Ed Overdevest, owner of Overdevest Nurseries in Bridgeton, N.J., has risked taking many arrows over the past few years. He has developed a program to sell premium plants through independent garden centers — a concept many say a nursery his size can’t pull off.

Overdevest also had the courage to be outspoken on immigration reform, knowing his actions could make him a target for labor audits and local anti-immigration protestors.

For his actions, Overdevest was named the 2006 NMPRO Nursery Grower of the Year, sponsored by Polyon.

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