Grow Like a Rock Star: Caleb from van der Meer Garden Centre

At van der Meer Garden Centre, growth is something that builds over time. Not just in square footage or production, but in experience, in systems, and in the way each generation takes the business a little further.

What began as a small, local greenhouse in Manitoba has grown into a multi-acre operation serving both production and retail. At the center of it is a family focused on consistency, quality, and long-term thinking.

Now, with Caleb van der Meer stepping onto the front stage, that foundation is being carried forward with a new perspective while the core rhythm of the business stays the same.

Laying Down the First Notes

Like many greenhouse operations across Canada, the van der Meer story starts with a simple beginning. After the war, Caleb’s grandparents settled in Manitoba and started a small greenhouse operation, originally as a side business rather than a long-term career path.

As Caleb explains, it was never meant to be anything large at the start. “It was mostly for my grandma… she just wanted to sell small vegetables locally, and it kind of grew naturally.”

It was the next generation, Caleb’s parents, who took the business on as a full-time career and began expanding it further.

That steady, organic growth still defines the business today, more like a song building verse by verse than a sudden breakout hit. Each expansion has been tied to a need, not a trend, which has helped the operation stay stable as it scaled.

Finding His Sound

For Caleb, joining the business was not always the plan. Like many in the next generation, it took time to see it as a long-term path. That changed in his late teens, when working in the greenhouse started to feel different.

He describes that moment simply. “I actually do really love this… I love going into work in the greenhouses. I love growing plants.”

From there, the transition into leadership happened gradually, more of a slow build than a sudden spotlight moment. Growing up in the operation meant he already understood how things worked, and as responsibilities increased, so did his confidence. It was, in his words, “as seamless as it could be,” even if, like any family transition, it came with challenges.

Reworking the Setlist

One of the reasons the business has been able to adapt over time is a willingness to make space for change. Instead of holding tightly to established methods, the previous generation allowed room for new ideas.

That meant trusting the next generation to test, adjust, and improve. As Caleb puts it, “my parents did a great job… they really gave me a lot of leeway,” even when that included making mistakes along the way.

That openness continues to shape how the operation evolves today, keeping the business from getting stuck on the same setlist year after year. Systems are refined, processes are improved, and decisions are made with both experience and new thinking in mind. At the same time, the core objective remains unchanged: “just growing the absolute best that we can and creating the best product.”

Managing the Reality Behind the Scenes

Running a greenhouse operation of this size means balancing preparation with constant adjustment, where even the best plan needs to adapt once the season goes live. Production schedules are mapped out well in advance, but once the season begins, flexibility becomes just as important.

Caleb sums it up: “as much pre-planning as you can do, and then a lot of seat-of-your-pants decisions after that.”

Weather remains one of the biggest variables. In Manitoba, extreme cold and wind can affect everything from plant development to incoming shipments. Logistics add another layer, with delays or missing materials quickly impacting production timelines.

During peak season, the role shifts toward keeping everything moving, making sure nothing misses a beat across the greenhouse. It often means solving problems in real time, adjusting plans, and making sure crops stay on track despite the unexpected. At that point, success is less about perfect execution and more about responsiveness and coordination across the team.

Locking in the Rhythm

As the business has grown, consistency has become a priority across every part of the operation. Clear systems, strong record-keeping, and repeatable processes all help maintain quality from one season to the next, keeping production tight, consistent, and in rhythm.

That focus starts with reducing variability. “When you’re setting up your production lines, the less variables the better,” Caleb explains, pointing to how small inconsistencies can quickly scale up.

The same thinking applies to growing media. A consistent substrate allows the team to build reliable production programs without needing to constantly adjust. That is one of the reasons they have stayed with PRO-MIX® over time. As Caleb notes, “we’ve really never had a reason to change… PRO-MIX® has always performed well.”

Efficiency has also improved through equipment investments, including the move to mega bales and the addition of a bale breaker. These changes have reduced manual handling, improved workflow, and helped maintain more uniform moisture levels during production, keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

A Performance That Holds Up

For a business that includes a retail garden center, quality is not just about how plants look on the bench. It is about how they perform once they leave.

Caleb defines it as something “a customer can take home and just be satisfied with,” without having to wonder whether it will last through the season.

That expectation shapes the entire production process. It also drives customer loyalty. When plants perform as expected, customers come back, not because of marketing, but because of experience.

That experience is still being built at the newer garden center location. With increased visibility, many customers are discovering the operation for the first time and are often surprised by its scale, like stepping into a full production instead of a small local show.

What was once seen as a smaller, tucked-away business is now recognized as a much larger and more advanced operation.

A Family Band at Its Core

Even as the operation has expanded, family remains central to how the business runs. Key roles across production and retail are handled internally, supported by a small group of full-time employees who help maintain consistency year-round.

That structure provides stability, particularly in an industry where seasonal labor can be a challenge. It also reinforces a shared understanding of priorities, from production standards to customer experience.

Stepping Onto a Bigger Stage

The transition to a new garden center location in 2023 marked an important step forward. The previous retail site is no longer open to the public and is now used for production and growing, while the new location offers a stronger customer experience.

At the same time, the focus remains on strengthening what has already been built. As Caleb explains, the priority right now is simply to “settle into our current facilities” and continue building from there.

Rather than pushing for rapid expansion, the goal is to build confidence within the community and allow growth to follow naturally. That approach aligns with how the business has developed from the beginning.

Looking Ahead

For Caleb, the future of van der Meer Garden Centre is about staying prepared for what comes next.

That mindset comes down to thinking ahead. As he puts it, “you’ve got to look 10 years ahead… what’s this going to look like in the future?”

It is that perspective, combined with a strong foundation, that continues to guide the business forward.

At van der Meer Garden Centre, growth is not about a single moment or a single season. It is the result of steady decisions, consistent quality, and a willingness to keep improving, season after season, like a performance that keeps getting sharper every time it hits the stage.

With the next generation taking on a larger role, that approach remains unchanged, carrying the business forward with the same focus that built it in the first place.

For more information about van de Meer Garden Center, visit their website, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

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