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Interview
Cultivating the Southeast USA
a travel report by Wouter Verbruggen (Managing Director)
From gardening mixes to greenhouse tomatoes
“In the last week of May, I made a business trip through the Southeast USA to visit existing and potential customers. I arrived on Memorial Day, a day dedicated to remembering and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Upon arrival in the early afternoon, I drove from Atlanta to Greenville, South Carolina, where I stayed overnight. The next day, I visited several production facilities involved in gardening mixes, greenhouse tomatoes, and firewood processing. My first stop was at a company producing gardening mixes based on manure from cows raised on their own farm. It was easy to see how these carefully developed mixes contribute to fertile kitchen and flower gardens.
The next visit took me to a hidden location among the hills and forests of southern Virginia, where I toured a large tomato greenhouse. I was told that the local climate creates the perfect conditions for growing exceptionally flavorful tomatoes. After tasting a few myself, I had to agree. The facility is brand new and currently ramping up production, making it an excellent fit for our recently introduced V-Stack 315 palletizer.
Entrepreneurship and customer relationships
My final stop of the day was at a facility where large quantities of tree trunks are processed into firewood, fence posts, and sawdust. I continue to be impressed by the ingenuity and dedication of entrepreneurs who build successful businesses on smart ideas, careful planning, and perseverance. Once again, I was reminded of the importance of strong customer relationships. Understanding a customer’s needs, offering the right solutions and services, and building trust over time are essential. When the customer is ready to move forward, it is important to be prepared with the right plan.
Supporting customers in the sweet potato industy
The next few days were spent in North Carolina, visiting existing customers in the sweet potato industry. We reviewed the performance of installed equipment, discussed service requirements, and explored opportunities for additional end-of-line automation. It was especially rewarding to see a palletizing and wrapping project for paper potato bags that we installed 17 years ago still running to the customer’s full satisfaction.
Planting seeds for future growth
Part of my time was also dedicated to “planting seeds” for future business opportunities. These relationships will require continued nurturing in the months ahead. The need for automation is evident throughout the region. Labor shortages remain a challenge, while labor costs continue to rise. At the same time, market demand remains strong, creating an ongoing need for efficient and reliable production processes.
It was an interesting and valuable experience that provided fresh insights into the region. Driving through tobacco fields, the crop that helped build the state, and past sweet potato farms, for which North Carolina is the leading producer in the United States, offered a unique perspective. It is inspiring to see how businesses have been passed down through generations, continuing a legacy while serving customers and communities as trusted partners. That is a vision we at Verbruggen also strive to uphold.
Connecting with customers and colleagues in Washington State
Over the weekend, I traveled to Washington State, where our US entity is based, to connect with the team and meet with several business partners. (Photo Pasco building – Lars, ik heb er een bijgevoegd maar ik denk dat jij recentere en mooiere hebt). I also visited customers in the area. For many fresh produce companies, this is the season to perform maintenance and prepare for the upcoming harvest. This provided a good opportunity to discuss their service needs and explore how Verbruggen can support their operations.
Conclusion
“In conclusion, I can say that the market appears to be adapting to the current political climate and is increasingly focused on doing business rather than being distracted by factors beyond its control. That gives me confidence and optimism for the period ahead.”
-Wouter Verbruggen, Managing Director at Verbruggen Palletizing Solutions
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