Growers Council

Growers Council

The Growers Council represents the needs of the grower industry segment within the Society of American Florists.

The year noted after each individuals name indicates when their term on the Council expires.

Patrick Busch Len Busch Roses Plymouth, Minnesota Patrick Busch is CEO of Len Busch Roses in Plymouth, Minnesota. In addition to roses, the 52-year-old family-run company grows alstroemeria, lilies, gerberas, snapdragons, delphiniums, tulips and blooming plants. Len Busch Roses also operates a wholesale business selling cut flowers, bouquets, blooming and green plants and floral supplies. Busch has Bachelor’s degrees in horticulture and business from Michigan State University. He has been a member of SAF’s Growers Council since 2015. He served as vice president of the Minnesota State Floral Association from 2010 to 2014 and as a board member of the Flower Promotion Organization from 2005 to 2015.
Chairperson
Patrick Busch (2019)
Len Busch Roses
4045 Hwy 101
Plymouth, MN 55446
Tel:763-478-9329
Email


Matt Altman (2021)
Altman Plants/Floragem
3742 Blue Bird Canyon Rd
Vista, CA 92084
Tel: 760-744-8191
Fax: 760-744-8835
Email


Austin T. Bryant (2021)
Heart of Florida Greenhouses. Inc.
7555 Crewsville Rd
Zolfo Springs, FL 33890
Tel: 863-735-1199
Fax: 863-735-1081
Email

Hank Bukowski The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Marysville, Ohio Hank Bukowski is director of live goods at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, a 149-year-old company in Marysville, Ohio. Bukowski grew up working on his grandfather’s rose farm and has been in the floral industry for more than 40 years. He has a Bachelor’s degree in ornamental horticulture from Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture and has worked as a grower, greenhouse manager and general manager. Bukowski has served on the board of AmericanHort. Before that, he served on its Grower Council. He has spoken at Cultivate, the association’s annual trade show, for 20 consecutive years. Bukowski also belongs to the Floriculture Alliance Research Group.
Hank Bukowski (2020)
American Color, Inc.
22495 Thornhill Rd
Orange, VA 22960
Tel: 540-854-5200
Email


Joaquin de la Torre (2019)
Ball SB
7270 NW 12th St
Miami, FL 33126
Tel: 305-495-8477
Email

Rodi Groot Sun Valley Floral Group Oxnard, California Robert Dirk “Rodi” Groot is product coordinator and bouquet manager of the Sun Valley Floral Group in Oxnard, California. He has a degree in trade and management from Boerma Instituut in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands and 37 years experience in the industry. His expertise is in care and handling, field and cooler inventory management, financial management and marketing. He served on the Produce Marketing Organization’s floral council from 2007 to 2008. From 2012 to 2014, he chaired the promotion committee for the California Cut Flower Commission and, in 2014, he chaired the committee that started American Grown Flowers.
Rodi Groot (2020)
Sun Pacific Bouquet / The Sun Valley Group
3132 E Pleasant Valley Rd
Oxnard, CA 93033
Tel: 805-797-4819
Email

Jamie Kitz head shot
Jamie Kitz (2021)
Sakata, Inc.
18095 Serene Dr
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Tel: 831-809-3004
Fax: 260-672-9065
Email

Mike Mooney Dramm & Echter, Inc. Encinitas, California
Michael Mooney (2019)
Dramm & Echter, Inc.
1150 Quail Gardens Dr
Encinitas, CA 92024-2784
Tel: 760-846-4603
Fax: 760-436-2974
Email

Steve Register
Steve Register (2019)
Flores Ixtapan S De RL de CV
Km 29.4 Autopista
Tenango-Ixtapan de la Sal
Villa Guerrero, C.P., 51760 Mexico
Tel: 011-52-714-142-8800
Email


Robin Van der Schaaf (2021)
Flamingo Holland, Inc
1250 Avenida Chelsea
Vista, CA 92081
Tel: 760-734-1033
Fax: 760-727-1173
Email

Headshot of Tom Wheeler
Tom Wheeler (2019)
Bell Nursery USA
7111 Troy Hill Dr
Elkridge, MD 21076
Tel: 301-421-1500
Fax: 301-421-4269
Email

Herb Van der Ende, Jr. (2020)
Burnaby Lake Greenhouses, Ltd.
17250 80th Ave
Surrey, BC V4N 3G4 Canada
Tel: 604-576-2088
Fax: 604-576-2475
Email


Staff liaison
Shawn McBurney
Senior Director, Government Relations
Society of American Florists
1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 201
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Tel: 703-838-5230
Fax: 703-836-8705
Email

Why Join SAF?

The Society of American Florists is the national trade organization for all participants of the U.S. floral industry and offers exciting benefits for the following types of businesses:

2018 © Society of American Florists

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