Michigan greenhouse pioneer Andy Mast passes away

Added on 09 August 2023

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Michigan greenhouse pioneer Andy Mast passes away

Andy Mast, the founder of Andy Mast Greenhouses in Michigan, passed away in July. Born in The Netherlands and emigrating as a child with his parents, Andy grew up in the greenhouse business. After a brief stint in the Navy, he went into partnership with his father Neal, and after five years, formed his own business, Andy Mast Greenhouses.

The team at Andy Mast Greenhouses sent the following statement:

“Andy left a remarkable footprint on the greenhouse industry over the years. Known for growing annual and bulb crops, he grew his business into an industry leader. Easter lilies were his favorite crop and a passion for him.

It was the challenges with growing lilies that led him to be a pioneer in the industry. The biggest was the pioneering and development of DIF (the differences between day and night temperatures) with Michigan State University researchers Dr. Royal Heins and his Ph.D. student John Erwin. DIF was remarkably effective at controlling height on Easter lilies, leading to higher quality lily production. DIF is now used as a practical growing method to control height on crops worldwide.

Andy was also a pioneer in the use of gibberellins, a plant hormone, first primarily with Easter lilies for the prevention of lower leaf chlorosis and subsequently as a promoter of stem elongation on short plants of many species.