Leo Berbee Bulb Co. Celebrates 50 Years in the U.S.
Leo Berbee Bulb Co. celebrates a memorable milestone in 2021. Fifty years ago, Henk Berbee brought his family business, Leo Berbee Bulb Co., to the United States and registered it as a corporation in 1971.
Leo Berbee Bulb Co., a Dutch flower bulb distributer was opened by its namesake Leo in The Netherlands in the 1940s. Henk, one of 12 children, decided to take his father’s business to the United States where it was established in New York in 1971. Henk and his family later settled the warehouse in Marysville, Ohio, in 1982. Marysville was selected due to Ohio’s strong tie to agriculture and that it is centrally located to larger shipping hubs such as Columbus and Cleveland.
Leo Berbee Bulb Co. supplies flower bulbs and bare root perennials to landscapers, independent garden centers, municipalities and cut flower farmers.
In 2001, Henk’s son Bob, opened a retail extension called Dutch Mill Greenhouse in Marysville. Dutch Mill celebrates 20 years in business this year. Dutch Mill is a full service garden center and in partnership to its parent business, offers Central Ohio’s largest bulb selection. Bob is an alumnus of GPN’s 40 Under 40.
While Henk has retired, Leo Berbee Bulb Co. and Dutch Mill Greenhouse remain family owned and operated. Marjolein Berbee-Dzmura, Henk’s daughter has taken over operations of the flower bulb business and has become a third generation bulb expert.
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