Larger Containers

Sunrise Greenhouse produces an assortment of 14 to 36-inch coco liner baskets.

Dan Woldhuis Jr., co-owner of Woldhuis Farms/Sunrise Greenhouse Inc. in Grant Park, Ill., said he is seeing the trend continue to larger size containers among both his retail and wholesale customers.

“The 4-inch pots are picking up as the flats are leveling off,” Woldhuis said. “The recession may have slowed down the progression to the 4-inch, but it did not stop it.”

His annuals are produced in 1204s in 8½-by-20 slim flats, and 4-inch pots are produced in 14-count shuttle trays. Woldhuis also grows geraniums and perennials in 4½-inch deep square pots in 12-count shuttle trays.

“We are definitely seeing an increase in the 4-inch being sold through the garden centers,” he said. “We are also seeing an increase in 3-inch sizes (1801 vegetables) and 6-inch flowering plants. On the flats, the volume has remained the same. We probably still sell more flats, but we’re making more money on the 4-inch than on the flats. Increasingly our landscaper customers are requesting larger sizes including 606s, 1801s and 4-inch.”

Woldhuis Farms’ retail operation is open from around April 1 through Halloween. The company also produces 10-inch hanging baskets, 12-inch fiber baskets, hanging bags, flower pouches and an assortment of 14- to 36-inch coco liner baskets. Its major fall crop is garden mums in 9-inch mum pans.

“We sell perennials throughout the season, but the bulk of our sales are in the spring,” Woldhuis said. “About 50 percent of our overall sales are retail and 50 percent wholesale and we are satisfied with that break down of sales. For perennials, 80 percent is sold through our retail and 20 percent are wholesaled.”

Woldhuis said there has been some change in his wholesale customer base.

“Our wholesale business has switched away from the garden centers and more toward the landscapers,” he said. “Some of the smaller garden centers have gone out of business, but we are competing more with garden centers for that retail business.” www.woldhuisfarms.com