Grower and Plantion board member

Esther Willemsen-Meeuwsen

When Esther Willemsen-Meeuwsen was asked to join the Plantion board in December 2022, she did not have to think twice. ‘The industry was facing difficult times, so I saw a challenge that had my name on it.’

Together with her brothers Roland and Willem-Jan, Esther runs the company Escaro Plants which specialises in succulents. The family business in Ressen, between Arnhem and Nijmegen, was founded 50 years ago by their father and covers 20,000 m2. Traditionally, the region was home to many growers but things have changed over the years. Esther: ‘The number of companies and products is declining, partly due to an ageing population. At the same time, companies are starting to collaborate to share costs. There is also a lot of ambition to become more sustainable.’

Specialisation
After some redevelopment in the area, Escaro had to give up acreage but the nursery is still active and manages to stand out. Whereas their father started with a wide range of potted plants, the second generation chose to specialise. Apart from some spring plants, the company now focuses entirely on growing succulents such as Sedum, Echeveria and Sempervivum. Esther: ‘These species are in high demand across Europe as they thrive in drier areas. They don’t need a lot of water.’ Water consumption is something Escaro pays close attention to anyway as the company is very concerned with sustainability. It also helps that most of their plants are frost-resistant. Esther: ‘We don’t need to heat our greenhouses in winter.’

Being transparent
The company has been MPS-certified since 2012 and now also has MPS-GAP. Esther: ‘It is important to show that we are transparent. This is what customers want from us. We show them how we incorporate sustainability, safety, quality assurance and corporate social responsibility. Incidentally, this is not only nice for the customer to know; it also gives us insight into what we are doing.’

Staying on top of things
Certification does not mean Esther and her brothers can sit back and relax. ‘You have to stay on top of things. We are constantly looking for opportunities to become more sustainable. For instance, we are experimenting with peat-free potting soil, spray almost no chemicals and are always looking for methods that are even more sustainable. We also collaborate with social development company Scalabor in Arnhem, where our plants are grown. We scored 109 out of 110 points from MPS-GAP, and we are driven to get that last point too.’

Plantion is doing well
Escaro has been a member of the Plantion cooperative for many years. Esther thinks of her board membership as an opportunity to represent growers’ interests and keep an eye on the bigger picture. ‘We try to represent Plantion as a cooperative as well as a company in the best possible way. Our industry faces considerable challenges, such as ageing, impoverishment and the energy transition. But Plantion is doing well. It is an ambitious organisation with a beautiful site in Ede. We hear this from buyers and growers alike.’

Certification
The multi-year plan states that Plantion will support growers with certification. Esther: ‘Many growers are already making more sustainable choices. We need to encourage that and offer help when it comes to certification so those last growers can also join in. Our members have nothing to hide. They grow beautiful, honest products and it’s nice to be able to promote that together.’

Multi-year plan 2027
Against the backdrop of societal developments, the industry and the company, Plantion is renewing its policy in 2027. Our mission remains to innovate, connect and inspire. That means increased investment in 24/7 digital services and inspiring physical buying opportunities. As an independent cooperative, but in close collaboration with Royal FloraHolland and others, Plantion aims to help suppliers be in the best possible position and to unburden them and their customers. Plantion is also serious about helping growers get certifications.

At the General Members’ Meeting on Tuesday 3 December, the multi-year plan will be presented and the board and management will answer questions.

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