Search for new products
In 1990, the Northend Gardens was established in Jordan Station, Canada. In 2010 Ted and Carrie started to look for new products for their 2 hectare greenhouse. “With a changing American dollar and American market we had to find other flowers to grow”, says Ted. “Therefore, we went to a flower show in the Netherlands”. During this visit to the Netherlands, they found a new flower, strangely enough, not at the show. “We were also visiting my uncle in Honselersdijk, the Netherlands. He had a flower in his living room, which I haven't seen before; it was a Medinilla.” This was the beginning of the Medinilla story for Carrie and Ted Oorsprong.
Family Oorsprong. (From Left) Carrie. Ted, Austin, and Jon Oorsprong.
It was a gamble
How did you know the Canadians would also love them before cultivating the Medinilla? “Before starting to produce the plants I did some research, but it was still a bit of a gamble. My wife found it very risky, but I was so impressed by the beauty of the plant that I knew it would work."
“We spent six months communicating back and forth, with Rob Scheffers, of Atlantis greenhouse, in order to bring the cuttings to Canada. In October 2011, the first un-rooted cuttings were transported to Canada and their first sales took place in October 2012. "During this year, we received a lot of technical support from Rob."
Keeping up with the techniques
Currently, three years later, 30% of the 2 ha sized greenhouse is used for Medinilla production and 70% for spring bedding plants and hanging basket plants. They grow two varieties of the Medinilla; Dolce Vita and Medinella Magnifica. The crop takes about 9-12 months to grow and is therefore a labour intensive crop. Their greenhouse is equipped with modern technologies, like automated rolling systems and shading systems. "We now have LS 10 and LS 80 in the summer time for shading. Every week, we communicate with advisers from the Netherlands and once or twice a year they will visit us. We also go to the Netherlands to visit growers and to learn more about their greenhouses and the techniques they use", says Ted.
Take a look at in the Greenhouse of Ted and Carrie Oorsprong.
New products must be showed
"The Medinilla is a new product in Canada and the US, therefore it is important to show the product to the public." Therefore, they exhibited at many shows throughout Canada and the United States. At these shows they received a lot of positive reactions. "Everybody who sees the flowers absolutely loves them” says Ted.
Medinilla Dolce Vita and Medinella Magnifica.
"At the moment, we sell the finished flowering plants to wholesalers in Canada." Last year, they also made a partnership with Ball horticulture, who are presenting them in the US as pre-finished plants; "these plants are 6 to 8 weeks away from flowering". In Canada, these pre-finished plants are also sold to smaller garden centres and other growers. "
Expanding the production and assortment in the future
Carrie and Ted Oorsprong have many plans for the future. At the moment, they are expanding the greenhouse. They are also planning to expand their Medinilla production. "Our goal is to have 80 to 100 percent Medinilla production in 5 years." Besides that, they would like to broaden their assortment with new Medinilla varieties. "Last year we started up a partnership with Corn Bak, a Dutch Bromelia grower and breeder of Medinillas. We started trailing new varieties of their Medinillas. So, in the next year or two, we hope to come up with three or four new colours."
There are also plans in the pipeline, within one or two years, to supply Canadian growers with rooted cuttings and techniques. "Additionally, our son is finishing Hort-school this year and will help us with the business."
For more information
Northend Gardens
Ted Oorsprong
Email: oorsprong@aol.com
www.northendgardens.com