Opening

On Wednesday 5 October 2022, the 32nd edition of trade fair GrootGroenPlus was officially opened. Until Friday 7 October, visitors can use the three routes - red, grey, and blue - to walk over 1 km and see the products and services of 235 participants. The participants that are available to talk to the press are marked with special pinpoints.

Welcome by the mayor

Prior to the opening of the trade fair, all in attendance were welcomed by the mayor of Zundert, Joyce Vermue. She mentioned to be proud of Zundert being the hosting municipality for the trade fair, which is the platform to exchange knowledge and information. This time mainly focused on the theme ‘Grounded’.

Grounded

David Bömer subsequently opened the 2022 edition of GrootGroenPlus. He referred to the reputation that GrootGroenPlus has built in the green industry, and offered a special word of thanks to the Rabobank, a sponsor of the trade fair. He also gave some insight into what visitors and participants can expect: Of course, we will have our plant inspections, stand inspections, and our own theme this year, which is ‘Grounded’. You will see a lot of this at our beautiful trade fair. There was a lot of enthusiasm this year, as could be seen on numerous social media. Not just ours, but also that of our participants. Their websites and our websites were updated regularly. The theme ‘Grounded’ can be interpreted in many ways. We have the ground on which you grow your products, the ground on which your company is established, the region with the same ground, and the society you’re grounded in.”

Internal press tour

During the internal press tour for the international press, many growers and suppliers were visited, including IBN kwekerijen (G015), SV Tuinplanten (G062), Powerplantz (G034, our youngest participant), Van Tuijl Innovations (G076) and BVB Substrates (G097). Attention was also paid to the Road Show and the Green Grand Prix.

Novelty inspection

Lendert de Vos, chairman of the inspection committee, awarded the KVBC Novelty inspection awards. There were eight silver and two bronze medals. The KVBC feels that it is important to the trade to have a regular renewal of the assortment. Not just in the sense of another leaf or another flower, but really regarding improvements with a higher resistance to diseases, or remaining more compact, which means they need less pruning and are thus real assets to the assortment. The winners of a medal are:

Winners KVBC Silver

Callicarpa bodinieri 'Kolmdepu' (MAGICAL DEEP PURPLE) by Kolster from Boskoop.

Callicarpa bodinieri 'Kolmsqueen' (MAGICAL SNOWQUEEN) by Kolster from Boskoop.

Muehlenbeckia complexa 'Golden Girl' by Van Vliet New Plants from Stroe.

Panicum virgatum 'Buffalo Green' (JS BUFFALO GREEN) by Van Riel Sierplantenkwekerij from Beringe (Belgium).

Prunus laurocerasus 'GRPL08' (OTTO SUPREME) by Plantenkwekerij Jos Selten from Meterik-Horst.

Sequoia sempervirens 'Lightning' by Schrauwen-Moerings from Sprundel.

Symphoricarpos chenaultii ‘RANT02’ (FIESTA BERRY) by Van Vliet New Plants from Stroe.

Taxus baccata ‘HER2016T02’ (TINY T) by Herplant from Beerse, Belgium.

Winners KVBC Bronze

Hydrangea paniculata 'GRHP12' (BONFIRE) by Fa. Lucassen Boomkwekerij from Vorden.

Thuja occidentalis ‘GK01’ (GREAT STAR) by Van Vliet New Plants from Stroe.

KVBC Awards after field inspection 2022

Ronald Houtman presents these awards prior to the internal press tour. The medals were won by the Staphylea colchia ‘Black Jack’ (silver) and Acer campestre ‘Ruijgrok’ (Street Pillar) (bronze).

Jan van Dongen and Jac Lodders award ceremony

Chairman of the board Corné de Vooght from Rabobank de Zuidelijke Baronie, main sponsor of GrootGroenPlus, presented the Jan van Dongen and Jac Lodders Awards.

Ronald Dictus, who had been nominated during another edition, won the Jac Lodders Award for best green stand. According to the 10 judges, it was not easy to have that many opinions and come to one conclusion, but they all felt that this was the rightful winner. Ronald Dictus (B096) had a small stand, but offered a great presentation of the entire product assortment and the company itself. The plants look amazing. And it was also focused on this year’s theme, Grounded. Other nominees were Plantenkwekerij Joost Sterke (G023) and Boomkwekerijen Zundert (B063).

The Jan van Dongen Award is given to the best stand created by Suppliers. The Lensli-stand (G018) was unanimously chosen as winner of this award. The theme Grounded is very visible in the stand, and you can even feel it there. Lensli succeeded in creating a clear presentation of the company, what it represents, and what it supplies. Other nominees were MvL (R051) and Van Oers Agro (B035).

Zunderts Groen Imago Prijs (Zundert Green Image Award)

On behalf of the jury appointed by the municipality of Zundert, alderman Ralph Bogers presented the Zunderts Groen Imago Prijs to Roelands Boomkwekerijen BV (B089). This award is intended for the stand that succeeds best in putting Zundert on the map as a green region. On Wednesday, the college visited the trade fair and alderman Bogers was able to physically give out the award. Other nominees were Boomkwekerij Verpaalen (B041) and Boomkwekerij Ronald Dictus (B096).

Road Show Awards

The Road Show is a collaboration between the KVBC, or the Koninklijke Vereniging voor Boskoopse Culturen, and trade fair GrootGroenPlus. The KVBC has been hosting novelty inspections during GrootGroenPlus for years. They also take care of many other inspections, such as exhibition inspections, field inspections, and star inspections. From all winning plants, 32 have been selected this year to be presented at the 32nd edition of the trade fair. It is possible to vote for these in the trade fair app!

Green Grand Prix

The Green Grand Prix 2022 is a new inspection related to the performance of plants that have been inspected before. This year, we have six entries. These are the Lonicera acuminata 'Venloma' MARINELLA, Skimmia japonica 'Perosa', Cornus alba WONDER, Leucothoe FIRESTAR, Prunus laurocerasus ELLY and Cortaderia selloana 'Day1'. The A-classification was given to the Cornus alba WONDER. The plants are on display in the grey route.

Children’s mayor

The highlight of Wednesday was the opening of the library by the newly appointed children’s mayor Ties van Steen. This happened at the same time as the start of the Children’s Books Week. After the opening ceremony, Ties put the Children’s Books Week gift into the library.

All award ceremonies and submitted plants can be seen online on the website, the trade fair app, or on our YouTube channel. There, you can also find a lot of photos and footage of the entire walking routes.

On Thursday, we have a morning surprise. On that day we will also host the external press tour, which will have a special start from the trade fair, with green products by Planten Stevens vof (B048).