Groot & Groot is intending to, in cooperation with two production companies in the vicinity, offer a group of employees work and housing year round. For this purpose, a new office and studio complex has been built and which has recently been commissioned. This complex offers room to 28 people. "Labor is scarce, and the fact that I need labor now, my neighbor tomorrow and my other neighbor the day after, does not make it any easier to find good employees. We have joined forces and hope to at least have found a partial good and, moreover, decent solution."
At the product location in Italy
We talked to Koen Groot, peony grower from Andijk, The Netherlands, where he is growing peony stems on eight hectare and peony flowers on another eight hectare. They have another 4,5 hectare in the Provence, in France, and are closely cooperating with a number of growers in Italy. These activities are to extend the season of course - the more south you go, the earlier the flowers - but year round delivery is not yet possible. To achieve that, they are also setting up a farm on the southern hemisphere. Last year, work started and October next year is expected to yield the first flowers.
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In a distant past, Wim Groot started growing various bulbs. His son Michiel, the father of Koen and Joost, decided to start growing peony 22 years ago. It did not take long before they started producing cuttings. Now, 22 years later, the company has grown into one of the largest international peony growers and cutting suppliers in the market. And it is still a family company. Michiel is still very active in the cultivation, and mother is doing the administration. Koen and Joost each have their own tasks, and as we speak, the oldest brother takes the first steps in the company.
In the Netherlands
Eight years ago, Joost joined and a Koen followed a few years later. Then, now five years ago, they decided to focus completely on peony. The production of cuttings continued undiminished, but because peony, for mysterious reasons, is one of the few (or perhaps even the only one) crops for which the genetics are not protected, the area was significantly expanded. The export of cuttings increased and became very successful. According to the brothers, they now have lines to all corners of the world.
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New location southern hemisphere
By opening a new production location in the southern hemisphere, Groot & Groot can supply the market with peony year round. Even though it is a real seasonal flower and demand in the Netherlands outside of the season seems to be non-existent, Koen states that in other parts of the world they do not understand why they cannot be supplied year round. In Europe, the season can be extended from end March to September at best. With the flowers from the southern hemisphere, year round supply is almost possible.
And finally on the southern hemisphere
A challenge for the southern hemisphere was finding the right location of course, a place which had all amenities - space, water, logistics. Koen thinks the biggest challenge is the distance and cultural differences. "It is a far away, it's not easy to reach. Therefore there must always be someone on location and we have found this person. But it is looking good and we have every reason that we will be able to supply a great quality flower."
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For more information: 
Groot & Groot
Elsenburg 29
1619 PZ Andijk
T: +(31)(6) 110 60 243
E: info@grootgroot.nl
www.grootgroot.nl