Present and Future Thoughts on California Plant Trials From Allan Armitage
July 26, 2021 
The California Plant Trials have been a highly anticipated cornerstone for the ornamental industry, allowing plant breeders to show off their new introductions to potential buyers. For many years, neither rain nor wind nor heat nor cold canceled the event.
But then along came COVID-19. To their credit, many companies put together online programs for 2020/2021, but even a few months ago, there was serious doubt whether a face-to-face event would take place in 2021. Spring was not an option, but rather than cancel the event, a summer date was chosen, and the California Spring Trials became the California Summer Trials.
Here are some of my thoughts as I traveled with the Greenhouse Grower team this year.
New Time Frame, New Faces
First, good on you! Putting these trials together at a normal time using templates of normal propagation, production, and set-up schedules is difficult enough for a spring trial, but at least the companies have been doing that for years. All of a sudden, they needed to put on a show requiring a total change in everything – from what to show to how much could be readied, outdoors or indoors. And all of this without even knowing if people would or could attend. COVID-19 restrictions were still in place in May and early June, and who knew what was on the horizon. Allow me to say for all the wide-eyed participants: “Thank you.”
Having said that, I asked many people from the various firms if it as worth it. The company line was, “Of course it was, because we are just happy to see people again.” And that was true; the overwhelming feeling was that finally seeing faces and talking about the future, rather than dwelling on the past, was invigorating.
However, when asked if they would like to see the date moved permanently to the summer, the majority said, “No!” Nearly all the companies said that this was something they had to do, but hoped that it would be moved back to the spring again.
The summer trials, however, did attract many new faces. People who could never get away in the spring were finally able to be part of the show in the summer. The other advantage of the summer date was that many companies took the opportunity to plant large areas of in-ground trials, so we were actually able to see plants in a landscape setting. The combination of container/field trials was appreciated by all.
Without doubt, attendance was down, participating companies were down (many smaller firms opted out, ad European/Canadians had trouble entering the country), and plant displays were smaller. However, it was a joyous time, and a great deal calmer than normal shows. People had more time to spend with the presenters and more time to inquire about future breeding and marketing initiatives.
The Future of CAST
I was asked my opinion of what the future holds for the California Plant Trials. After speaking with a number of people, and having participated in the trials myself for decades, here are some of my thoughts.
- The actual dates for CAST are always in limbo. This group, i.e. breeder companies who put on the displays, have to get their act together. There is no managing committee to even determine the dates for the trials. Based on feedback, it seems like the Wild West; the companies with the biggest guns determine the dates. There does not appear to be a single governing entity responsible for setting the date even for the coming year, let alone for the next five years. In normal times, fumbling through was fine, but COVID-19 laid bare the necessity for leadership. Groups have tried, but the politics seem to get in the way.
- One thing is certain: A summer trial and Cultivate cannot coexist in the future. If the trials were moved back a few weeks, maybe so, but I don’t see that happening. One or the other would disappear, and I don’t see Cultivate going away.
- One of the very sobering comments I heard from the larger breeders was that they really don’t need to do California Plant Trials at all. In fact, their larger box store accounts have already seen the plants and their larger growers have already sampled, if not produced, a full crop of what they are showing at CAST. There has never been any doubt that for most, this is not a profitable use of funds. The trials cost a lot of money, and if two or three firms follow through with their doubts, the entire event will quickly die. Such questions have always floating around, but COVID-19 has forced some action. The above argument could also pertain to Cultivate and/or MANTS. If it is all about money, then it will always be difficult to justify the spending of that money. We all know that we are not there to take orders, but to see people, make contacts, maintain friendships, and keep the industry exciting. Suck it up, we all need each other.
- I really do understand that I am spitting in the wind, but I don’t understand why the powers that be don’t organize CAST to be every two years. I have been saying this for a long time – they are too expensive, there are too few truly new introductions to do this every year, and it costs a ton of money for people to visit. The anticipation for an every-other-year CAST would skyrocket, and when launching new plants, it would likely take off even quicker. I don’t expect anyone reading this to follow my lead, but I have been asked what I think. This is my story and I am sticking to it.
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