News » 13.07.2026 - Growing better flowers through better climate control
Dutch Heritage Greenhouse is a family-owned greenhouse operation located in Chilliwack, British Columbia. The business grew out of a background in Dutch floriculture and now operates a large-scale facility that uses bio-fuel heating and produces chrysanthemums and other specialty flowers year-round.
For nearly 50 years, the Breugem family has grown chrysanthemums in Chilliwack, British Columbia, across three generations. Dutch Heritage Greenhouse produces approximately 40,000 stems per day, supplying customers in BC, Alberta, and the United States.
The operation had been facing winter production dips, unpredictable climate swings, and a control system that was no longer meeting its needs. To address this, the greenhouse upgraded to a Priva control system, which the operation reports has led to smoother climate control and more consistent crops.
A crop that demands precision
Chrysanthemums require precise growing conditions.
"Chrysanthemums are one of the most difficult crops to grow," says Floris Breugem, who now leads the operation alongside his father Aart and brother Lucas. "Their light levels, their dark periods, humidity, support, timing. Everything has to be right."
Dutch Heritage runs a continuous production cycle, with five bays harvested and replanted each week, and flowers moving from planting to harvest in roughly nine weeks. The greenhouse now produces approximately five and a half crop rotations per year, compared with around four under the previous system.
Previously, lower winter light levels and less advanced climate controls contributed to seasonal swings in production. Yields dropped during these periods while heating and electrical costs remained high, and staffing and quality were harder to manage and predict.
"With our updated lights and updated climate, we're filling the gap between summer production and winter production," Floris says. "Everything is becoming much more streamlined."
Upgrading without stopping production
Replacing a greenhouse control system during an active growing season carries risk, and shutting down production was not an option for Dutch Heritage.
The transition to Priva took approximately three weeks, during which the greenhouse remained operational.
"There was never a day where we were left with a non-functioning greenhouse," Floris recalls.
The installation was carried out with local Priva partner Climatrol, which kept systems running while transitioning controls, wiring, and integrations across the facility. The Dutch Heritage team noted the value of having local support backed by a larger global network.
A greenhouse that feels stable
The change Floris noticed most after switching was not a single feature, but the overall feel of the operation.
"Priva has a calm and calculated feeling," he says. "Everything operates more efficiently and effectively."
The climate now stays steadier, with heating, fans, and humidity operating more consistently, and crop development has become more predictable.
"If you look at the graphs now, things are much smoother," Floris says. "It's not constantly making big peaks and corrections anymore."
At the same time as the Priva upgrade, Dutch Heritage also transitioned from HPS to LED lighting fixtures with far-red capability, doubling light intensity while keeping electricity costs relatively flat. Far-red light applied at the end of each day cycle is used to encourage stretch and accelerate development in younger plants.
"We've seen the plants getting a little faster, the length is there, and the quality is up," Floris says. "More light means bigger flowers."
Lighting, blackout systems, fans, irrigation, and boilers are now all integrated through the Priva system.
Global knowledge, local support
Many chrysanthemum growers in the Netherlands operate on Priva systems, which allows Dutch Heritage's overseas advisors to log into the greenhouse system directly and work from the same data.
"That was one of the big reasons why we switched," Floris explains. "Before, troubleshooting meant long phone calls trying to describe what the system was doing. Now everyone can just see it."
On one occasion, an irrigation issue on a Saturday evening was resolved remotely by Priva support.
"In this business, things run 24/7," Floris says. "Having someone there to help is really important."
Investing in the future
Floris Breugem continues to spend time each week working through Priva Academy training.
"The more I know, the easier it is in the long run," he says.
For the Breugem family, now three generations into greenhouse growing, the move to Priva represents an investment in the consistency, quality, and efficiency of the operation.
Source: www.floraldaily.com
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