Bennett Saunders (left) and Peter Kroes (right) at MANTS 2020.
Saunders Genetics, LLC of North America and Dutch company van Vliet New Plants B.V. have agreed to a joint venture that begins a process that will lead to the eventual sale of Saunders Genetics’ patented NewGen™ Boxwood in the European consumer market. Bennett Saunders, General Manager, Saunders Genetics, and Peter Kroes, co-owner of van Vliet New Plants have taken the initial step of supplying plant material to select European growers for trialing over the next 12-18 months. Anticipated results of the plant trials will open the door for licensed growers to produce and distribute NewGen™ to European consumer gardeners.
Saunders Genetics introduced the NewGen™ Boxwood brand to the North American market in 2019 to much fanfare due its improved genetics that demonstrated greater tolerance of Boxwood Blight, higher resistance to Boxwood Leafminer, and WOW factor in the garden and landscape. At this time, 22 North American licensees have signed on to grow the first two plant introductions, NewGen Independence® and NewGen Freedom®. European growers are seeing the potential of NewGen™ Boxwood as a means to combat the devastation of blight that began in Europe and migrated to North America in 2011. Saunders Genetics was created not only to combat Boxwood Blight, but as a boxwood solution taking into account many years of trials and research on boxwood insects, diseases, and cultural factors.
van Vliet New Plants has been chosen as Saunders Genetics’ European connection for the introduction and management of NewGen™ in the Euro trade and consumer marketplace. The trialing process and building of production leading to consumer sales is expected to take 2-3 years. van Vliet New Plants with its global network is a recognized and proven leader in the protection, control, marketing, and management of new plant varieties.
“We believe NewGen™ Boxwood from Saunders Genetics has tremendous potential for the European market,” said Peter Kroes, co-owner at van Vliet New Plants. “The bar has been raised in the effort to find solutions to Boxwood Blight and we’re excited to be at the forefront in bringing this new generation of plant material to our audiences. Beyond blight, our association with Saunders Genetics’ long-range goal of elevating boxwood across a range of attributes and performance signals a bright future for this foundational plant.”
“We’re very pleased to be working with Peter and van Vliet New Plants in exploring the opportunities of the European market,” said Bennett Saunders, general manager of Saunders Genetics and co-owner