Let Us Know What You Think About California Spring Trials Moving to Summer
July 15, 2020 
California Spring Trials is no more. Or rather, at least for the “Spring” part of the name, that’s true. Starting in 2021, CAST becomes the California Summer Trials, which are set to take place from Wednesday, June 23 through Sunday, June 27, 2021.
The change in date was a direct response to requests from the broker, grower, and retailer community. In particular, many brokerage companies felt that a June event more aligned with their schedules to travel away from their territories to learn about the new plants and programs. Previous spring dates were the busiest time of the year for their customers, both growers and retailers, as they needed to be available in their assigned regions to better support them. The June trial dates will allow all industry stakeholders to attend at a slower time of the year for them, while still being early enough in the season for quality grow-outs and presentations. The later date also helps in securing the event as the longer it is delayed, the better likelihood it will not be canceled due to COVID-19.
In addition, the early summer dates allow for a larger diversity of crops, such as perennials and heat-loving annuals, to be shown under more normal growing climates.
Another benefit to brokers is that the later calendar occurrence will allow breeders to present fully completed programs immediately before their extensive summer travels begin, rather than in the middle of a previous season.
Breeding companies currently set to participate in the new CAST next year include:
- Ball FloraPlant
- Beekenkamp
- Danziger
- Darwin Perennials
- Dümmen Orange
- Green Fuse Botanicals
- Hem Genetics
- Kieft Seed
- Monrovia
- PAC Elsner
- Pacific Plug & Liner
- PanAmerican Seed
- PlantHaven International
- Prudac
- Royal van Zanten
- Sakata
- Schoneveld
- Selecta One
- Suncrest Nursery (exhibiting: Cohen, Hishtil, Jaldety, Kamel, and Nir Nurseries)
- Suntory Flowers
- Syngenta
- Takii
- ThinkPlants
- Vivero Internacional
- Westhoff
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