Nearly 300 Laid Off At Sun Valley Farms
June 25, 2008
Sun Valley Farms, a cut flower grower in Arcata, Calif., was forced to lay off half of its workforce after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) found that 283 employees were not eligible to work in the United States due to incorrect employment numbers. Do greenhouse growers share similar fates?
Sustainability Takes A Step Forward
June 25, 2008
Sustainability certification is important enough to 18 producers, wholesalers and suppliers, who united to form the VeriFlora Sustainability Council (VSC) as a vehicle for communicating brand and market differentiation. The establishment of the council demonstrates the increasing importance of sustainability in floriculture from seed to store.
Our 25 Ones To Watch
June 25, 2008
The industry will likely take on a new look 25 years from now. Will it be more consolidated? Will smaller growers be even more specialized? And, of course, who will lead it? Starting next week and as part of Greenhouse Grower’s 25th anniversary celebration, we’ll begin to identify 25 growers who will shape the industry for the better over the next 25 years.
John Deere Acquires Drip Irrigation Company
June 25, 2008
John Deere recently acquired T-Systems International, a major manufacturer of greenhouse irrigation applications with facilities in Australia, France and the United States.
Smooth Transition For Southeast
June 25, 2008
Last week, Southeast Greenhouse Conference organizers were pleased to see attendance numbers keep pace with last year.
Touring The Gardens At Michigan State
June 25, 2008
The Michigan State University (MSU) Garden Plant Showcase will take place at the Plant & Soil Sciences Building this year on August 6. University faculty and staff will lead presentations on new plant material, how to regulate plant height of floriculture crops using plant growth retardants and how to recognize and treat common greenhouse diseases.
Cornell Floriculture Field Day Coming Up
June 25, 2008
Educational seminars on growing annuals, battling big pests and avoiding common plant nutrient disorders are part of the plans for the annual Cornell Floriculture Field Day this year, taking place July 22. Participants will also visit Cornell’s plant trials, which include more than 1,000 different annuals and perennials.
Big Beauty In San Diego
June 25, 2008
San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood, with more than 400 hanging baskets and planters, is the first site in a series of beautification plans for the downtown San Diego area. The Little Italy Association (LIA) and Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) united on behalf of the city to make the first project a success.
Acres Of Imagination In Oregon
June 25, 2008
A hobbit house, a weird plants display and the “pot people” are among the recent additions to the Oregon Garden’s Children’s Garden, which offers its kid visitors plenty of opportunity to laugh, play and enjoy the nature around them.
Iowa Growers Feeling Effects Of Floods
June 18, 2008
Floodwaters in Iowa are finally starting to recede, but some growers don’t expect business to return to normal anytime soon. As the state dries up, they can only hope their customers will continue to purchase plants and resume life where they left off before heavy rains swept business away a week and a half ago.
Thieves Steal Metal Worth $190,000 From Grower
June 18, 2008
Kitayama Brothers was a recent victim of one of the largest agricultural thefts in Santa Cruz County history. The Santa Cruz Sentinel reports metal thieves broke onto the nursery property in Watsonville, Calif., and stole three to four tons of aluminum that add up to about $190,000.
Exploring Industry Promotion
June 18, 2008
Ideas for collective industry promotion are percolating again. Last week, Bailey Nurseries in Minnesota hosted a summit that brought about 30 green industry leaders together to explore what could be done to unite the turf and landscape, nursery and floriculture sectors to work toward national promotion.
Industry Luncheon Focuses On Drought At Southeast
June 18, 2008
If you’re planning to attend the Southeast Greenhouse Conference & Trade Show in Greenville, S.C., this week, there is still time to RSVP for our industry luncheon on Friday. Sponsored by Fafard in conjunction with Greenhouse Grower and Today’s Garden Center magazines, the topic is “Seeking Clout In Times Of Drought.”
Final Stab At Reader's Choice Award Voting
June 18, 2008
For 20 years, Greenhouse Grower’s Medal of Excellence Awards has recognized talented individuals, visionary companies and exception breeding that have played significant roles in the growth of the global floriculture industry. Make your voice heard and cast your vote now in the final week of voting for the 2008 Reader's Choice Award.
New Whitefly Biotype Has Growers Concerned
June 18, 2008
Two of the more devastating silverleaf whitefly biotypes are the B and Q biotypes. The B type has been in the United States since its discovery in 1985, and the Q type was recently identified in 25 states.
Fine Celebrates 25 Years In Business
June 18, 2008
Concise, Configure and Piccolo are just a few of the PGRs developed over the years by Fine, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this summer.
Chemilizer Launches New Company Web Site
June 18, 2008
Chemilizer Products, a manufacturer of environmentally friendly liquid injectors used on greenhouse plants, has redesigned its Web site to address its expanding customer base.
Ecke Ranch Reaches Out With Webinar
June 18, 2008
The expert technical staff at Ecke Ranch will host an hour-long cold grow poinsettia webinar July 2 to help other growers with their own cold grow techniques. The webinar is open to anyone, but space is limited.
Tagging At Buckley Growers Illinois
June 18, 2008
Buckley Growers Illinois began tinkering with the look of its plant tags over the winter, and it settled on an enhanced tag design this spring for about 40 varieties that includes everything from plant care information to the company logo.
Washington Post Spotlights Bell Nursery
June 11, 2008
Who says floriculture isn't big business? Top 100 Grower Bell Nursery in Burtonsville, Md., profits well from the 180 Home Depot stores it serves, and Tom Heath detailed the relationship from Bell Nursery’s perspective in his recent Washington Post column, “Value Added: Pushing Petunias.”
Ravin’ Traven: Feeling The Heat
June 11, 2008
Each week, wholesale grower Lloyd Traven of Peace Tree Farm in Pennsylvania sends out an engaging and highly opinionated rant to his garden center customers along with the most current availability, order forms and pictures of plants in the greenhouse. Here is his most recent rant, but beware, it gets hot!
Scotts Upgrades Testing Lab Web Site
June 11, 2008
The Scotts Testing Lab online provides accurate and reliable analysis of irrigation water, growing media, mineral soil and plant tissue. Making informed grower decisions should be even more convenient now that Scotts has enhanced the site.
Rocket Farms: Men Love Orchids
June 11, 2008
Rocket Farms in Salinas, Calif., recently surveyed 25 fathers from coast-to-coast about whether they would welcome a potted orchid as a gift for Father’s Day. Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed say they would.
White Flower Farm’s Plans For Dads
June 11, 2008
White Flower Farm in Litchfield, Conn., is downplaying the traditional tie, sweater or cologne for Father’s Day this year in favor of several of its own items that dads can use in the yard.
O2 For You At Costa Farms
June 11, 2008
Costa Farms is in the grassroots stages of a marketing campaign called O2 For You: Plants With A Purpose, a program that's designed to spread awareness of the dangers of indoor air pollution and educate about the health benefits of having plants in the home and at work.
Elzinga Supplies The Urban Gardener At Meijer
June 11, 2008
The next line of plants at Meijer retail stores includes the Urban Gardener, a line of vegetable and fruit pre-planted potted plants from Elzinga & Hoeksema Greenhouses in Kalamazoo, Mich.
EcoSMART Goes Organic With Insecticides
June 11, 2008
EcoSMART Technologies, a manufacturer of pest management products, has developed an insecticide and fungicide for integrated pest and disease management. Both products are effective against a broad spectrum of pests, and they’re less of a threat to beneficial organisms.
Sustainability: How Important Is It?
June 11, 2008
As part of our Top 100 Growers survey, we asked how important the sustainability movement is to respondents. Take a look at how they responded and let us know how you feel about this industry movement.
Last Chance At Reader's Choice Award Voting
June 11, 2008
For 20 years, Greenhouse Grower’s Medal of Excellence Awards has recognized talented individuals, visionary companies and exceptional breeding that have played significant roles in the growth of the global floriculture industry. Make your voice heard and cast your vote over the next two weeks for the 2008 Reader's Choice Award.
VeriFlora Certifies First Foliage Grower
June 4, 2008
Delray Plants, ranked 14th on Greenhouse Grower’s Top 100 Growers list this year, became the first potted foliage grower to receive VeriFlora certification – and the second Top 100 Grower certified by VeriFlora in the last few weeks after Floral Plant Growers (FPG) recently earned its own certification.
IHA Hires Managing Director
June 4, 2008
Integrated Horticultural Alliance (IHA), the independent organization formed earlier this year by BWI Companies, Griffin Greenhouse and Nursery Supplies and BFG Supply Co., has hired Joe Farinacci as managing director.
Nickelodeon & NGA Promote Gardening To Children
June 4, 2008
Wow! Wow! Wubbzy, the popular preschool children’s show on Nick Jr. and Noggin, has teamed up with the National Gardening Association (NGA) to promote the benefits of gardening to children and their parents.
Brand Flowers To Be Dubbed Farmers’ West
June 4, 2008
Wilja Happé, owner of four Brand Flowers growing locations in California, pondered for more than a year over a new name for her company. She finally settled on Farmers’ West Flowers & Bouquets, Inc.
Pageant, FreeHand Among New BASF Products
June 4, 2008
BASF recently unveiled two new products for use in greenhouses and ornamentals – one for disease control and the other for weed control – in Pageant and FreeHand.
Cleary Hosts Spanish-Speaking Educational Seminar
June 4, 2008
Cleary Chemical recently hosted a two-day educational seminar on the proper handling and application of chemicals for Spanish-speaking greenhouse and nursery employees in Wimauma, Fla.
Grower Tool: Diagnosing Pests In The Northeast
June 4, 2008
The Interactive Plant Manager, a new online guide from the New York State Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program, can help growers diagnose and deal with insect pests of ornamental shrubs.
Springing For 2009 At The Niagara Pack Trials
June 4, 2008
Stops at Colonial Florists, Jeffery’s Greenhouses and Vineland Research Station are part of the Niagara Pack Trials experience June 25 and 26 this year, taking place in and around St. Catharines, Ontario.
Mixing And Matching Selecta Varieties
June 4, 2008
Selecta has developed a list of 10 fun recipes for TrixiLiner, its rooted liner program, which roots varieties for the East Coast at Gro‘n Sell in Chalfont, Pa., and for the West Coast at Sunshine Greenhouses in Provo, Utah.
Armitage Updates Perennial Plant Guide
June 4, 2008
The third edition of Allan Armitage’s “Herbaceous Perennial Plants: A Treatise on their Identification, Culture, and Garden Attributes” is now available with dozens of new genera, up-to-date changes in taxonomy and more than 1,200 pages.
Top 100 Growers: Wenke's Transformation
June 4, 2008
