Based in Ontario, practically grown up in a greenhouse and having Houweling as his last name. To sum it all up, it’s quite a miracle that Jake Houweling has managed not to work in the horticultural industry for a couple of years. Since January 1st he is though: operating the new joint-venture formed by Houweling Horticulture and Dutch Plantin, supplying both coco products and various greenhouse products to growers in the US and Canada. "Coconut substrates are very much in demand in Canada and the US. The same applies to greenhouse products. This is why Dutch Plantin and greenhouse product specialist Houweling joined forces and started a new company in Canada", he explains.
Jake Houweling
Growing market
For several years, Dutch Plantin has been delivering coconut substrates to major strawberry growers and greenhouse growers in North America. "A growing market, but not exactly what you would call next door, which makes it difficult to maintain personal contacts with customers. Growers not only prefer to do business with someone who – literally and figuratively – speaks their language and who they can talk with about the weather and local politics, but we also want to be quickly at the scene. And now we can, with our new company Houweling-Dutch Plantin in Canada", Wim Roosen with DutchPlantin explains.
Just like Dutch Plantin, Houweling also sees a future for itself in this region. More than that, Houweling has been a household name in the US for decades. The company provides greenhouse growers with products and services for the protection of their employees, plants, and products. The supply ranges from climate control to work clothing.
Both family owned companies and both aware of the opportunities in the North American greenhouse industry, they decided to unite their strengths and activities in a JV, and since this year, business is going on in Canada.
Maarten van Hagen and Ronald de Vreede (Houweling Group) last week at the Horticontact in the Netherlands
Name with fame
Within the new company that was jointly established by Dutch Plantin and Houweling, account manager Jake Houweling will be responsible for procurement and sales and the personal customer contacts for both organizations. Houweling is a name with fame in horticulture, and it shouldn't come as a surprise that Jake practically grew up in a greenhouse as well. His father, Ray Houweling, has been active in water treatment and is currently a familiar face to growers since he’s part of the Signify (Philips) team, responsible for the LED lighting segment for the horticulture sector in Canada.
“Combining the products of DutchPlantin and Houweling Horticulture is an easy match since the products are in line with each other”, Jake explains. “Both companies are aware of the strict rules that growers have to deal with nowadays and both companies have the well-being of the plant at heart, something that becomes clear when you see the assortment, including various plant strengtheners and biocides. Extensive grower support is also something both companies value highly. By helping growers, we can support growers throughout the season and help them get their crop to a higher level.”
For more information:
Jake Houweling
Houweling-Dutch Plantin
+1 (905) 598-0146
jake@h-dp.ca