Perspectives on the Future of the Greenhouse Industry
December 27, 2021 
Along with digging into the trends and day-to-day challenges of the controlled-environment industry, our team at Greenhouse Grower feels it’s important to sometimes take a step back and look at where the industry is headed, and what you can do as a grower to make sure your team and company are headed in the right direction.
From setting a business direction to hiring the right talent, here are some insights and perspectives we hope proved useful.
The ‘6 Be’s of Business Success’ for Greenhouse Growers
“When you compare the most successful operations in any industry, a handful of characteristics and traits they share begin to stand out. As I interviewed people and worked on the GROW Executive Report this past month, I found the same to be true,” says Janeen Wright, Editor of Greenhouse Grower. “Greenhouse leaders hit on several common themes that prove business success doesn’t happen by accident. I’ve summed these themes up into the “Six Be’s of Business Success,” that can hopefully provide inspiration and ideas to help you run a successful greenhouse business.” Learn more here.
Looking for New Greenhouse Talent? Perhaps Focus on Everything But the Plants
The horticulture industry’s struggles with finding talented employees are familiar to many business owners, no matter their company size or location. These challenges also extend to retaining good employees once they do come on board,” says Brian Sparks, Senior Editor of Greenhouse Grower. “When it comes to explaining why someone should come work for you, consider focusing on anything besides the plants you’re growing. Nature Fresh Farms, which produces greenhouse vegetables in the U.S. and Canada, took this approach in a blog on its website that offered advice for those considering a career in agriculture.” Learn more here.
Artificial Intelligence in the Greenhouse: Here To Stay or Gone Tomorrow?
From Wright: “Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) a fad? Boy, I hope not. That would mean no more Siri and Alexa — I might have to learn to shut off my own lights again. Tesla cars would be plain boring and forget about finding the shortest route to Disneyland on your GPS. With AI technology already entrenched in everyday activities such as online shopping, movie and music services, and even a visit to the doctor, I found it strange to see a couple of references lately where people were questioning its long-term viability as an ag or greenhouse tool. AI touches more parts of our lives than we think. We’ve all seen its impact in controlled-environment production with machine learning and camera grading and imaging technologies, both subsets of AI. We’re also seeing it used in robotics and vertical farming. I think far from being a fad, AI is here to stay and one day it will be part of everyday greenhouse operations. I would go even further to say we may not be able to advance growing crops to levels unachieved before without AI.” Learn more here.
Time Is Now for the Greenhouse Industry To up Its Customer Service Game
From Wright: If I learned anything during 2020, it was what is essential and what is not. Family is essential. Health and well-being, connection, human touch — they’re all essential. The recent influx of new gardeners and strong and steady plant sales this past year also tell us how essential our industry has been during the COVID-19 pandemic. How do we build on that momentum? I believe one way is to up our customer service game. When was the last time you had a bad customer service experience? I’ll bet the worst ones linger in your memory. In some cases, maybe the business made things right with you. At other times, you vowed never to walk through the doors of that business again, and you’ve encouraged your friends to do the same. Bad customer service results in fewer customers and less profit in your pocket. What will people remember about your business? What will they tell their friends about your operation? Word of mouth can grow your business; it can also destroy it, especially in a world where social media exists. Learn more here.
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