Greenhouse Produce Co. appoints Fried De Schouwer president
Greenhouse Produce Co. appoints Fried De Schouwer president
The board of directors of the newly formed Mission, TX-based Greenhouse Produce Co. LLC has announced the appointment of greenhouse pioneer Fried De Schouwer as president.
Mr. De Schouwer, a greenhouse tomato industry leader, left Eurofresh, where he was vice president of sales and marketing, after 14 years in 2004. During his tenure, Mr. De Schouwer was the cornerstone of the company's rapid growth in sales from $3 million to more than $85 million by 2004.
While on a one-year sabbatical, Mr. De Schouwer was able to objectively reflect on the greenhouse industry and its future direction. He recognized a substantial gap between the grower and the retail community and is convinced that this newly formed grower-based venture responds to the need for a transparent partnership which ultimately offers a better value for grower and retail customer alike.
Mr. DeSchouwer, a Belgian native, has his roots in the Belgian endive business. In the 1980s, Mr. DeSchouwer moved to Holland and laid the foundation for Dutch greenhouse produce exports to the United States. When European greenhouse sales in the United States experienced explosive growth, Mr. De Schouwer immigrated to America to expand the retail market of greenhouse vegetables. In the early 1990s, he was instrumental in the introduction of domestic greenhouse operations in North America using European technology.
GPC is marketing all Mexican greenhouse produce grown by the three independent producers. Both Agros and Cris-P have been producing quality greenhouse tomatoes for over a decade, while Agrizar-Zarattini has specialized in colored bell pepper production.
Additionally, Cris-P has been a leading producer of seedless cucumbers since the late 1980s. The three companies represent over 150 acres of high-tech hydroponic greenhouse facilities. Combined, the partners produce a critical mass of 3 million cases of greenhouse vegetables on a year-round basis. As grower-shippers, the partners of GPC are focused on closing the gap between the farm and the consumer with this new and unique venture.
Mr. De Schouwer, a greenhouse tomato industry leader, left Eurofresh, where he was vice president of sales and marketing, after 14 years in 2004. During his tenure, Mr. De Schouwer was the cornerstone of the company's rapid growth in sales from $3 million to more than $85 million by 2004.
While on a one-year sabbatical, Mr. De Schouwer was able to objectively reflect on the greenhouse industry and its future direction. He recognized a substantial gap between the grower and the retail community and is convinced that this newly formed grower-based venture responds to the need for a transparent partnership which ultimately offers a better value for grower and retail customer alike.
Mr. DeSchouwer, a Belgian native, has his roots in the Belgian endive business. In the 1980s, Mr. DeSchouwer moved to Holland and laid the foundation for Dutch greenhouse produce exports to the United States. When European greenhouse sales in the United States experienced explosive growth, Mr. De Schouwer immigrated to America to expand the retail market of greenhouse vegetables. In the early 1990s, he was instrumental in the introduction of domestic greenhouse operations in North America using European technology.
GPC is marketing all Mexican greenhouse produce grown by the three independent producers. Both Agros and Cris-P have been producing quality greenhouse tomatoes for over a decade, while Agrizar-Zarattini has specialized in colored bell pepper production.
Additionally, Cris-P has been a leading producer of seedless cucumbers since the late 1980s. The three companies represent over 150 acres of high-tech hydroponic greenhouse facilities. Combined, the partners produce a critical mass of 3 million cases of greenhouse vegetables on a year-round basis. As grower-shippers, the partners of GPC are focused on closing the gap between the farm and the consumer with this new and unique venture.
