As part of the 12.5 year anniversary of the Dutch horticultural Business Club, the board organized a unique horticultural trend trip to New York.
On October 10, 57 members, consisting of growers, marketing organizations, consultants, educational institutions and suppliers, left for a four-day trip to New York. The program consisted of a survey of food and flower trends, company visits, strengthening the relationships and visiting various attractions.
One of these was a visit to the Highline, a former old railway line converted by local residents in a green park. A good example of how green can make a neighbourhood attractive again and so become a lifeline for the popular Meatpacking District. The planting of the Highline was designed by the Dutch architect Oudolf.
On Saturday, visits included several Long Island companies. After a tour of foodservice specialist J. Kings, the trip continued on to Koppert Cress USA. In addition, there was a visit to Van de Wetering Greenhouses, originally a Dutchman who moved to America in 1951. Van de Wetering has been supplying plants and trees to many parks and gardens in New York for nearly 50 years, including tulips and begonias for Park Avenue.