Consumers in search of local, seasonal and sustainable cut flowers now have a one-stop destination to find American-grown bouquets and blooms. Slowflowers.com is a free online directory designed to connect flower lovers with floral retailers, designers and studios that support and sell seasonal, locally-grown and domestic flowers.

Growers continue to broaden their crop offerings, provide more retail merchandising and market their own crops through social media, in an effort to increase sales.

Consumers are most interested in locally produced plants and biodegradable or compostable pots.

In a Van Wingerden family transfer, Color Point, LLC and Mid-American Growers have agreed to merge.

Ball Seed has announced the selection of three entries from its WebTrack “winWIN” contest. The lucky growers will receive pizza party luncheons for their entire staff.

American Garden Award (AGA) is inviting the public to vote now in its 2014 contest. Thirty-two prestigious public gardens are participating in the nation’s only flower popularity contest. The American Garden Award is a unique opportunity for the horticulture industry as well as the general public to view, choose and vote on a specific flower that they think has the most appealing garden characteristics.

The urban greenhouse has been operating for almost a year and a half, and has spent that time refining its product mix and building its staff with workers hired from the surrounding neighborhood

Heiner Lieth designed the “Flower Power: The Application of the Art and Science of the Beauty and Perfection of Flowers” course at University of California, Davis, to teach college students how to use flowers to their advantage. Now a wildly popular course with more than 350 students, Lieth shares what he has learned from his students in “Flower Power.”

Progress is being made on the implementation of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (the 2014 Farm Bill), which President Obama signed into law on February 7. The Farm Bill reforms agricultural policy, reduces the deficit and helps grow the economy.

While harsh winter wreaks havoc on Michigan greenhouses, growers remain optimistic for spring sales.

OASIS Grower Solutions’ (OGS) recently new team member Ashley Cook will provide customer support, along with supporting the efforts of OGS’ North American sales team. She brings a fresh perspective to the company, which is celebrating its 60th year.

Canada-based Conviron and Valoya of Finland recently announced an agreement for the distribution and integration of Valoya LEDs into Conviron growth chambers and rooms. Conviron is now the exclusive distributor of Valoya’s products to seed and biotech companies, government institutions and universities in North America, India, Australia and Brazil.

Grower acquisitions throughout the year, bankruptcy, closed doors, new operations, reduced square footage and changing business status have reconstructed Greenhouse Grower’s Top 100 Growers list, yet again.