China - Van den Berg Roses
With a good climate and local technical expertise, the south-west of China an ideal location to grow roses. Besides Asia is a potentially big market.That’s why Van den Berg decided to become the first Western rose grower in the town of Kunming.
Two years ago Arie van den Berg, director of Van den Berg Roses in Delfgauw, travelled to China with a trade delegation. He returned full of enthusiasm accompanied by associate Nic Pannekeet, who had already been living and working in China for years. Van den Berg Roses already has rose nurseries in the Netherlands and Kenya where production is mainly for the European market. Now it is Asia’s turn.
Perfect location
Finding a location with the right climate and techical skills was not easy, recalls Arie Van den Berg. ‘The closer to the equator the more stable the climate, but the lower the 24-hour temperature the larger the bud of the rose. So we had to go high up in the mountains to find the low temperature we needed. And just like the Netherlands, China is a country where just about all available land is cultivated. Ultimately we found the perfect location at a height of 1,550 metres, but we had to convince the local mayor and farmers in the area where we wanted to buy the land. Apart from the language problem that was a question of drinking a lot of tea. And giving all the farmers a job with us.’
Perfect greenhouse with the help of Priva Asia
Van den Berg is not in itself a Priva disciple, but in this case it did call upon the expertise of Priva in the particular field of heating and substrate. ‘It is an enormous advantage that Priva already has specialists in China. Nic Pannekeet knew the people and made the contacts. The plans are looking good. I believe this is a perfect greenhouse in a perfect location.’
The new greenhouse complex of 3.5 hectares (with the option to grow to 20 hecatares) to start production in the beginning of March 2008.
