Virtual Horticulture Industry Events Are Coming; Here’s What You Need to Know
June 8, 2020 
It wasn’t long ago, as the coronavirus pandemic began to disrupt our daily lives, that organizers of several annual horticulture industry gatherings began shifting from in-person to virtual events. Starting next week, two of these events will kick off, giving us a taste of how education, networking, and the building and renewal of supplier relationships will work in the world of Zoom, YouTube, and GoToWebinar. For those long accustomed to that personal connection a trade show can offer, going online to “attend” events like this will likely require a shift in mindset. But there are ways to make the experience just as rewarding.
Darwin Perennials Day, for example, has been reimagined for 2020 into a week-long virtual Darwin Digital Day that promises to introduce attendees to exciting new perennials, and how to care for them. Beginning on June 15, the first two days of the event will feature video tours of perennial gardens, as well as updates on genetics and production tips. Wednesday, June 17 will feature a virtual exhibit tent with several vendors, along with a webinar on how to diagnose perennial crop problems, and how growers can use temperature, irrigation, fertility, and plant growth regulators to hold crops and maintain plant quality through late spring.
Thursday will feature an in-depth look at seed culture and grower advice on producing high-quality lupins. The event comes to a close on Friday, June 19, with testimonials on new products direct from the Darwin Perennials team.
Click here for more information on the event.
This same week, United Fresh Live!, presented by the United Fresh Produce Association, brings the entire fresh produce community together, including greenhouse vegetable growers, to learn, create value, and build a strong future. United Fresh Live is an opportunity to share live general sessions and small group discussions; take part in on-demand education; explore a virtual expo hall to see innovations and make connections; and find new ways to grow sales and profitability.
One big change for this year is that the trade show Expo will be limited to two hours each day. Between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., exhibitors will be hosting specific content and events in their booths. While you can check out exhibits 24-7, you’ll want to be online during these “power hours” to see what’s happening live.
United Fresh has also added several general and concurrent presentations this year’s event. The full schedule is available here, but here just a few highlights:
- Leading through crisis
- Transportation challenges and opportunities
- Lessons learned from other industries during COVID-19
- Sustainable packaging
Shortly after Darwin Digital Days and United Fresh Live will be a host of other events, including Cultivate’20 Virtual. While all these events have moved from in-person to online, they still represent a great opportunity to grow your business, but in a
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