Profile

The history of Meyer Orchideen AG date back to 1937 when Hermann Meyer founded a market gardening business. In 1962, his son Peter Meyer planted the first ornamental plants. Due to the diversity of crops initially required for capital reasons, from 1968 onwards there was a consistent focus on special crops. It was the only company in Switzerland to grow bromeliads (pineapple plants) in large quantities on an area of around 10,000 m². In 1980, the company began to cultivate orchids, increasing the quantity annually. In 1998 the cultivation of bromeliads was discontinued. Since then only orchids are produced. In 2002 Hanspeter Meyer took over the business from his father Peter in the next generation. Currently, Meyer Orchideen AG produces 500,000 orchids annually on an area of 16,000 m2.
Meyer Orchideen AG produces ecologically and environmentally friendly. Through the consistent implementation of energy-saving measures in recent years, energy consumption has been massively reduced. An important step in the conversion to renewable energy was achieved in 2007 with the construction of a groundwater heat pump. It covers the base load of the energy requirement. In October 2011, a large woodchip heating system was put into operation, built to the latest ecological standards. Since then, the new heating concept has enabled Meyer Orchideen AG to cover its entire heating requirements using the renewable energy sources water and wood. The existing oil-fired boilers will only be used as backup systems. Meyer Orchideen AG is a member of Jardin Suisse (Entrepreneurial Association of Gardeners Switzerland) and the Association of German Orchid Companies (VDOB). Highest awards at international horticultural exhibitions reflect the high-quality level and the efficiency of the company.

Role in the project
Meyer Orchideen will operate the greenhouse for the Swiss demonstrator