Rhyzone Podcast

Rhyzone Podcast

Where conversation is cultivated and ideas grow. In "ask me anything" style, the Rhyzone Podcast brings together horticulture leaders to discuss the current issues, trends, and solutions within our industry. Become a stronger leader on your team and in your community with inspiring discussions. Brought to you by the team from Qualitree. read less

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Voices of the Industry with Jennifer Zurko & Chris Beytes of Ball Publishing – Episode 17

Voices of the Industry with Jennifer Zurko & Chris Beytes of Ball Publishing – Episode 17

Within the realm of digital media, publications such as GrowerTalks and Green Profit represent the enduring significance of print media in the industry. Jennifer Zurko and Chris Beytes, prominent personalities at Ball Publishing, contribute 50+ years of experience and knowledge as they delve into the intimate aspects of horticulture journalism and publishing. This engaging discussion sheds light on how journalists navigate the industry, giving a voice to the people and organizations behind the headlines. “... If we didn't love horticulture and support our growers, we'd be out of business quickly. So you want to build relationships, we want to see everyone we interview be successful.” –Chris Beytes Jennifer Zurko is Editor of GrowerTalks and Green Profit magazines. Even though she has a sports journalism degree from Northern Illinois University and thought she’d be a sideline reporter for some sports team, she’s been in the horticulture industry for 20 years. Jen may have int

Episodes

Voices of the Industry with Jennifer Zurko & Chris Beytes of Ball Publishing – Episode 17

Voices of the Industry with Jennifer Zurko & Chris Beytes of Ball Publishing – Episode 17

Within the realm of digital media, publications such as GrowerTalks and Green Profit represent the enduring significance of print media in the industry. Jennifer Zurko and Chris Beytes, prominent personalities at Ball Publishing, contribute 50+ years of experience and knowledge as they delve into the intimate aspects of horticulture journalism and publishing. This engaging discussion sheds light on how journalists navigate the industry, giving a voice to the people and organizations behind the headlines. “... If we didn't love horticulture and support our growers, we'd be out of business quickly. So you want to build relationships, we want to see everyone we interview be successful.” –Chris Beytes Jennifer Zurko is Editor of GrowerTalks and Green Profit magazines. Even though she has a sports journalism degree from Northern Illinois University and thought she’d be a sideline reporter for some sports team, she’s been in the horticulture industry for 20 years. Jen may have int

Nature & Tech Collide with Pieter Kwaakernak from Hoogendoorn – Episode 16

Nature & Tech Collide with Pieter Kwaakernak from Hoogendoorn – Episode 16

For today’s growers, walking the crop and interpreting technical data go hand in hand. Pieter Kwaakernak (General Manager for Hoogendoorn America) joins us to delve into the benefits and challenges of integrating technology into greenhouse management. He highlights how sensors, automation, and data analytics are creating optimal conditions for plant growth –yet not replacing the vital experience and human touch of the growers themselves. “Technology and new developments you have to see as an opportunity to do better; to do better as a grower, to have more acreage under your control, to do things more efficiently, and most of all, have more fun in what you’re doing…” –Pieter Kwaakernak Pieter Kwaakernak is a seasoned professional with over two decades of expertise in the horticulture sector. He currently holds the role as General Manager at Hoogendoorn and is responsible for the Canadian market. Pieter's profound connection to horticulture traces back to his roots. H

Growers: The Next Generation with Laura Bryce of KPU – Episode 15

Growers: The Next Generation with Laura Bryce of KPU – Episode 15

School’s back in session as Horticulture Faculty Professor, Laura Bryce, notes the educational trends and teaches us how the green industry’s ties to technology are shaping the next generation of horticulturists. Dig in to discover the key role education plays in nurturing a sustainable and thriving horticultural workforce and how you can adapt to the changing employment landscape. “Getting aligned with a company that has lots of opportunity to grow, good training, and mentorship is really really important to build that confidence [for horticulture graduates]” –Laura Bryce Laura Bryce is a horticulture educator at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Plant Health, which complements her more than 22 years in the crop production industry. In addition to working at KPU, Laura has worked with Flowers Canada Growers and the BC Landscape and Nursery Association on integrated pest management projects and also spent many years growing hydroponic

By Growers, For Growers: Exploring ERP with William Klaassen & Dr. Charlie Hall – Episode 14

By Growers, For Growers: Exploring ERP with William Klaassen & Dr. Charlie Hall – Episode 14

The data doesn’t lie; future-proofing your horticulture business means leveraging technology and standardizing. We flip the mic on our own host, William Klaassen, and invite industry renowned economist and speaker, Dr. Charlie Hall, to lead the conversation. William and Charlie reflect on the transformative impact of data-driven decision-making, intelligent software, and integrated ERP systems –and how these tools are enabling growers to make informed decisions that positively affect their bottom line. “Our industry, in particular, is data rich but information poor. We have tons of data but we don’t necessarily know how to intelligently make decisions from that data.” –Dr. Charlie Hall Aster Software provides and implements powerful tools and strategies to take businesses to the next level. By solving pain points with easy-to-use and adaptable systems, Aster reignites the spark of joy felt when growing professionals (like you!) can find clarity from the IT chaos and focus o

The Human Side of Productivity with Ricardo Campos of Ball Seed – Episode 13

The Human Side of Productivity with Ricardo Campos of Ball Seed – Episode 13

Are your people the drivers of profitability in your business? Ricardo Campos, from Ball Seed Company, takes us along on his journeys through the worlds of commercial horticulture, academic research, lighting innovations, and soil science to offer actionable insights into your workforce’s operational success. And shines light on how you can empower and motivate your team by aligning performance incentives with specific productivity goals. “That which can be measured can be improved. And that which is measured and rewarded is optimized.” –Ricardo Campos Ricardo Campos was recognized early in his career by Greenhouse Grower Magazine as one of the “Forty Under 40” leaders for his many contributions to the industry. He currently works for Ball Seed Company, leading the LED revolution sweeping across North America and Latin America, and bringing new technologies, such as GreenPlugs, to growers focused on increasing net profits. He was recruited into the horticultur

The Plant Whisperer: Plant Empowerment 101 with Peter Van Weel – Episode 12

The Plant Whisperer: Plant Empowerment 101 with Peter Van Weel – Episode 12

What are your plants telling you? Plant Empowerment pioneer, Peter Van Weel, is no stranger to the idea of branching out from traditional growing practices. He gives us a glimpse into the methodology behind this holistic mindset, simple steps you can take to enhance your growing process, and ways to tap into the natural growing power and resilience of plants. “The idea is that once you see how the plant reacts…then you can start thinking about what can I do to improve this, and then you are really on the path of using plant empowerment for what it’s meant for…” –Peter Van Weel Plant Empowerment is an integrated approach to the cultivation process that is based on the natural vigor of plants and uses physiological and physical principles instead of “green thumbs” and feeling. Moreover, Plant Empowerment is universally applicable for all crops, all occurring climate zones, and various types of greenhouses. For more about Plant Empowerment, visit: plantempowerment.academy or

Attract, Engage, Retain: Tap into the Power of People with Trevor Throness – Episode 11

Attract, Engage, Retain: Tap into the Power of People with Trevor Throness – Episode 11

Do you have the right people in the right seats? As an Executive Leadership Coach and Author (The Power of People Skills), Trevor has honed in on assessment tools for enhancing the self-awareness of leaders and employees, while creating a culture of belonging. We unlock the tools for attracting and retaining the best talent and developing the potential in your team. “You get the people you deserve. So I think it all starts with: Who am I? Do I have the right attitudes? Am I someone that people would want to work for? Because the business is just a reflection of you personally.” –Trevor Throness Trevor Throness works as a veteran coach, speaker, and consultant who specializes in working with growing businesses (from 1 million – 1 billion dollars in sales), helping them resolve the challenges that always come with fast growth. Trevor has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs, organizations, and business families fix people problems, enhance communication, attract top talent, and bu

Bugging Out on IPM with Greg Welfing of Anatis Bioprotection – Episode 10

Bugging Out on IPM with Greg Welfing of Anatis Bioprotection – Episode 10

Tech and nature collide in the world of Integrated Pest Management. Get ready to deep dive into this fascinating world and explore the powerful potential of biological controls with professional Agrologist and IPM Specialist, Greg Welfing. From natural predators and beneficials to drones and biotechnology, this episode uncovers the various holistic strategies used to keep pests at bay and shape the future of pest control. “It takes a lot of thought, it takes a lot of knowledge on your pest biology; and all of those things have to come up in conversation when you’re developing a pest plan.” –Greg Welfing As a professional Agrologist, IPM Specialist, and sales technician for Anatis Bioprotection, Greg is the go-to guy for helping growers develop their IPM strategies. He consults with nursery teams to understand their needs and environmental pressures before presenting insects (a.k.a. beneficials) as options for their biological control programs, all with the overall goal of he

Decoding the Economics of Horticulture with Dr. Charlie Hall – Episode 9

Decoding the Economics of Horticulture with Dr. Charlie Hall – Episode 9

In the economics realm, Dr. Charlie Hall truly has a green thumb! Over the past 30+ years, he has grown to be the preeminent source for wisdom and guidance within the horticultural world. He joins us (as our first virtual guest) for a deep dive into the topics and tools that matter most to you and your business. Despite the challenges of global financial crises, pandemic uncertainty, and job market pressures, Dr. Hall underscores how the growing industries are teeming with economic resilience, fast-paced innovation, and endless potential. “Whether you’re a grower, retailer, or service provider in this industry, you’ve got to put your best foot forward in terms of your value proposition; you’ve got to know what value you’re creating and really hit on that to your customer base…” –Dr. Charlie Hall A native of North Carolina, Dr. Charlie Hall grew up in the nursery industry and holds extensive academic accolades; achieving a B.S. in Agricultural Economics, a Master’s Degree in

The Psyche of the Workplace with Lindsay Benard of Dale Carnegie – Episode 8

The Psyche of the Workplace with Lindsay Benard of Dale Carnegie – Episode 8

Ready to unlock the full potential of your team? With 30+ years of experience under her belt, Lindsay Benard (Senior Corporate Trainer) is an advocate for learning how to navigate generational and cultural shifts in our workplaces –while relating to each other on a human level. Our conversation delves into how you can be a better listener, and in turn, a more effective leader by speaking the personal “language” of each member on your team. “People are going to work environments where they feel valued, engagement is encouraged, they have strong belief in the organization: in its senior leadership…in where the company is going…in what it stands for, and the company is able to demonstrate for them that they are valued.” –Lindsay Benard Founded in 1912 and inspired by one man’s belief in the power of self-improvement, Dale Carnegie is an industry leader in professional training and development. With courses in 35 languages across 80 countries, the organization has evolved in

Innovative Groundwork with Cor Bremmer & Jack Ford of ErfGoed – Episode 7

Innovative Groundwork with Cor Bremmer & Jack Ford of ErfGoed – Episode 7

It’s what’s underneath that counts when cultivating the foundation for an optimal growing environment. Encompassing a range of cultivation floors and water management solutions, the ErfGoed team is a global leader in complete, efficient, and easy-to-use systems. Cor Bremmer (Head of Commerce) and Jack Ford (Sales Manager USA) join us to dive into their approach to customizing projects for their grower customers and accelerating continuous research and development. “We listen to the customers, and the more challenging the questions are, the more enthusiastic [our] colleagues are.” –Cor Bremmer Representing half a century of rich history, ErfGoed continues to exemplify the sound knowledge of soil, vertically-drained cultivation floors, and water technologies that founder, Hans de Jong, envisioned. Closely translating to “heritage” in English, the name reflects their team’s drive to honor the resources gifted to them in a sustainable, reliable, and unique way. For more a

Shifting the Finish Line with Will De Rover of Qualitree’s Continuous Improvement Department – Episode 6

Shifting the Finish Line with Will De Rover of Qualitree’s Continuous Improvement Department – Episode 6

There’s no time to rest on your laurels in the quest for continuous improvement. As head of this industry-leading department at Qualitree, Will De Rover is embracing change, sparking discussions, and guiding his fellow teams to collaborate on solutions that improve everyone’s daily work lives –all with a healthy dose of self-reflection, humility, and perseverance! “Innovation is solving deeply personal problems. And I try to use that in my everyday work, that if I’m solving a problem that someone’s having, and it’s painful for them, and I can fix that, then we’re making the company better as well.” –Will De Rover For more about Qualitree: Web: qualitree.com Facebook: Qualitree Instagram: @qualitree LinkedIn: Qualitree YouTube: Qualitree

Wisdom of the Crowd: Nurturing Company Culture with Dave Van Belle of Van Belle Nursery – Episode 5

Wisdom of the Crowd: Nurturing Company Culture with Dave Van Belle of Van Belle Nursery – Episode 5

It’s all about the people! As President of Van Belle Nursery, Dave Van Belle is surrounded by a team that leads and grows by example. Dave relates his team-first approach, highlighting how investing in your people and developing their skills leads to mutual loyalty, confident decision-making, and free-flowing idea sharing –propelled by those closest to the action. “If our company can be successful, I’m successful, and if I’m successful, they’re successful. We’re all aligned the same way.” –Dave Van Belle Founded in 1973 by Bill and Grace Van Belle, Van Belle Nursery continues to supply industry-leading young and finished plants along with new genetics featured in the Bloomin’ Easy® range. The wholesale operation, based in Abbotsford, BC, prides itself on caring for their people and embodying their 5 Core Values: Best Effort, Always Positive, Respect People, Find a Better Way, and Do it Now. For more about Van Belle Nursery: Web: vanbelle.com Facebook: Van Belle Nu

Driving Continuous Improvement with Henk Rozendaal of Qualitree – Episode 4

Driving Continuous Improvement with Henk Rozendaal of Qualitree – Episode 4

With a continuous improvement mindset, there is always room to grow! Henk Rozendaal, Qualitree’s Director of Process Innovation and Automation, has built a career in streamlining operations –and striving for buy-in across the teams involved in every step. Henk shares his journey to Qualitree and his practices for overall success: remaining curious, embracing change, assessing production effectiveness, and knowing where to focus your resources. “I think if you want to be innovative as a person, but also innovative as a company, that doesn’t mean that every idea, everything that you do will be successful. If you don’t make mistakes, they say that’s the biggest mistake.” –Henk Rozendaal For more about Qualitree: Web: qualitree.com Facebook: Qualitree Instagram: @qualitree LinkedIn: Qualitree YouTube: Qualitree

Family Ties in the Green Sector with Gerard Schouwenaar of Orchard Park Growers – Episode 3

Family Ties in the Green Sector with Gerard Schouwenaar of Orchard Park Growers – Episode 3

For multi-generational businesses in the green sector, it’s all in the family! As a second-generation Owner/Manager of Orchard Park Growers, Gerard Schouwenaar exemplifies the balance between effective succession planning and fostering the professional development of his own children who have active roles within the company. Culture, leadership, and core values drive this conversation. "I'd be wrong if I just mandated everything. Because the next generation is bringing a lot of good information to the table. So how do we combine what I've seen and know together with what they're seeing and how do we make a path forward?" –Gerard Schouwenaar Orchard Park Growers is a family-run floriculture wholesale grower based in Canada’s Niagara Region. Drawing from Dutch heritage and excellence founded in the fruit farming industry, Orchard Park has been in operation for over 45 years and continues to innovate through the craft of greenhouse growing. For more about O

State of the Horticultural Industry with Jim Kennedy of Ball Seed – Episode 2

State of the Horticultural Industry with Jim Kennedy of Ball Seed – Episode 2

Much like the plants produced, the world of horticulture is a living, breathing entity. Growers and suppliers must be adaptive, leveraging sales and operational data to make informed decisions and offering the best plant for every end consumer. As Sales Director of Ball Seed, Jim Kennedy is always on the pulse of this dynamic industry. From the impacts of the pandemic to developing trends, he shares an overview of current hot topics in the sector –with renewed optimism for the future. “Plan for profit and plant to plan” –Jim Kennedy Launched by George J. Ball in 1905 as a wholesale cut flower operation, Ball Horticultural Company has grown to be a global leader in breeding, distribution, and research across 20 countries on 6 continents. Part of the Ball family of companies, Ball Seed is North America’s leading wholesale horticultural distributor. Under its 4th generation of family ownership, every member of the Ball team proudly takes part in finding solutions for the indust

Welcome to Rhyzone – Episode 1

Welcome to Rhyzone – Episode 1

The Horticultural Industry stems from a community of learning, sharing, and growing. Brought to you by the team at Qualitree, the Rhyzone Podcast brings together guests from all walks of the Green Sector. In this introductory conversation, William Klaassen and Tony Van Oort discuss the vision for the podcast, reveal the story behind the name, and hint at various topics and guests that will be featured. Join us in sharing and learning on Rhyzone, the Horticulture Leaders Podcast. “This is our next step in being [a] center of learning” –Tony Van Oort