Our Story
Westerlay’s founder Joop “Joe” Overgaag grew tomatoes and then chrysathemums in greenhouses the Netherlands before immigrating with to Carpinteria, California with his wife and four children in 1978.
Joop built his first greenhouses by hand, salvaging oil pipes from the local industry for the frames, and would soon open Westerlay Roses, named after the Westerlee vegetable auction in Holland where he had sold his tomatoes. Westerlay Roses soon found a foothold in the domestic rose market.
Fast forward 20 years and Westerlay Roses had grown to 600,000 square feet on 2 properties. Westeraly was known for its innovative, all hydroponic production and distributed millions of cut flowers annually for weddings, events, and gifts all over the United States.
However, growing offshore competition with lower labor costs was proving to be a challenge. Joop’s son, Toine, after earning his Master’s Degree and a few years in the corporate world, rejoined the Westerlay team and developed a plan to transition to potted orchid production. Betting the company, Joop and Toine forged ahead with a five-year transition into orchids culminating in their first crop of cymbidiums in 2003 and then later phalaenopsis orchids in 2005. Westerlay Roses was reestablished as Westerlay Orchids.
In 2009, Joop handed the reins of the company to Toine and the next generation began to leave it’s mark. Westerlay has grown to 800,000 ft2 and produces over 4 million phalaenopsis orchids annually.
Today Westerlay is focused on sustainably producing long lasting orchids giving back to the community that’s has supported it.
Leveraging tradition, innovation & intention
Westerlay Orchids augments its heritage with technology, sustainability and deliberate goals. Continue reading our story on Greenhouse Management Magazine.
