Ever in bloom

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From palms to evergreens and nearly everything in between, Everde Growers brings plants to life for appreciative customers from coast to coast

Gardens are an oasis of peace and comfort, spaces filled with vibrancy and joy that spark moments of wonder and quiet satisfaction. For gardeners and horticulturists, each drop of sweat, every blister that heals as a callous, even the last streak of dirt that washes away after a day’s work, is truly proof of life.

Everde Growers cultivates trees, shrubs, ornamental, and edible plants for spaces of every size and need, supplying retail and wholesale garden centers, landscaping firms, and commercial and private customers across the US. Their 6,000-plus-acre production network of 14 farms in Texas, California, Oregon, and Florida produces a sweeping, high-quality selection of healthy plants, including perennials, palms, grasses, succulents, tropicals, fruit, and of course the aforementioned trees and shrubs.

To grow beautiful living things, to keep them alive and picture-perfect from the field to the seller until they’re returned to the ground, is the work of science, technology, artistry, and love. By blending a passion for horticulture, inspired leadership, and a sharply focused growth strategy, in a mere handful of years, Everde Growers has blossomed into an industry leader in plant production, development, and automation.

Since its purchase in 2015 by Forbes’ 30 Under 30 luminary Jonathan Saperstein and his siblings, the company has grown through vigorous acquisition. Several qualities define each investment, including, according to the company, “(A) positive reputation in the industry, a plant mix that adds value to the company’s offering, inventory to support that mix, land with a solid infrastructure, and an exceptional workforce.” Everde Growers brings 160 combined years of expertise to the work of growing beloved favorites and creating new varieties for an ever-increasing customer base.

In late 2020, culminating six years’ worth of strategic planning and investments, the firm once known as Tree Town USA and its subsequent acquisitions—California’s Hines Growers and Village Nurseries, Florida’s Medallion Growers as well as automation specialists Midas Nursery Solutions—became Everde Growers. A portmanteau of evergreen and verde, the name recognizes the company’s commitment to its craft and honors its roots in the American Southwest.

“We have spent several years refining our processes, combining our policies, and setting a strong foundation for the future,” Saperstein said of the rebrand. “Now is the time to truly bring the company together as one. … Our commitment to our customers, employees, and suppliers is stronger than ever. Having a single brand identity will help to streamline and improve many of our processes.”

Connective tissue goes here

In a business sense, Everde Growers is designed for sustainability. A diverse network of farms help to insulate the company from the vagaries of nature, ensuring that commitments are met on time with the quality products customers expect. “Overall we produce 33 million plants per year,” noted CFO Jeff Pettit. “We have substantial production capabilities and infrastructure, including greenhouses and shade houses. When it comes to serving our national retailers, independent garden centers, and our landscape customers, we have the best mix of plants in the industry, plus a top-notch sales team that provides great customer service throughout our markets.”

In 2019, the company blended its new plant programs from its three business units. “That was part of our efforts to utilize our combined experience, our market intelligence, and our best practices,” Pettit explained. At present, Everde Growers boasts 80 patented and/or trademarked products. New plants gathered from Everde’s international breeder network are tested in five trial farms in different growing regions. In 2020, the company added 2,100 new plants to its production mix.

In September 2020, the company partnered with Plant Development Services Inc, of Loxley, Ala., to create Boxwood Solutions™ Inc., providing the world’s first collection of scientifically bred blight-resistant boxwood plants and hedges under the name Better Boxwood™.

“We’ll offer four different blight resistant varieties, each with a unique size and form, and we’ll start taking orders in September for spring 2022 delivery,” Pettit revealed. “We're super excited about the potential here. It's very cool and very encouraging for us, and we think that as our customers look toward successful gardens next year we can transform them with better genetics and more interesting characteristics. We are very aware of the impact of COVID-19 in this country, in fact, in the world. We have been impacted as I’m sure everyone else has. One of the more interesting things our research team has found is that with so many areas of society shut down, the demand for home improvement grew tremendously. It is estimated that there are more than 20 million new gardeners this year, which, for our business, is very encouraging.”

Pettit stressed that at its heart, Everde Growers is a manufacturer, albeit one in the field. “We're focused on producing and maintaining our plants and ensuring the highest quality. We're constantly looking for ways to improve,” he said. “At times, we deal with insects, disease, and of course, Mother Nature ... ultimately our continuous improvement goals should either move us toward operational excellence or becoming an employer of choice for our people.” Whether reworking processes for greater safety and efficiency, to allow workers to do their jobs more dynamically, or to meet global standards of product consistency, their CI focus is relentless.

As the Saperstein family laid the foundations for Everde Growers they brought together the company’s 2,000 employees in the spirit of family. When Hurricane Harvey blasted through Texas and Louisiana in 2017, company employees made more than 5,000 meals, cleaned up, and supported their communities. Then when Hurricane Irma slammed Florida soon thereafter, company employees in Texas kept giving, driving needed supplies across the country for their colleagues in Florida.

“Our people care about the company, they are experts in their craft, and we are truly a green company. We are helping to make the industry greener, and our people make Everde Growers the best place to work,” Pettit stressed. “We maintain our character and integrity and try to do things right. We consider ourselves good corporate citizens and we do our best to create good solid business partnerships. Most importantly we really try to keep our families and employees safe, create value, and bring people satisfaction and enjoyment.” Everde Growers is proof that the strategic elevation of a premium growing operation, that blends national reach and local expertise with a culture of true caring and excellence, yields a rare bloom indeed.