The Niagara Greenhouse Growers (NGG) held their inaugural Annual General Meeting in St. Catharines, bringing together greenhouse growers and industry partners from across Niagara to mark a milestone in the establishment of a new unified regional voice for the region's greenhouse sector.
Chaired by John Boekestyn of Boekestyn Greenhouses, the AGM marks the culmination of more than a year of work to establish a committee dedicated to advancing the interests of greenhouse operators across Niagara's twelve municipalities. "Today represents a major step forward for our industry," said Boekestyn. "The Niagara Greenhouse Growers was formed because local growers recognized the importance of coming together to address municipal issues proactively and collaboratively. We've all had experiences where an organized voice would have made a real difference—and that's exactly what NGG aims to provide."
The idea for the NGG emerged from a group of Lincoln-based greenhouse growers who saw increasing pressures and complexities at the municipal level. Over the past 18 months, the NGG has worked closely with Flowers Canada (Ontario) to create a long-term governance structure. As a specialized committee within FCO, the NGG is responsible for facilitating networking and knowledge-sharing among members, advocating for industry-friendly policies and regulations, and promoting the Niagara greenhouse industry to the public.
During the AGM, the 2026 NGG Committee was ratified. Joining Chair Boekestyn on the Committee are Louis Damm of Floral Dimensions Flower Farm as Vice Chair, Rodney Bierhuizen of Sunrise Greenhouses, Aron Hoff of Meyers Farms, Jason Wierenga of Wierenga Greenhouses, Jeff Nickerson of Freeman Herbs, and Arjen van Eekelen of Prins Greenhouses.
"Niagara's greenhouse industry is an important economic driver for Niagara—one that continues to grow, innovate, and adapt," said Boekestyn. "With the NGG now formally established, we have the structure, the people, and the shared purpose needed to ensure that Niagara remains one of the best places to operate a greenhouse in Canada."
