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August 18, 2017 CapitalPress.com 3 Peoria Gardens pursues sustainability Capital Press JUNCTION CITY, Ore. — Peoria Gardens takes pride in being sustainable, whether it involves the envi- ronment or employees. Having taken over the business from his father four years ago, Ben Verho- even, president and general manager of Peoria Gardens, is passionate about social issues. He also hopes to continue the legacy of sus- Aliya Hall/Capital Press tainability his father pursued Ben Verhoeven has been running Peoria Gardens for four years. His family has owned the company since founding the business since 1983. in 1983. “Agriculture is a different beast, there are and he’s trying to minimize “Dad always treated em- that. Peoria Gardens has so- ployees with respect and complicated factors involved; we’re at the lar panels on two-thirds of with benefits. Some of the its buildings and has already employees have been around whim of mother nature.” reduced its energy use by 30 for 20 to 30 years. They are good people, fun and Ben Verhoeven, president and general manager of Peoria Gardens percent. “No one likes paying util- hardworking. I feel strong- ly about their benefits,” he I wish more people would our certified organic, and we ity bills. This is better for do that,” said Verhoeven. “It want to expand that produc- the bottom line and the long said. term,” he said. Peoria Gardens offers 12 feels good and it’s worth it. tion,” Verhoeven said. However, Verhoeven said The biggest challenge in weeks of paid parental leave It helps people out.” The nursery is also en- maintaining sustainability is there’s always more to do. for both mothers and fathers, The nursery finished up overtime pay, paid vacation, vironmentally sustainable, pest control. Environmental- sick leave and health and selling annuals, perennials ly friendly insecticides are its harvest season despite the not always easy to use, he “awful” spring that was ear- and vegetable starts. dental insurance. ly and wet, he said. “The veggie starts market said. “It’s the right thing to do. “Agriculture is a different Verhoeven also said that It’s not that much money. It has grown as more people isn’t free, but it has a much are growing their own food. the nursery industry uses a beast, there are complicated bigger, more positive effect. There’s been an increase in lot of electricity as a whole, factors involved; we’re at A Trailer For Every Nursery’s Need • Snyder Industries Plastic Tanks • Norwesco Plastic Tanks • Ace Plastic Tanks • Banjo Poly Fittings • PBM Sprayers • Spray Booms • Custom Water Trailers • TeeJet Technologies Spray Parts • SHURflo pumps • Hypro Pumps • Ace Pumps • Septic Tanks • Holding Tanks • Water Cisterns • Plumbing for Septics • Midland Metal Distribution • PVC Fittings • Spray Hose • Smucker Manufacturing Half-mile north of HWY. 34 N17-3/#5 • 16-18 Unit Loads • Consistently Fair Pricing CALL TODAY FOR PRICING! 503-849-0216 • FOREST GROVE, OR Nursery EQUIPMENT Diamond Your All Fertilizer Side Bander Com o i n ng so Trailer Sales Side Dump Tracking Trailer!!! Service Dealer 541-369-2755 • 541-953-7548 • 541-740-5135 • Halsey, OR OVER OVER 350 350 UNITS UNITS IN IN STOCK! STOCK! View our entire inventory: diamondksales.com 503-981-7517 • Hubbard, OR N17-3/#7 31989 Cinema Way, Tangent, OR FRESH SAWDUST • Hand Carts • Tracking Trailers N17-3/#5 New Location! first, but now that they are following suit other produc- ers can see that the business- es haven’t suffered or cost them as much as they initial- ly thought. “I like being sustain- able, environmentally and socially. I’m a new father myself, and anyone you know is either a parent or has been really sick before. These life events happen to everyone. We, as the agri- cultural industry, need to agree to help our neigh- bors out because they’ll help us out,” Verhoeven said. Row Discs Brands and models to provide your trailer solutions.. 541-928-2937 • 1-800-982-1099 • WE DELIVER ANYWHERE See our full inventory at www.jtisupply.com the whim of mother nature,” he said. “But we came out of it.” Other nurseries have followed Peoria Gardens’ sustainable example. Al- though there is a bad con- notation with the word “sustainable” within certain groups, the Oregon Asso- ciation of Nurseries is us- ing the term to showcase efficiency. California and Wash- ington already have similar benefits programs in place for their employees. Ver- hoeven said he would have loved to see Oregon be the N17-3/#T1D By ALIYA HALL
