Once there were more than a thousand rose raiser in the Netherlands . Now there are less than 20 . How do you future - proof a rose occupation in the Netherlands ? " It number down to scale and an exclusive assortment , " says Arie van den Berg of Berg RoseS in Delfgauw . " That has always cultivate for us so far . "
For Berg Roses , economy of ordered series combined with an exclusive assortment study well . In doing so , Berg RoseS has larn a unique position for itself : there is a locating in Delfgauw and also a locating in Kenya . There was a byplay in China for a very prospicient fourth dimension , which Arie is still involved in as a shareholder . A project was recently started in Colombia . In short , Berg RoseS is a agriculturist based in the Netherlands and active on almost all continents .
" Many agriculturist are either only in the Netherlands or only abroad , " Arie explain . " We were in the situation of being capable to develop from both the Netherlands and afield . That ’s complex , but we gravel it done . That means that now you also look into all those mart , and have more knobs to turn . "
Exclusive varietiesRoses are the most wide spring up cut heyday worldwide . " It is one of the most iconic peak in the earth and they bring a skillful toll per kilo , making air freight profitable , " Arie outline the international rose securities industry . " That means you see a lot of agriculturalist around the equator , because the labor costs and vitality cost are comparatively low , while you could still sell all over the world . That is also where the biggest cultivator are , with hundreds to over 1,000 hectares of roses and other cut flowers and sometimes more than USD 300 million in employee turnover . "
How can you compete with that in the Netherlands ? " Yes , we have experience labor and vigor as major challenges for ten , and at the same time the growing impingement of technology and sustainability on the production operation , " tell Arie . " you may differentiate yourself in the Netherlands with sole high - quality sort grown in the most sustainable way . "
Relevant and profitable"We always have the stress on the future , " Arie continues . " We have made the right investments in time , I think . Whether it ’s opening companies in Kenya or China , scale up the business in the Netherlands , or investing in far - get to sustainability beat such as full light-emitting diode and connecting to geothermal heat , it ascertain that we continue relevant and profitable . Each step was manageable , so you did n’t take too much unnecessary risk either . "
mechanization and sustainability"Also in mechanisation , I see some modest steps we can take . Some growers have gone over the top because they tried to go through a completely automate develop organization in one go . I think we are going to automate more and more , but certainly in the beginning mainly to make the work for people swooning and easier . "
" you’re able to also see it in the investment we made in full LED , " says Arie . " We really had to learn to grow again . Each type of roseate reacts differently to guide . But we relieve enormously on energy . With roses , you make a big turnover , but you also have large monetary value . If you may use LED to become more sustainable and boil down the price price per rose , you make stride . "
High - end , low footprintLabor and energy also seem to be the challenge rise growers in the Netherlands will have to deal with in the coming years . " But there are still many gain to be made throughout the chain , " Arie points out . " Logistics can be smarter , by thin out the time of raptus and handling , for example . But there is also plenty to do on the marketing and sales side ; further cooperation between growers , in combination with the vendue can assure a stronger market post . With exclusive varieties that are high - end and at the same time have a dispirited footprint , you then persist very interesting for florist and wholesalers . "
" If you then also get laid how to order the story of the mellow - end and low footprint well to the consumer , we can definitely maintain an interesting market place position for Europe from the Netherlands , " Arie said . " That ’s where Royal FloraHolland can wreak a role , for example by becoming a safe haven for flowers with a sustainability label . Be good , and tell it . "
The future of the Dutch rose"I think rose will certainly still be grown in the Netherlands ten year from now , although the proportional share from the Netherlands will continue to shrivel compared to the total market , " conclude Arie . " It is also now still a difficult crop to sell or transfer a business in ; you see that success is often more subordinate on the enterpriser than on the business . That is a conflict that many company still have to face . In the Netherlands , you still have real growers , but afield you often see company with investor who see roses as just one of the products in which it is near to empower . That ’s where we can really still make a difference . "
Arie van lair Berg left school in 1992 and entered his father ’s job . finish has been in the family since 1900 . As the fourth genesis , Arie took over the business from his father Matthijs and uncle Martien in 2007 and has built the society into the multinational that it is today .
In 1975 , the Van hideaway Berg family ’s baby’s room switch over to blush wine . In the Netherlands , it grows in a high - quality greenhouse on 16 hectare . It also has a 55 - hectare site in Kenya and started a internet site in Colombia , collaborating with a chrysanthemum agriculturalist on logistics to Europe . The company is known for its eminent - quality , undivided roses .
Source : YEALD
