Pleasant View Gardens Hires New Sales Manager
September 5, 2008
Peter Gilmore has joined Pleasant View Gardens in Loudon, N.H., as its national sales manager. In his new role, Gilmore will assist the operation’s grower customers and brokers in the development of successful programs using Pleasant View products and services.
Hines' Court Records Reveal Top 20 Creditors
September 3, 2008
Affidavits filed last week in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware reveal industry companies that are among Hines Horticulture's top 20 creditors. Hines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on August 20.
BioSafe Systems Offers Water Testing Services
September 2, 2008
BioSafe Systems now offers water-testing services for horticultural irrigation water to help growers develop customized water treatment programs. By processing and examining samples, the BioSafe Systems lab can determine accurate species and counts for any pathogens or algae found in irrigation water.
Goldsmith Varieties Bloom In Beijing
September 2, 2008
The Water Cube, where Michael Phelps won a record eight gold medals, was the place to be at the Olympics in Beijing, China. Those who visited the Water Cube were treated to a blanket of color in the form of two vinca varieties from Goldsmith Seeds – ‘Cora Deep Lavender’ and ‘Cora White’ – that thrived in the extreme tropical heat and high humidity.
McGregor Plant Sales Partners With Elsner PAC
September 2, 2008
McGregor Plant Sales has partnered with German geranium breeding company Elsner PAC, combining Elsner’s expertise in geranium research, breeding and production with the sales, marketing and customer service expertise of McGregor.
Ecke To Offer Webinar On Growing Regal Geraniums
September 2, 2008
Ecke Ranch has planned another Webinar for Thursday, September 25. The topic of this next one is Regal geraniums, and Dr. James Faust of Clemson University and Rebecca Siemonsma, technical services manager for Ecke Ranch, will present the latest cultural information available to ensure your own success with the crop.
Dressed For Success With Hort Couture
September 2, 2008
Hort Couture has announced the winners of its first Dressed For Success Display contest. First place went to Garden Supply Company in North Carolina, which won $1,000 in Co-op advertising/marketing dollars from Hort Couture, along with several other perks. The store featured Hort Couture products prominently with excellent use of signage, black benches and an extensive Hort Couture plant selection.
Wal-Mart Converting Garden Centers Into Sports Centers
September 2, 2008
Hundreds of Wal-Mart garden centers will be converted to Game Time Headquarters over the next month, giving football fans plenty of space to purchase items for tailgating and gear of their local college and pro teams. Game Time Headquarters will occupy garden centers through September 30, giving Wal-Mart another productive use for its garden center spaces at a typically slower time of the year.
1-800-Flowers Launches BlackBerry Application
September 2, 2008
In early August, 1-800-Flowers launched its Mobile Flower & Gift Center. Now, 1-800-Flowers reports that nearly 1,000 people have downloaded the application that lets customers browse and purchase flowers directly from their BlackBerry devices.
Ones To Watch: Charlie Cole
September 2, 2008
As part of Greenhouse Grower's 25th anniversary celebration, we are profiling industry people we expect to shape the industry for the better over the next 25 years. Now in its 10th week online, our Ones To Watch series continues with Charlie Cole of Cole Gardens.
ASTA Introduces New Leadership
September 2, 2008
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) recently announced a new slate of officers and changes to its board of directors, association divisions and committees. Kelly Keithly was elected chairman of the officers, Jerry Monk was elected vice chairman and John Nelson was elected as second vice chairman.
BASF Offering Online Training Modules
September 2, 2008
Growers now have access to a new online educational tool from BASF Turf & Ornamental for FreeHand 1.75G herbicide and Pageant fungicide. The company has launched an interactive training module for the two new products that can be found online.
Hurricane Gustav Slams Louisiana Nurseries
September 2, 2008
Trees are down and all of Forest Hill, La., a major nursery production area, is without power after Hurricane Gustav rolled through Monday, the Alabama Nursery and Landscape Association reports.
Top 100 Growers Report Wins Editorial Award
September 2, 2008
Greenhouse Grower's Top 100 Growers Report has received an editorial honor from the American Society of Business Publication Editors.
Kicking Off Our FloriCAST Series
August 27, 2008
FloriCAST, the new podcast series from Greenhouse Grower, premieres this week with Brian Krug, greenhouse and floriculture Extension specialist at the University of New Hampshire, who shares his thoughts on boron deficiency in pansy plugs. New podcasts in the FloriCAST series can be downloaded monthly starting this week and weekly starting in January.
Bachman’s Announces Executive Leadership Team
August 25, 2008
Dale Bachman has been elected chairman of the board and CEO, and Paul Bachman has been elected president at Bachman’s Floral, Home & Garden, following the death of Chairman and CEO Todd Bachman at the Olympics earlier this month. The Bachman family has also arranged a funeral service for Todd and set hours for visitation.
Catching Up With Short Course Now!
August 25, 2008
Did you miss this year's OFA Short Course? Didn't make it around to every booth? Greenhouse Grower's Short Course Now! is an online trade show, offering videos from Short Course exhibitors on their newest products and services.
USDA Objects To Sustainability Standards Movement
August 25, 2008
The wheels are in motion toward the establishment of a national standard for sustainable agriculture, but USDA recently spoke out against the potential impact of the proposed standard and the process that will create it in a letter to Leonardo Academy President Michael Arny. OFA revealed the letter in a recent e-bulletin.
Hines Granted $53M In Post-Petition Financing
August 25, 2008
The United States Bankruptcy Court granted Hines Horticulture interim approval to secure $53 million in post-petition financing from Bank of America, use cash collateral and grant adequate protection. A court hearing to consider final approval of the loan is scheduled for September 10.
Do The Shuffle: Greenhouse Grower Staff Changes
August 25, 2008
The ornamental group here at Meister Media Worldwide now has a new look in the editorial department. Sara Tambascio has accepted a newly created position of online editor for the group, Kevin Yanik has been promoted to associate editor of Greenhouse Grower and Pete Mihalek joins the company full-time as an assistant editor for Greenhouse Grower and sister magazine Today’s Garden Center.
Ones To Watch: Alex Fell
August 25, 2008
As part of Greenhouse Grower's 25th anniversary celebration, we are profiling industry people we expect to shape the industry for the better over the next 25 years. Now in its ninth week online, our Ones To Watch series continues with Alex Fell of Kraft Gardens.
CK Greenhouses Hosts Open House
August 25, 2008
CK Greenhouses, a rooting station for Dümmen USA in Cheshire, Conn., drew about 100 people to its open house over two days to view finished Red Fox products and hear presentations on growing quality osteospermums and cool finishing poinsettias from P. Allen Hammer.
Wal-Mart Sticks With Politics
August 25, 2008
Wal-Mart is preparing to launch a series of TV ads during the Democratic and Republication National Conventions that will highlight how consumers worried about the economy can save money by shopping at its stores. Reuters reports ads will run on cable news networks like CNN and MSNBC through September 7.
Supermarket Giant Unveils New Logo
August 25, 2008
The familiar big blue G is gone and an array of color and half moons are in the new logo for supermarket company Giant Food, which gave itself a fresh face to get consumers to notice changes inside its stores. The Washington Post reported the news in a story late last week.
Send Us Your Labor Savers
August 25, 2008
What has really saved you labor in the greenhouse? Is it a piece of equipment? Reconfiguring the way the work is organized? A new way of doing things? Supplies like trays for pots that fit with automation? What has made the difference? We want to know.
Dressing Up Bonfire And Bellfire
August 25, 2008
Selecta First Class is now offering attention-grabbing John Henry tags for Bonfire and Bellfire, along with corresponding POP materials with a poster that can include specific store logos. Brand-new MiniFamous POP from Master Tag is also now available.
Hort Couture Grower Network Expands
August 25, 2008
