A group of independent greenhouse crop experts

I am pleased to announce a new advisory group is under development within Grower2Grower.

In the past year the work load and enquires regarding greenhouse/protected cropping cultivation has been extremely encouraging for Marie and I at Grower2Grower.   Before Covid-19 was making headlines, I had already begun thinking what is required to accommodate new customers, diversify the services we offer. I feel this is a superb time to establish a more diverse advisory group that can accommodate enquiries and offer growing information on a whole host of differing crops.

Current and future greenhouse horticulture offer’s solid business opportunities for many fruit and vegetable growers that want to increase profits and grow sustainably.   Potentially the new fresh water policies or Covid-19 may be catalyst for ‘speeding up’ greenhouse/protected cropping development.  Never the less greenhouse horticulture in New Zealand is growing and will continue to expand rapidly.   Domestic and international markets require consistency of supply, traceability, clean green and sustainable products that New Zealand can provide in abundance.

The new advisory group is formed by creating partnerships with experts from around the globe.  This is to ensure that sound, practical growing knowledge and advice will continue to cater for the array of products that are already or in the future may be grown using protected cropping.   Trusted experts that have specific cultivar knowledge in both traditional greenhouse crops and crops such as the current ever-expanding berry industry is a service we feel will be wanted, required and appreciated.

SME’s will be a group of independent crop consultants, advisors and coaches.  All SME’s will be experienced in their specialised fields with practical experience.  The advice will cover from low tech non-heated greenhouses to high tech growing facilitates.  Temperature and irrigation advice, physical crop management and labour techniques will be the basic requirements.   Our aim is to cover as many cultivars and to provide contacts to help the greenhouse industry to flourish.  New Zealand conditions are unique therefore the SME’s will be familiar with our climate and general conditions.

Grower2Grower’s first Subject Matter Expert is on-board

I am pleased to announce we have partnered with our first SME, a well-respected grower who has become a horticulture coach that has also spent many years growing in New Zealand, as well as different parts of the world.   His knowledge of New Zealand conditions, and the experiences growing in Europe and America, will be of immense benefit to growers that use his services.  I await with anticipation to officially announce who this is in the next edition of Grower2Grower. 

During the next few months, with recommendations and references from valued colleagues, we will make contact with likeminded independent SME’s to create more partnerships.  This will continue to develop until we have all the right level of expertise required from trusted reliable sources. The aim is to assist growers to achieve their desired results in the most efficient and effective way, reducing the bumps in the road some come across.

I appreciate your comments.  Please feel free to comment on the grower2grower Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/StefanGrower2grower/

Article Written and compiled by Stefan Vogrincic, Consultant, Grower2Grower

Article Edited by Marie Vogrincic, Editor, Grower2Grower