In an historic decision, the Members’ Council of The Greenery Co-operative has approved the proposal of the management board to allow selective membership for foreign growers.
Under the terms of the proposal, which was accepted by a vote of 29 to four at a meeting in late December, foreign growers nominated by the co-op’s general management may for the first time be considered for membership of The Greenery.
In view of the increasing internationalisation in the potato, vegetable and fruit sector, said a statement, The Greenery sees plenty of opportunity to reinforce and expand its international position in this market. While the co-operative does not expect a surge in foreign membership, the proposal allows it the opportunity to secure wider availability of products in strategically important product groups, to enhance the customer offer.
Both the co-operative and the company stand to gain from selective foreign membership, said Philip Smits, general manager of The Greenery. "An internationally operating company such as The Greenery is obviously interested in opportunities to attract growers and consolidate its relationships with them. In addition, this is important for our clients outside the Netherlands who opt for home-grown products, or ‘local for local’", he said.
Theo Ammerlaan, chairman of The Greenery Co-operative, added: "Selective membership for foreign growers also offers clear benefits to the co-operative: as foreign members will have to meet the same conditions as their Dutch counterparts, this will create a more level playing field. In addition, we will be able to strengthen our international position and develop long-term relationships with these growers.”
The decision to allow selective membership for foreign parties is the outcome of a year-long debate within The Greenery walls. In August and September, the GOP (Greenery Ondernemers Platform, or Greenery Entrepreneurs Platform) met 12 times to discuss the pros and cons of foreign membership and ask growers for their views. The district boards then submitted the growers’ input to the Members’ Council on September 14, when members gave the green light for a plan to draw up the proposal for foreign membership. The term 'selective' proved crucial in the process; ensuring that foreign parties can only become members under specific circumstances.
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