28 The Business of Ontario Agriculture Better Farming | December 2023 Beverly Greenhouses has been operating near Hamilton since 1960. Daniel Vander Hout is the great- grandson of the founder and is part of the fourth generation to continue the family business. “My great Opa, Jan Vander Hout, started the greenhouses in 1960,” says Daniel. “He just started with a quarter-acre of tomatoes. Over the years it has expanded and we eventually switched to growing cucumbers exclusively. That’s been our only crop for over 40 years now.” Beverly Greenhouses prides itself on remaining a family business and fostering multiple generations of farmers. Daniel farms with his father, uncle, brother and cousin. “My dad, Jan Vander Hout, is the president and CEO. He looks after the business end of the farm. My uncle Dale is the general manager and head grower. My brother David is an assistant grower and the packing house manager. My cousin Adam is an assistant grower and operator. Yet, these roles are really just a snapshot of the diversity of responsibilities that each of us have on the farm.” Daniel works as an assistant grower. He is also responsible for a variety of other tasks including being on call for alarms day and night, looking after irrigation and water treatment systems, mixing fertilizer, and administration and technology-related duties. “We work well together as a family. We’ve made it four generations now,” says Daniel, citing their ability to each take on separate responsibilities and skills as a large part of their success as a family business. Daniel has always enjoyed staying involved in his community and the ag industry off the farm as well. “I currently serve on the board of the Hamilton-Wentworth Federation of Agriculture, the Alumni Advisory Council of my university, and as a deacon in my church.” He also enjoys attending annual general meetings and conferences for organizations representing agriculture. “I’ve also always liked getting involved in local politics, especially during elections,” says Daniel. He sees these volunteer efforts as an opportunity to show support for specific political movements, and also to build networks that can be used to advocate for issues facing agriculture. Most recently, Daniel has joined Class 20 of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP). “It’s an 18-month course focused on professional development, leadership development and opportunities to explore and network with professionals in the ag community,” says Daniel. The program was recommended to Daniel by multiple people, independently of each other, during other events related to his industry involvement. “Through all these opportunities, there were several people who mentioned the impact that AALP had on them, and I knew it was something I wanted to participate in. The biggest question was ‘Is this the right timing?’ “I’m the youngest person this year but I decided to apply anyways. There is value in different perspectives among ages and generations as well as bringing a viewpoint from the greenDaniel Vander Hout on top of a silo used for storing waste wood to heat the greenhouses. Daniel Vander Hout photo UNPu tCrLiOeSnEt L o s s ‘WE WORK WELL TOGETHER AS A FAMILY’ Daniel Vander Hout is part of the fourth generation at Beverly Greenhouses. By Emily Croft
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