RAKER - ROBERTA'S TRIAL GARDENS
Last year, more than 1,500 people visited the Raker-Roberta's Trial Gardens. Predominantly from the Midwest, this collection of professionals is a representative cross-section of the horticulture industry; including, greenhouse owners, landscape designers and professionals, industry brokerages and sales representatives, trade writers, and most importantly, home gardeners.
For many years, the Raker-Roberta's Trial Gardens have been a destination for the horticulture industry – and this year is no different. In addition to expanding every aspect of our comparison trials (row, hanging basket, and large container) we are continually expanding our trial services to include additional types of research and genetic evaluation.
The Trials are an extension of our in-house Research & Development Team. The Team routinely conducts evaluation/trial projects focusing on internal production and breeder/university research.
We provide a confidential and objective trialing site for the independent breeder. All samples submitted are evaluated under greenhouse and field settings from both propagation and finish perspectives. Our rigorous testing process ensures that selected genetics perform optimally for the grower and the end-consumer.
RAKER - ROBERTA'S, INC.
Originally C. Raker & Sons, Inc., our company was established in Litchfield, Michigan in 1978. The company had its roots in three generations of fresh market vegetable production near Detroit. In the winter of 1979, brothers Dave and Gerry, along with their nephew, Tim, constructed their first greenhouse in Litchfield for the production of vegetable transplants. Greenhouses have been added steadily since that date, now enclosing over 400,000 square feet. Raker was a family held company until late 2017, when it was sold to the present owner, Eric Wallien of Roberta’s Inc. and became Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants.
Today, Raker-Roberta’s is the leading commercial wholesaler of custom-grown plugs and liners (young plants) in North America. Raker-Roberta’s supplies more than 3,000 unique plant varieties to greenhouses and nurseries in all 50 states and internationally to Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the Bahamas.
In addition to growing the highest quality product, Raker-Roberta’s provides unmatched value-added service and selection at competitive prices. Raker-Roberta’s was established on this basic ideal, and we are proud to continue this standard today.
Structured to meet the needs and requirements of small and medium sized growers, Raker-Roberta’s offers a range of features unrivaled in the horticulture industry, including no hidden fees, tag service, multiple tray sizes, on-line availability, multiple delivery methods, custom growing services, and a vast brokerage network.
In addition to producing plugs and liners, Raker-Roberta’s has established itself as the leader in trialing in North America. We continuously research and evaluate new and existing plant varieties. Our outdoor Trial Gardens provide more than six acres of over 3,000 plant varieties and we annually host over 2,000 people in our Trial Gardens.
Another unique product line at Raker-Roberta’s is our Living Color Fundraiser products. Created as a way to help non-profits raise money and encourage more people to buy flowers, we offer two programs. In the spring, we offer a program with bedding flats, hanging baskets, color bowls, and herbs and veggies. For fall, we offer a Poinsettia program with eight varieties, including four painted Poinsettia options.