For Van Wingerden Greenhouses, Success Starts with The Right Foundation
At Van Wingerden Greenhouses, growing plants is more than just a business—it’s a family legacy. Started in 1960, the operation is now in its third generation under the leadership of David Van Wingerden, who grew up working alongside his father. Today, the greenhouse spans over 200,000 square feet and thrives with a dedicated team, including longtime head grower Kevin Willekes and the next generation of family members.
For years, Van Wingerden Greenhouses produced their own growing mix on-site using bulk peat. However, as the business expanded to supply independent garden centers, landscapers, and florists, it became clear that there was an opportunity to enhance consistency and streamline production by adopting a professionally blended growing media.
The Search for the Perfect Mix: Why Berger Stood Out
In 2019, the team initiated a series of trials with various mix products, and Berger quickly distinguished itself from the competition.
“We trialed a lot of mixes from different companies,” Kevin recalls. “But consistency was always a challenge. We ran into issues like sticks and stones in the mix, poor flow through our machinery, uneven tray fills, and wetting agents that didn’t work the same batch to batch. We were constantly making adjustments, and that made it harder to grow great plants.”
This changed dramatically when they trialed Berger. “Berger’s products were the most consistent, the cleanest, and gave us the best results,” Kevin states. “Plants rooted faster, the mix flowed smoothly through our equipment, and the overall quality was simply better. It made my job as a grower a whole lot easier.”
Berger’s Impact: A Reliable Foundation for Success
Today, Van Wingerden Greenhouses primarily uses BM5 Natural Fiber & Aggregate – Wood for the majority of their production, with BM2 for seedlings and BM7 for ground cover crops. The BM5 has proven to be the cornerstone of their success.
Beyond the product itself, the Van Wingerden team highlights Berger’s people as a crucial factor in their ongoing partnership. “The service has been excellent,” Kevin affirms. “The best part about working with Berger is not only their great product, but also their staff and sales team. They just feel like they fit in and they’re part of our family as well.”
“BM5 gives us a reliable foundation,” David explains. “It’s low dust and the quality is there. You start with a good mix, you set yourself up for success.”
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