Van de Wetering Greenhouses Earns MPS Certification
Van de Wetering Greenhouses, based in Jamesport, N.Y., recently joined the ranks of growers certified by MPS. A family-owned business in operation since 1986, the company was already taking small steps toward sustainability before beginning the certification process, recycling trays and other materials, and always trying to be as “environmentally correct” as possible.
Walter Gravagna, Van de Wetering’s vice president, said they chose to certify for the peace of mind of customers and the end consumer, but MPS’ interest in them was a bonus. “What struck me about them is that they wanted to hear about us,” Gravagna said. “It wasn’t just about what they could do for us, but they had a genuine concern about our business and how they could help.”
Van de Wetering deals primarily in young plants, and their goal is to expand the young plant business and reduce the finished products that they grow. To do this, they’ve expanded their customers’ geographic range to the Midwest and beyond. Strong partnerships with companies like Ball Horticultural Co. are a principle foundation of the organization. According to Gravagna, the certification process has helped Van de Wetering understand how much even the smallest details matter. “[It has helped] us focus on the important steps that we should bring into our everyday business practices,” he said.
Van de Wetering joins other industry companies such as D.S. Cole Growers and Plug Connection, who have already completed MPS certification. For more information, contact Charlotte Smit at c.smit@usa.my-mps.com on the West Coast or Sandy Hering at s.hering@usa.my-mps.com on the East Coast.
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