Is our industry really improving or does it just look that way? With growth in the past two years among Greenhouse Grower’s Top 100 Growers and the housing market on the upswing, the economy certainly is showing signs of life.

The Dümmen Group recently introduced Ignite Research, located in a re-purposed facility at the previous Fides-Oro greenhouse location in Santa Paula, Calif. Dümmen operates breeding trials throughout North America with a variety of growers, and Ignite Reasearch provides it with its own dedicated facility, allowing trials to be completed in California growing conditions.

USDA survey shows fewer bee colony losses in United States. The USDA also announces a fall summit on Bee Nutrition and Forage and launches the Bee Watch website.

Friends of Long Island Horticulture announces the recipients of its 2014 research grant competition.

The Million Bottle Club, organized by McConkey’s rEarth plastic water bottle recycling program, recognizes growers for their green practices.

To demonstrate good environmental stewardship, growers need an understanding of the issues presenting risks to bees and of strategies to minimize the risks. Knowing where to find key product information and how to interpret it can help growers make sound choices regarding the application of effective products.

AFE earned its second major industry award, the Gold Circle Award from the Center for Association Leadership (ASAE), for its original “Murder, Sex and Greed” animated video, developed to educate the floriculture industry about the positive impacts of AFE on critical industry problems.

Philips and Green Sense Farms usher in new era of indoor farming with LED “light recipes” that help optimize crop yield and quality.

ItSaul Plants’ Coreopsis ‘Electric Avenue’ will soon be promoted under a new name. Mayo Clinic, one of the premier hospital systems in the U.S., has chosen the variety as its ‘Mayo Clinic Flower of Hope.’

The 10th edition of the Flower Trials will be held June 10-13, 2014, and will feature 42 breeding companies — a record number, with Open Days in Holland and Germany.

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.

Dr. Joe Bischoff, AmericanHort’s director of regulatory and legislative affairs, says it is important that we are informed and prepared to talk about the issue of pesticides, pollinators and the overarching concerns of bee health in a calm and clear manner. This is a topic where emotions can run high, and part of our role should be in explaining the need for balance and scientifically based solutions.

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