmark, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands and Poland.  Last year the International Grower Award and the associated Sustainability Prize were won by Ter Laak Orchids from Wateringen.