William
Roozen emigrated from Holland in 1947 with years of experience
in the bulb industry. He had a good back, strong hands, and
a heart pulsing with dreams. Roozen started a bulb farm on five
acres of land, holding meetings in a garage and toiling long
hours beside a few hired hands. He saved money by buying used
tractors and farm equipment.
Today, Roozen's small company has grown to be the largest tulip-bulb
grower in the country and one of the largest employers in the
Skagit Valley. The flower industry in the Skagit Valley has
become an important element of the county's economy.
The Roozen family's hard work ethic spans at least six generations.
The family first began raising tulips in Holland in the mid-1700's.
In
the Skagit Valley, Roozen (which means "roses" in
Dutch) worked for other farmers before setting off on his own
in 1950. Five years later, he purchased the Washington Bulb
Co., founded by two of the area's first bulb farmers, Joe Berger
and Cornelius Roozekrans. The Washington Bulb Co. now farms
about 2,000 acres of land.
In 1985, William Roozen handed the business
down to his five sons and a daughter, Bernadette Roozen Miller,
who passed away in 1996.
William Roozen passed away on July 13, 2002
and, with 35 grandchildren, was confident the family company
will keep growing.
William A. Roozen, Founder
Helen M. Roozen, Founder
John Roozen
Leo Roozen
William Roozen
Richard Roozen
Michael Roozen
CROPS GROWN AND
ACREAGE:
Daffodils - 550 acres
Tulips - 450 acres
Iris - 200 acres
Green Peas - 240 acres
Wheat - 400 acres
SALES:
Over 50 million cut flowers are shipped all over the U.S. annually.
10's of millions of bulbs are shipped throughout the U.S. and
Canada annually.
