Issuu

An AmericanHort Member Benefit

2021:June

A KNOWLEDGE RESOURCE FOR OUR INDUSTRY

IN THIS ISSUE

Celebrate the Industry at Cultivate'21 Start dusting off your networking skills! Our Industry is facing a record year and AmericanHort is so excited to celebrate this success with you at Cultivate’21. FEATURES New! On-Demand Package for Cultivate’21 3 An Index of Prices Paid by Growers in the Green Industry 4 Welcome Board Members and Officers 6

HRI & ADVOCACY UPDATES

UPCOMING EVENTS The Hemp Conference

tHRIve with HRI

Cultivate’21 15

Announcing the Impact Washington Summit

Impact Washington Summit 15

CULTIVATE’21

ON-DEMAND

New and Noteworthy at

Announcing the NEW! On-Demand Education Pass for Cultivate’21

Have you registered yet for Cultivate’21? AmericanHort is looking forward to welcoming everyone back to Greater Columbus Convention Center July 10–13. We have an exciting show planned for you! Cultivate’21 attendees will enjoy more than 500+ trade show exhibitors and the industry’s most comprehensive professional development programming including more than 100 education sessions, workshops, and tours conducted by leading industry experts, educators, and researchers. Appropriate health and safety precautions will be followed in each area.

Cultivate’21 Highlights: Sunday Keynote: Headlining the keynote address for Cultivate’21 is Jon Petz, a former sales and marketing executive, two-time best-selling author and speaker who has led his teams to break-away performances throughout different industries and environments. A master at storytelling, he will speak about how to create a greater impact in what you do and those you do it for and help understand the power of making a difference. His work has been featured by the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, ABC News, Success Magazine, and The Globe & Mail, among others. Hands-On Workshops: The Art of Talent Management, Building a Better Workforce, Company Culture, Moss Wall Workshop, Pest Diagnostics & Technology Workshop, and the Garden Retail Workshop are all programs designed to help industry businesses perform better.

AmericanHort.org/Cultivate

Industry Production Tours: To provide inspiration and access to industry operations not otherwise available, participate in one of the four Saturday tours for a behindthe-scenes look. New this year is the Landscape Zoo Tour to the world-renowned Columbus Zoo that spans 588 acres, more than 200 of which have been developed as animal habitats and public spaces. Also available are the Garden Center Retail Tour, the Greenhouse Production Tour, and the Nursery Production Tour. Women in Horticulture Experience: A powerful, inspiring networking event for women in the green industry with an energetic talk by Leslie Halleck of Halleck Horticultural LLC, who will also moderate a panel discussion with Terri McEnaney of Bailey Nurseries, St. Paul, MN; Leslie Herndon of GreenScape Inc./Franklin Hills Farm Nursery of Holly Springs, NC; and Suzi McCoy, recently retired president of Garden Media Group. Lunch is included, and a portion of the ticket sale will go to a Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) scholarship fund. Separate registration required. If you haven’t already registered, be sure to do so before registration prices increase on June 18. Find more details on registration, tours and workshops, all-access education pass, on-demand education, and trade show exhibiting by visiting AmericanHort.org/Cultivate.

AmericanHort is excited to announce that a new On-Demand Education Pass for Cultivate’21 is now available for purchase.

As the industry prepares to convene in Columbus, OH July 10–13, we are pleased to share that access to select educational sessions will be available to both those who come to Cultivate’21 and those who are unable to attend via this online program. “Cultivate has always been highly regarded for our world-class educational programming,” said Ken Fisher, president, and CEO of AmericanHort. “We are pleased to make this knowledge available to help further the industry and share best practices.” The on-demand programming will include talks on marketing subjects like pricing, consumer psychology, and creating a brand story, to HR topics including employee compensation and rewards, to important information for growers such as field nursery soil health, improving plant stress tolerance, the economics of using PGRs, lighting strategies, and much more. The package includes more than 35 sessions, with about half of the programs being topics that are being presented in person at Cultivate’21 and half being incremental new programming only available on-demand. The full listing of on-demand sessions can be found at AmericanHort.org/CultivateOn-Demand.

On-Demand Education Pass Pricing Cultivate’21 All-Access Pass Holders

$99 Current Cultivate'21 All-Access pass holders can add the On-Demand Education Pass by logging back into the registration portal and adding this to your registration.

Non-Cultivate’21 Attendees

$349 for AmericanHort members $649 for non-members Registration for Cutivate’21 and this pass is available at AmericanHort.org/Cultivate and access to the online information will be available July 14 until September 1. Those who register will be sent their specific login credentials in July. For more information about Cultivate’21 and to register for the show or to purchase this On-Demand Education Pass go to AmericanHort.org/Cultivate-OnDemand or contact us at email hello@americanhort.org or by phone at 614-487-1117.

AmericanHort.org/Cultivate-On-Demand

The green industry is currently in the mature stage of the industry life cycle. As such, there are numerous pressures on existing firms in the industry, particularly a recurring one that is often referred to as the price-cost squeeze (or margin compression), where the prices obtained for products offered by green industry firms are held constant due to real and perceived competitive forces while, at the same time, the costs of the inputs used to produce these products are increasing.

Even in situations where industry firms have increased prices for their plants, the costs of their production inputs have risen more quickly. Thus, margins for green industry firms are being “squeezed” relative to what they used to be during previous stages of the life cycle. In an age of tight margins, it is essential for growers to have full and accurate information about inflationary trends so that they can better understand their cost

structure to aid in managerial decisionmaking such as SKU rationalization, customer profitability analyses, and determining the need for price increases. Armed with such information, growers will be in a much better position to understand the inflationary pressures on their relative costs of production and make more informed pricing decisions (since total costs represent the price floor and willingness-topay on the part of the customer represents the price ceiling).

Index of Prices Paid by Growers, 2007–2020

Results from this indexing analysis indicate that the summary weighted Index of Prices Paid by Growers ranges from 100 in 2007 to a high of 131.5 in 2020. This means that the overall cost of producing nursery and greenhouse crops is almost 32% higher in 2020 than it was in 2007, with labor experiencing the largest increase (46.3% higher in 2020). The year-over-year (YOY) increases, reflecting the inflationary pressures of costs over time, are also calculated. YOY costs associated with the tracked expenses in 2020 increased about 0.54% over what they were in 2019. For the first time since publication of this index, a forecast of anticipated input cost increases has also been estimated. Based on market research across the industries and conversations with allied trade pundits associated with producing these inputs, a 5.24% increase in input costs is forecast for 2021. You can access this full report and the March Industry Insider video covering the report highlights in the AmericanHort Knowledge Center: AmericanHort.org/KC. Dr. Charlie Hall AmericanHort Chief Economist, Ellison Chair in International Floriculture, Texas A&M University

I EK & F

An Index of Prices Paid by Growers in the Green Industry: 2007–2020

Thus, an Index of Prices Paid by Growers was developed in 2017 as part of the Your MarketMetrics industry benchmarking program and has been updated annually. This index reflects inflationary pressures on the most important inputs used by green industry growers and each cost-related line item is weighted by its relative share of the total of the typical assortment of goods and services purchased by growers for producing, marketing, and shipping plants. Using this methodology, a weighted average rate of inflation in the prices of these grower inputs is estimated.

PRICES PA I D

In each issue of Connect, we’ll be “hiding” a new small graphic. When you find it, email us at ConnectSeekAndFind@AmericanHort.org, and tell us where you found it. For this June issue, respond by July 1.

Mike Graham Plantique Lake Worth, FL ————— Mike is an AmericanHort member who found the last SEEK & FIND and is the winner of our drawing.

Hear from Dr. Charlie Hall & Craig Regelbrugge at the

State of the Industry Address AmericanHort welcomes Dr. Charlie Hall and our own Craig Regelbrugge as keynote presenters at Cultivate’21. Gain insights on how to plan for the future after the horticulture industry's record spring with Charlie's economic and Craig's regulatory perspectives. Register today at AmericanHort.org/Cultivate 2021:Jun e An Ame

A KNOW

Don’t forget to pass along your Connect Issue!

IN TH IS

ISSU

LEDGE

RESOU

ricanHort

Member

Benefit

RCE FO R OUR INDUS

Celebra te the In at Cult ivate'21 dustry E

Start dus ting off your net record year and workin g skills! Americ with you Our Ind anHort at Cultiva ustry is is so exc te’21. facing ited to a celebra te this success

FEATUR ES New! On-Dema nd Package for Cultivate ’21 An Inde x of Price s Paid by Grow ers in the Industry Green

4 | AmericanHort.org

TRY

Welcom 4 e Board Members and Offic ers 6

HRI & ADV UPDATE OCACY S tHRIve with HRI Announ cing the Impact Washing ton Sum mit

8 9

UPCOM ING EVE NTS The Hem p Confere nce Cultivate ’21 Impact Washing ton Summit

2021:June | 5

15 15 15

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Welcome to the New Board Members and Officers By Mary Beth Cowardin, VP of Marketing and Member Engagement, AmericanHort, MaryBethC@AmericanHort.org

BOARD MEMBER AmericanHort announces the election of three new members to the board of directors, along with the election of a new slate of officers. The official welcome and installation will take place at Cultivate’21 held July 10-13, in Columbus, Ohio. “These individuals are leaders from across the horticulture industry and encompass various experiences, skills, and backgrounds. We are excited to welcome this group of new directors,” said Ken Fisher, president & CEO of AmericanHort. “We appreciate the dedication and commitment of our officers and the leadership they provide our organization and industry.” The new slate of officers will include Cole Mangum of Bell Nursery USA LLC as the new chairman of the board and Jon Reelhorn of Belmont Nursery as vice chairman of the board. In addition, J. Harvey Cotton Jr. recently joined the board to serve as treasurer, a non-voting position. Tom Hughes of Hughes Nursery & Landscaping LLC will become the immediate past chairman. Cole Mangum is vice president of operations for Bell Nursery in Elkridge, MD, one of the nation’s largest growers of annuals and perennials. Cole oversees operations across 8 facilities as well as coordinating a team of category managers who manage shipping of finished product. A graduate of Salisbury University, Cole has dedicated himself to advocating for various facets for the industry over the course of his career. He has served on the National Leadership Cabinet for the Seed Your Future initiative, 6 | AmericanHort.org

as Horticulture Representative for the Maryland Agricultural Commission, and the Greenhouse Grower Technology advisory board. Cole remains committed to keeping the horticulture industry a strong and viable career path long into the future – both at the local and national level. Jon Reelhorn is owner and president of Belmont Nursery located in Fresno, Calif. Like many successful businesses, Jon’s company values come from the top down. Belmont Nursery is a third-generation business that loves being part of their local community and includes nursery growing, greenhouse growing, and a retail garden center. Jon is a graduate of Fresno State University with a degree in Plant Science, a graduate of the California Ag Leadership Program and a graduate of the Executive Academy for Growth and Leadership. Jon is very active in his industry having served as a board member with the California Farm Bureau and California Nursery and Landscape Association (now Plant California Association), he held several committee roles with the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA) and has been chairman of the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI). Harvey Cotten is a garden writer, designer, and consultant. After 22 years with the Huntsville Botanical Garden, most recently as vice president and chief horticulturist, he retired in 2014. He continues to present workshops for the Botanical Garden, Master Gardener Associations, Garden Clubs and other botanical gardens and arboreta while lecturing across the southeast on various

“We appreciate the dedication and commitment of our officers and the leadership they provide our organization and industry.”— Ken Fisher, president & CEO of AmericanHort garden topics. Harvey currently serves as president of the Alabama Nursery & Landscape Association and is past president of the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) and Alabama Invasive Plant Council. The AmericanHort membership has elected the following new board directors: Rob Lando is CEO of Oberlin, Ohio-based AgriNomix, North America’s largest supplier of automation to nurseries and greenhouses and is being elected to a second director term. He and three grower partners formed AgriNomix (formerly Flier USA) in 1994 to provide local sales and service for high-tech Dutch-made automation. While continuing to do so, the company has become a sizable domestic designer and manufacturer as well. In addition to his day job, Rob is an active board member for Neighborhood Alliance, a North East Ohio non-profit which provides essential services to Lorain County residents in all stages of life. Prior to AgriNomix, Lando served as senior vice president responsible for sales and service at Bouldin & Lawson of McMinnville, TN, and he started his journey in the horticulture industry with Langley Peat Moss of Fort Langley, BC in 1980. Steve Mostardi is owner and general manager of Mostardi Nursery, a retail garden center located in Newtown Square, PA. He is a third-generation nurseryman and a Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist with a lifelong interest in the world of plants. Steve attended the Arboretum School of the Barnes Foundation, as well as the Ambler Campus of Temple University. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, while

also serving as Chairman of the P.H.S. Gold Medal Plant Award Committee. In addition, he is honored to judge the horticultural exhibits at the Philadelphia Flower Show. On a national level, he recently served as president of the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI). Lyndsi Oestmann grew up in the nursery business started by father, Mark Clear. A graduate of Kansas State University, Lyndsi now serves as president of Loma Vista Nursery overseeing all strategic and operational responsibility for 300-acres of container production, 500 acres of field production with sales predominately focused on the Midwest and mountain states. Lyndsi is an active and highly involved participant in the green industry having served as a 5-year board member of Kansas Nursery and Landscape Association, including as board president in 2016, and served on the Western Nursery and Landscape Association board. She is a member of Johnson County Community College Horticulture Advisory Board, and recipient of WNLA’s State Association Leader Award in 2017, and Horticultural Industries Leadership Awards Class of 2020. Concerned for both the present and future of horticulture, Lyndsi is dedicated to recruiting youth into the industry. These new directors will join current directors Gerry Docksteader, Advanced Horticultural Solutions, MD; Mike Gooder, Plantpeddler Inc, IA; Joe Hobson, Midwest Trading Horticultural Supplies Inc, IL; Amy Morris, N. G. Heimos Greenhouses, IL; Ed Overdevest, Overdevest Nurseries LP, NJ; and Jonathan Saperstein, Everde Growers, TX. AmericanHort and its members also want to thank outgoing board members, Susie RakerZimmerman of Raker Roberta’s Young Plants who served six years on the board including immediate past chairwoman; and Chris McCorkle of McCorkle Nurseries Inc. who completes a three-year term in July. 2021:June | 7

HRI U P DAT E

FROM THE HILL

Get Excited about HRI’s tHRIve Program By Jennifer Gray, Research Programs Administrator, Horticultural Research Institute, JenniferG@AmericanHort.org

Horticultural Research Institute helps you tHRIve with a new web-based series featuring key research findings. The tHRIve series covers research that is directly funded by HRI as well as research that is federally funded. The Horticultural Research Institute’s mission is to direct, fund, promote, and communicate horticultural research. The creation and launch of the tHRIve web series is another example of how HRI works to connect the industry to research-backed innovation. In announcing the new tHRIVe web series, HRI President Gary Knosher said, “HRI was created to improve the horticultural community through research that addresses critical issues and new innovations. HRI trustees recognize that research is critical to help our industry succeed and grow, and sharing new findings is part of that equation. I’m excited to be part of this focus of using videos not only to share new research but also to engage our community in another way.” HRI supports research and outreach efforts that prepare the horticultural industry for challenges and opportunities for business success. Connecting the industry to the research is a key component in that endeavor. New tHRIve sessions will be posted throughout the year, with all content available online for free at any time at www. HRIresearch.org. The tHRIve sessions offer everything from bite-sized research clips to researcher interviews to short webinars to live Q&A with researchers.

You can access all 15 of the tHRIve videos and register for upcoming webinars for FREE at HRIresearch.org/thrive. 8 | AmericanHort.org

A D V OCA CY U PD ATES

Announcing the 2021 Impact Washington Summit By Tal Coley, Director of Government Affairs, AmericanHort, TalC@AmericanHort.org

TAKE ACTION. BE HEARD. IMPACT WASHINGTON

Videos available for immediate viewing include: •

Resilient Plant Research from FNRI (6 video series)

•

IPM Strategies for Invasive Insects from FNRI (3 video series)

•

Seeing Red? Redheaded Flea Beetle

•

Spotted Lanternfly

•

Plant Benefits or Features: Which Cue is More Effective?

•

Boxwood Blight—A 15 Year Love and Hate Relationship

•

Knowing & Growing Boxwood

But we won’t stop there! Check out these upcoming webinars: •

Boxwood Breeding & Selection for Blight Resistance | August 25, 2021 at 11 AM, ET

•

Switzerland: Invasion, impact and management of box tree moth in Europe | December 2, 2021 at 11 AM, ET

•

Progress in Boxwood Blight Management in the United Kingdom & New Zealand: 1990s to 2021 | March 10, 2022 at 3 PM, ET

“Like most farmers, it takes a pretty good “tug” to get me away from the nursery. Having gone before to an Impact Washington Summit, I know it’s worth my time and that one constituent truly CAN influence their legislator’s position with a single conversation.” —Michael Frantz, Frantz Wholesale Nursery Company Join other AmericanHort members and industry friends in Washington DC on September 20–22 and help make a difference for the future of horticulture at the Impact Washington Summit. Over the course of two days, participants will hear from elected leaders, their staff, and other policy experts on issues of great impact on green industry business success. Our attendees will also get the chance to share their experiences directly with policy makers, developing personal relationships and providing real-world context and influence to decisions being made.

Providing a united front, this is an opportunity for the landscaper, grower, garden retailer, and entire green industry communities to personally and collectively advocate for decisions that help us continue the growth of our $348 billion industry.

2021:June | 9

HORT SCHOLARS

AmericanHort Welcomes the HortScholar Class of 2021 With rapid chance and variability in the labor market, AmericanHort knows how important it is to identify and support emerging leaders in horticulture. For the past fifteen years, AmericanHort has identified and supported six college students with a passion and drive for the horticulture industry through the HortScholars program. The 2021 HortScholars will be set on a path to success at Cultivate’21 where they will be exposed to the breadth of the horticulture industry, its opportunities, and its leaders. The program offers a beyond-the-classroom experience, giving insight and awareness of the industry, its supply chain, and where they might find a home for their passion. With a focus on professional development, the HortScholars will attend educational sessions, network, and work with industry mentors during Cultivate’21.

Get to know the HortScholar Class of 2021 in their own words. Jayden Black; Ohio State University Growing plants and loving nature has been my passion for my entire life—for as long as I can remember. Though my first experience consisted of tending to a weed patch in my grandmother’s garden in Midwest, Ohio, it wasn’t long before I was exploring the world of ornamental horticulture. This hunger to learn more and expand my experience naturally led me to pursue a degree in horticulture at Ohio State University, one in Sustainable Plant Systems (Horticulture Specialization) and the other in Agriculture Business. I continuously strive to create sustainable, ecologically functional, and horticulturally enriched landscapes for people to enjoy. This industry combines my creativity, communication skills, and passion for plants, and I am excited to join the industry as a professional following my graduation in May of 2022. My goal has evolved into sharing and exploring my love of plants with others, and I hope to have a career in 10 | AmericanHort.org

horticulture production, outreach, education, or state extension. I believe in the immense potential of teaching the world how to grow beautiful plants—inspiring others to make a change. Stephanie Cruz; University of Florida My interest in cooking and nature evolved into an interest in horticulture when I learned about the health benefits of eating plant-based foods. My interest in horticulture solidified when I interned as a farm hand at Field and Fork, Farm and Gardens at the University of Florida as an undergraduate. I became more curious about protected agriculture after taking several classes on greenhouse production; I have always been fascinated by the many methods a grower can use to manipulate how a plant grows or produces based on controlling the environment in a greenhouse or indoor growing environment. I enjoy the combination of art, nature, science, and business that comes with working in this field. I am currently a graduate student at the University of Florida, focusing on controlled environment agriculture of fruiting vegetables. I hope to build on this experience by learning from other growers so I can be on the path to becoming a grower myself upon my graduation in December 2021. Maria Fernanda do Amaral Trientini; University of Florida As a child who grew up in a big city, I always sought to link people to nature. While earning my Bachelor in Agriculture at the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil), ornamental plant production sparked a special interest in me, as I saw it as a way to bring nature to city dwellers. After graduation, I worked for three years on the professional market in environmental education and outreach. I taught gardening and landscape design for children, associate degreeseeking, and vulnerable populations. I have had the opportunity to experience projects that put

together people and plants throughout my career, teaching kids and adults about the importance of the environment, including landscape design, gardening, ornamental plants, and plant care. Since August 2018, I have been working at the University of Florida (UF), where I expect to earn my Master's degree in Environmental Horticulture this Summer and to start my Ph.D. in the Fall. As a horticulture professional, I hope to bring scientific knowledge and methods to advance ornamental plant production and better meet consumer demands. Juan Quijia Pillajo; Ohio State University My passion for horticulture was inspired by the tireless work and commitment of my parents to successfully run their ornamental greenhouse business in Quito, Ecuador. I had the opportunity to pursue a degree in agriculture at Zamorano University in Honduras and later a master at The Ohio State University doing research focused on floriculture crop improvement. Through my professional career I have been very into floriculture industry. I have had the chance to work as grower, technical advisor, and researcher. I am a very curious person with an unquenchable desire to learn. In my last position as technical advisor, I had the chance to get very into the use of beneficial microbes and bio-stimulation for crop production. I realized that although microbial-based products can be an important tool there is a huge need for information to successfully use them. These experiences prompted me to pursue a PhD at The Ohio State University and study plant-microbe interactions and how these interactions can influence plant growth and heath. My commitment has always been to help growers succeed. I want to promote an innovative and sustainable horticulture industry though developing environmentally friendly tools for crop production.

Get to know this year’s HortScholar class even better during Cultivate’21! Tuesday, July 13 at 9:30 AM Join their panel discussion, Looking Ahead to Make Your Company Attractive to the Next Wave of Employees You can also watch the HortScholar’s Ignite! Presentations as a part of the Cultivate’21 On-Demand package.

Ankit Singh; University of Connecticut I am a doctoral candidate at the University of Connecticut (UConn), where I am studying the technical and financial feasibility of the novel GREENBOX technology (USDA funded). My grandfather was a farmer, and my mother has spent lots of time growing different types of guavas and roses and continues to grow different vegetables, so I am not surprised that my inherited green thumb manifested in me while researching urban agriculture. Through my research with GREENBOX, I aim to further the knowledge of large-scale urban horticulture that reduces the food transportation network's strain and provides fresh, nutritious produce to the urban populous. I have also enjoyed growing lettuce for my research, making different salads, and sharing it with my friends and loved ones. I love horticulture that is localized with an educational component, as science shows that early involvement in horticulture increases nutritional messaging effectiveness and encourages people to eat healthier. I enjoy teaching environmental science and scientific writing to college students (freshman-seniors) and being a graduate mentor to high school students, as they take on environmental projects at UConn. I hope to have a career in sustainability or teaching, and I enjoy kayaking, visiting museums, and engaging with the arts in my spare time. Runshi Xie; Texas A&M University I have always been captivated by the biodiversity and improved well-being that plants bring to individuals since I grew up in a subtropical city located in southeast China. My childhood experience has led to my passion for nature and science. I started my undergraduate study in Landscape Architecture, where I was exposed to both nature and plant sciences. Later I joined Texas A&M University for my master's degree in Plant Breeding, which ultimately leads to my current pursuit of doctorallevel education in Horticulture. I am currently working on a multi-state multi-disciplinary project to combat the crapemyrtle bark scale (CMBS), an introduced pest species in the United States. I have been confirming and evaluating the potential threats of CMBS to other important or native crops in the US. My current CMBS life table study aims to improve understanding of insect biology such as the life cycle and mating behavior, ultimately creating integrated pest management programs for CMBS. I believe my research goals would allow me to develop innovative and sustainable pest control and management methods in the horticulture industry.

2021:June | 11

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Petitti Garden Centers Celebrating 50 years On April 15, 2021, Petitti Garden Centers marked its milestone anniversary of “50 years and growing” as a local, family-owned, independent garden center business. AmericanHort is proud to spotlight this member company and join in the anniversary celebration! The son of a farmer and nephew of an avid gardener, founder and owner Angelo Petitti immigrated to the United States in 1963 at the age of 16 from Italy. He worked several jobs to support himself while attending college, including part-time landscaping. In 1971, Angelo opened his first garden center on the site of a small garage property in Oakwood Village, Ohio, and a Northeast Ohio tradition was born. Since the 1990s, Angelo Petitti has been cultivating a unique niche. Not only is he a retailer of plants, but also a grower— a rare combination in the garden center industry. Ownership of the process from seed to sale

Want to see Petitti Garden Center’s flagship location and the Casa Verde Greenhouse? Register for Cultivate’21 and add on the Greenhouse Production Tour. Saturday, July 10 CultivateEvent.org/Production-Tours

12 | AmericanHort.org

enables quality control and drives Angelo’s ability to deliver the largest selection of fresh, healthy, climatized plants to all store locations daily. From a 45-acre greenhouse growing facility dubbed Casa Verde, located in Columbia Station, Angelo oversees the growing of 4 million annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, and houseplants each year. From a 1,300-acre collection of farm sites in Lake County, such as Ridge Manor Nursery, Angelo directs the growing of 3 million ornamental grasses, trees, and shrubs including hydrangeas, a Northeast Ohio favorite. Angelo also makes it a priority to visit to successful garden centers and growing facilities across Europe and the United States, bringing back key insights to further shape, evolve, and enhance the shopping experience. Now fifty years in, Angelo continues handson management of the business with the support of his son, A.J. Petitti, by his side as president of Petitti Garden Centers. Angelo directs daily operations, and he is frequently spotted in action across locations and at the growing facilities. “I really love everything I do,” said Angelo Petitti. “In the morning, I can’t wait to get up and go. I go seven days a week, and I still go to all the places. Nothing has changed.”

Angelo also gives credit, and gives back, to the community and the employees who have supported his business for fifty years. The organization supports the community year-round through in-store fundraising campaigns that have generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of a variety of charitable organizations including Cleveland Clinic Children’s, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Prayers from Maria, Flying Horse Farms and, most recently, Believe in Dreams.

Want to visit Petitti’s Ridge Manor Nursery? Register for Cultivate’21 and add on the Nursery Production Tour. Saturday, July 10 CultivateEvent.org/Production-Tours

“It’s the community and the employees,” said Angelo Petitti. “They have made this company a success and helped it grow.” Want to see Petitti Garden Center’s flagship location and the Casa Verde Greenhouse? Register for Cultivate’21 and add on the Greenhouse Production Tour. Want to visit Petitti’s Ridge Manor Nursery? Sign up for the Nursery Production Tour. Both tours take place on Saturday, July 10 and promise to be immersive educational experiences. Learn more and register at CultivateEvent.org/ Production-Tours. Katie Gustafson Marketing Communication Specialist, AmericanHort KatieG@AmericanHort.org

2021:June | 13

KEY DAT ES

J U LY

Finished Plant OCTOBER 11-13, 2021 | GRAND RAPIDS, MI

AmericanHort is proud to present the Hemp Conference at Cultivate’21. This two-day conference, held prior to the opening of Cultivate’21, features educational programming, products, and services to help you become a better grower. Located in Battelle Hall at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, attendees will have convenient access to exhibitors and education sessions in one focused place.

9-10 COLU MBUS OH

BEST PRACTICES IN FINISHED PLANT GROWING STARTS HERE. The AmericanHort Finished Plant Conference is the event to attend for finishing growers of bedding and potted flowering plants, indoor and outdoor perennials, and fastturn flowering shrubs. With a grower-focused trade show and education for all expertise levels, you won’t want to miss out!

J U LY

AmericanHort will host Cultivate’21—the premier event for the entire horticulture industry—at the Greater Columbus Convention Center July 10-13, 2021. The 92nd annual event will attract more than 10,000 industry professionals and visitors from all 50 states and over 30 countries.

EDUCATION: Want to optimize your production? Join us to learn the best practices in production in 25+ grower-togrower panels, sessions, and specific crop talks.

TRADE SHOW: Walk the trade show to discover new suppliers, strategies, and opportunities for commerce that will help you grow your business.

GREENHOUSE TOUR

WORKSHOP

On the Greenhouse Tour, you will see a Variety of crop sectors and business models in beautiful western Michigan. We will visit Walters Gardens, Spring Meadow Nursery, Henry Mast Greenhouse, and Garden Crossings.

This Half-day workshop at Walters Gardens is Ideal for beginning to intermediate perennial growers. The workshop will cover Weed control, perennial PGRs and application methods, handling of bareroot material, and more.

AmericanHort.org/FinishedPlant AmericanHort Connect 2021:June Hello@AmericanHort.org 2130 Stella Court Columbus, Ohio 43215-1033 USA (614) 487-1117 Main 14 | AmericanHort.org

©2021 AmericanHort. All rights reserved. This material may contain confidential information and it is for the sole use of AmericanHort members. The information contained herein is for general guidance and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. It cannot be distributed, reprinted, retransmitted, or otherwise made public without prior written permission by AmericanHort. Please contact the editor at (614) 487-1117 for permission with acknowledgment.

10-13 COLU MBUS OH

SEPTEMBER Impact Washington is a two-day advocacy summit where green industry business owners and leaders can take action in Washington, D.C. Providing a united front, this is an opportunity for the landscaper, grower, garden retailer, and entire green industry communities to personally and collectively advocate for decisions that help us continue the growth of our $348 billion industry. Attendees will share their experiences directly with policy makers, providing real-world context and influence to the decisions being made.

20-22

WA SH I N GTO N DC

About AmericanHort AmericanHort is the national association of horticulture businesses and professionals across the spectrum of the industry. Perform better, grow stronger, and prepare for the future as a member of AmericanHort, the green industry’s leading association. AmericanHort.org 2021:June | 15

@AmericanHort

@youramericanhort

@American_Hort

@AmericanHort

We want to get to know you better. Help us do so by joining us on Social Media—our way of connecting with our members and community.

WITH US

Thank you for your membership in AmericanHort and we look forward to continuing to serve you and the industry.

For many AmericanHort members, your membership is due to expire on June 30, so be on the lookout for renewal communications.

Membership Renewal Month

June is Segment message here

Electronic Service Requested

2130 Stella Court Columbus, OH 43215 USA (614) 487-1117 AmericanHort.org

Presorted Standard Mail U.S. POSTAGE PAID Columbus, OH Permit No. 1377