October 15, 2013
Sheridan wins second consecutive world title
For the second consecutive year, Sheridan Nurseries received the AIPH world grower of the year award. In photo, from left, Vic Krahn, president of AIPH, Karl and Bill Stensson accepting the award on behalf of Sheridan and LO president Phil Charal.
For the second consecutive year, LO member Sheridan Nurseries won a world title, receiving the International Horticultural Producers Association (AIPH) Golden Rose.

The award was handed out at a gala dinner in Niagara Falls on Sept. 11. Sheridan Nurseries’ CEO, Bill Stensson, and president, Karl Stensson, were on hand to collect the award.

Organized as a partnership between AIPH and FloraCulture International, the awards dinner, sponsored by Bylands Nurseries of B.C., attracted guests from all over the world.

The judges were impressed with Sheridan Nurseries’ commitment to and achievements in innovation, environmental responsibility, efficient production and people management.

The nursery, which covers 400 hectares of hardy nursery stock and container tree production, is a major supplier to customers across Canada and the U.S., including its own chain of nine garden centres in the GTA. The business produces two million plants each year, including 600 perennial and 800 nursery stock varieties. It is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.  

Orchid grower, Sion from The Netherlands won the Silver Rose award with judges commenting specifically on the remarkably strong growth and clear vision that the business has shown. Sion produced 12 million orchids in 2008, and this had increased to 30 million this year.

Belgian amaryllis grower Romberama won the Bronze Rose with Whetman Pinks from the U.K. taking fourth place. The judges noted that all these four winners were outstanding businesses within their areas of specialization.

Commenting on the results, AIPH president Vic Krahn said, “Sheridan Nurseries is a worthy winner of the top prize at this year’s awards and to win it for two years in a row really shows how special this business is. Judges applied rigorous standards when scrutinizing the nominations and the positive comments they made is such a compliment to all four of these winners. These awards are a celebration of the very best in ornamental horticultural production and I am delighted that we can recognize them in this way.”