The 34th edition of trade fair GrootGroenPlus is just around the corner. For the second time, it will be held at the Business Centre Treeport site. The number of registrations is so high that the fair has decided to expand the trade fair floor. As always, there is a theme this year: In the pictureL. Erik Bastiaensen is a member of the board of GrootGroenPlus and he will give us an insight into the lead-up to the event.

source: Heidi Peters

Erik Bastiaensen is the director of CLTV Zundert, which has been the location of trade fair GGP for many years, and he has been a board member of GrootGroenPlus for twelve years. "There are many registrations this year," says Bastiaensen. "That's why the trade fair floor has been expanded compared to previous years. I think the trade fair has a good reputation. The participants appreciate the visitors, which contributes to the growth of the event. Besides the combination of professional participants and the right visitors, GGP has the atmosphere of a welcoming, warm trade fair, which also adds to its strength."

Theme: In the picture

GrootGroenPlus is an international trade fair, not only in terms of visitors but also participants. About one-fifth of the participants come to BCT from other countries. Almost every year, the organisation comes up with a theme, which participants can choose to adopt. Bastiaensen says, "With a theme, we give a boost and new energy to the fair. Every year, we see participants who embrace the theme and creatively apply it to their stands. This year's theme is In the Picture. This theme mainly focuses on the plants themselves, but also on the participants and their businesses. How do they promote their public relations? How do they use their social media? How do you put new plants in the picture? How do you ensure they get enough attention? As a trade fair participant, you naturally put yourself and your products in the picture, but there are year-round opportunities to do so. With this theme, we hope growers will think about this."

Photo contest

A photo contest has been organised around the theme: participants could submit up to five photos that tell a story together, and the story had to be included as well. The photos were then presented to a jury without the accompanying story. The international jury members were asked to describe the story they saw in the submitted photos. These stories were compared to the submitted stories. The best entries will be presented at the trade fair, and one participant will go home with a nice prize.

Another aspect of the theme is executed by rebellious photographer Renzo Gerritsen, who captures all participants and their products in photos and film. These images can be viewed online and offline during and after the fair through social media channels, the website, the fair app, and in trade magazines.

Green Grand Prix

A fixed feature of trade fair GrootGroenPlus is the Green Grand Prix. During the Green Grand Prix ceremony, new and previously awarded plants are put back in the spotlight. At the 34th edition of the trade fair, there will be a special Green Grand Prix: this year, all participants are allowed to compete, meaning – in line with the theme – even more green products will be #Lin the picture$L. Due to the unique nature of this edition, the jury will be a mixed group, with international members included. This jury will follow a predetermined route, ask questions, inspect the plants, and select three to five favourites. This will happen on all three routes. The selected plants will be moved to the presentation area in the central square, accompanied by the jury’s assessment. Of course, these plants, like in the regular Green Grand Prix, will also be evaluated for their (cultivation) performance. During the judging, participants are asked to place their Green Grand Prix entry front and centre in their stand, on a designated platform.

European Plant Support

The EPS Foundation (European Plant Support) is very supportive of anything that advances the tree nursery industry, which often translates into financial contributions to important initiatives. In early 2024, GrootGroenPlus submitted a plan to increase the number of international buyers at the trade fair. With this project, which focuses on encouraging international visits to GGP, they aim to specifically target potential participants, as well as promote trade in nursery products, particularly in the visually appealing segment.

GrootGroenPlus

Trade fair GrootGroenPlus will be held this year from 2-4 October. The location: Treeport 401 and 402, 4891 PZ Rijsbergen (municipality of Zundert). The trade fair floor is open daily from 09:00 to 18:00. Tickets for free admission can be reserved through the website and the trade fair app. Visitors include nurserymen and traders in tree nursery products, people from the retail world, garden centres, and web shops, as well as those involved in the construction and maintenance of public and institutional green spaces.