NL: HortiContact Tour attracts international attention

The first edition of the HortiContact Tour, a two-day field trip for international growers, is almost fully booked. The last seats can be booked through www.horticontacttour.nl. Participation is free of charge. The excursion is a part of HortiContact Gorinchem, formerly known as the Tuinbouw Relatiedagen.

Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 February 2017, the HortiContact Tour will lead past multiple growing companies and knowledge centres, and will introduce international growers to the latest developments in Dutch glasshouse horticulture. The day programme includes a Practice Day and a Seminar & Exhibition Day.

On the first HortiContact Tour day (14 February 2017), participants will be visiting several growing and research facilities. The excursion will leave from Rotterdam at 8am. The first stop will be at 8:30am, at tomato grower Jami’s in Bleiswijk, followed by a visit to the Wageningen University & Research (greenhouse department) and the Delphy Improvement Centre at 10:30am. Both knowledge institutes will walk tour members through the latest developments and growing experiments.

Next Generation Growing
After lunch, the group will head for De Lier-based chrysanthemum grower Arcadia at 1:30pm. The company opened a new greenhouse in 2015. They are Next Generation Growing and plant health pioneers. The last visit of the day will bring the group to Sion Orchids at 4pm, also in De Lier. The company is renowned as an innovative producer of young Phalaenopsis plants. Sion Orchids is active internationally, on multiple continents. The day concludes with a dinner.

Seminar & Exhibition Day
The second day will centre around Gorinchem, 35 kilometres from Rotterdam. At HortiContact’s exhibition premises, researchers from Wageningen University & Research will give captivating presentations: Ep Heuvelink will present on the fascinating botany world (9am), while Frank Kempkes will introduce HortiContact Tour participants to the Winterlight greenhouse; the university’s new greenhouse construction project (at 10:30am). A complimentary lunch concludes the morning programme.

From 1pm, participants may visit the HortiContact exhibition. With an average of 450 to 500 exhibitors, it is one of the biggest and most-valued meeting platforms for Dutch Horticulture. The day will be concluded with a standing dinner reception.

For more information:
www.horticontacttour.nl