"NL: "Real quality will always be appreciated"

The nursery is now called Artisan: "The outcome of a number of brainstorming sessions, in which the art and the craft of the cultivation of the strongest, longest-lasting, in the most ornamental value resulting plant is being expressed", says Wilco. 

 

Without attaching a value judgment to this, one can imagine that with Artisan, where on 2.5 hectares of glass about 75 varieties are cultivated, usually 3 to 5 stem plants, a different type of craftsmanship is meant, like a colleague grower who pushes for large quantities. "We are here for the more exclusive segment", says Wilco, "and that large assortment is quite up to standard. Of course, that did not come about naturally, it has taken a process of years, trying out and looking for exactly the right varieties and the optimum quality. But because we are always looking for the limits of the cultivation, so to speak, the lesser varieties are dropped and the best are kept."

Artisan cultivates 'Original Orchids': without sticks, clips or other unnecessary plastic material, but 'as nature intended for the butterfly orchid'. "They are true powerhouses, because the flower stems of the Original Orchids are so strong that no supporting material is needed. This makes every plant unique."

 

The fact that the words craft and craftsmanship apply to the grower, should also be apparent from the fact that the grower is able to distance himself from the general economic situation. "In recent times, there have been hard times for many growers, simply because there is an abundance. But in our segment, both now and in recent years, we have always been able to make good returns. I am therefore firmly convinced that really good quality will always be appreciated."

And so Wilco is not impressed by the recent developments on the phalaenopsis market. Thanks to positive results, he, his predecessor, and of course the entire team, have been able to do excellent maintenance to the greenhouse and have even invested in lighting, fireproof screens, a pole line and more. "If we can maintain this quality, then we can continue for many more years. At least, provided we know how to hold on to our customers", Wilco concludes," because in the end we pay a great deal of attention to the details. You only can achieve that with dedicated and skilled employees and we have them."