With Valentin’s Day right around the corner, you may find it interesting to know there is always lots of room for growth—of flowers, that is.
Allison Ludema of Ludema’s Floral and Garden is the fifth generation to work the original land on Eastern Avenue SE. She manages retail operations, special events, purchasing and more, working with her dad, Dave Ludema, who is president, and her mom, Rene’, who is CEO.
“We have stayed in this area because of the support we get from the West Michigan area,” said Allison Ludema, who was putting bows on Christmas poinsettias as a child and doing flower arranging as a teen. “We feel like people have come to know and love the quality of the plants, most of which are home grown on our property.”
Hendrik and Hilje Ludema started Ludema’s in the early 1900s, supplying local markets with cauliflower, tomatoes and other vegetable crops. Its retail business began with a farm stand on the Eastern Avenue property, with the name later changing to Ludema’s Floral and Garden and the focus becoming solely on flowers.