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What’s Up with Medical Cannabis?

August 2014 | Volume 35, Issue 8

Florida Governor Rick Scott recently signed SB 1030 into law. It allows for the medical use of a non-euphoric strain of cannabis – known as Charlotte’s Web – for medicinal purposes. It has been shown medically to ease epileptic seizures among children, as well as treat other diseases. The law allows one Dispensing Organization in each of five regions around the state. The overarching pre-qualification is the Dispensing Organization must be a Florida nursery in business at least 30 years and have an inventory of at least 400,000 plants. There are now 55 nurseries which meet these pre-qualification criteria. On July 7, the Florida Department of Health held a public workshop in Tallahassee on its draft rule to implement the new law. The room was full with attorneys, investors, growers, as well as parents of children for whom Charlotte’s Web may help. FNGLA was there monitoring it all. The Department of Health held a second workshop on August 1 and FNGLA offered further comments and concerns on the draft rule.

An FNGLA task force met on July 22 to analyze the Department of Health’s initial draft rule. And, given what is known with the proposed Charlotte’s Web framework, the task force also began to look forward to what FNGLA’s position may be with future regulatory criteria -- if the more broad medical marijuana amendment to Florida’s constitution passes in November. If it passes, there will likely be need for a broader array of products to meet demands of a larger market.

There is some surprising interest in the U.S. House of Representatives to wrestle with the illegal status of medical marijuana. Legislation was just introduced this week to exempt cannabis plants with very low percentages of THC -- the euphoric or high-inducing chemical. Last month, the U.S. House passed a bill to allow banks to handle cash transactions from dispensaries and other marijuana businesses in legalized states. The Farm Bill now allows industrial hemp -- a strain of cannabis without THC -- to be grown for academic or research purposes. And, back in May, the U.S. House passed a bill to block funds for DEA raids on marijuana dispensaries that are legal under state law. The U.S. Senate has yet to act on any of these House-passed measures.

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F N G L A ’ S M O N T H L Y P U B L I C A T I O N : D I G I T A L M O N T H L Y I S S U E L O C A T E D A T H T T P : / / G R E E N L I N E . F N G L A . O R G

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Sandy SteinFNGLA 2014-2015 PresidentPRESIDENT’S LETTER

I am hoping awareness of our publications, such as this month’s Greenline, reach an audience far beyond those who are already within the fold of the FNGLA.

Along with the many other benefits FNGLA membership provides, our media productions keep us up-to-date with timely and relevant issues. Those of us who are already members have come to count on many of the benefits membership in the largest state nursery and landscape association provide.

Sure many take advantage of the money savings offered through discounts on tradeshow booths, and other member benefits like FNGLA’s special rates on credit card processing through Integrity Merchant Solutions, as well as special FNGLA group rates on Life Insurance using LPL Financial. These savings often add up to far more than the cost of a membership in FNGLA. Alone they can make membership an easy choice.

For landscape design and build companies like Landscape Service Professionals of Tamarac, FNGLA’s Certifications provide concrete differences often critical to their company success. For example, the ability to bid and be awarded contracts which are more and more often required by many municipalities. For Luke Preslaski of Bay Landscape and Palm Service, LLC out of Panama City Beach, FNGLA certification training offered to his employees provides them a sense of having a career instead of just simply having a job.

Exposure to the forward thinking presenters at many of our Association events has positively affected the decisions many of us have made in our own businesses. This month your Board of Directors will meet for a Strategic Planning workshop where we will lay out the vision for FNGLA over the course of the next five years. As he did back in 2007, Bob Harris, CAE, will facilitate an incredibly stimulating ‘melding of the minds.’

Of course, the primary benefactor of this meeting is supposed to be our Association, and FNGLA will greatly benefit. To be honest, though, what happened at our last

Strategic Planning Session was of great benefit to every person who participated, their business, and “incidentally,” FNGLA. This is what happens at many industry meetings intended to benefit the Association: the spillover for those of us participating keeps us coming back for more, keeps us imagining, keeps us energized to invest ourselves in this Association and growing our own businesses.

Most of us have been glued to the news coming out of Tallahassee surrounding the new law enabling the cultivation, processing and distribution of a medical marijuana strain named Charlotte’s Web. To those in need of the medical benefits Charlotte’s Web will provide, they say this law could not have come too soon. Though FNGLA neither lobbied for or against passage of the bill making this strain available, FNGLA has weighed in, using its influence to help legislators create policies which will be fair to all nurseries who meet the requirements the state has established to participate. As with this bill, FNGLA actively works with many government agencies leveraging its influence for our industry’s benefit. Because many nonmembers remain outside our communication channels, they may very well be unaware of the battles FNGLA has waged on our – and their -- behalf, which have protected us from government overreach and saved us hugely in fees and taxes that otherwise would have been levied against our businesses.

The list of FNGLA member benefits is great and can be found on our website at www.FNGLA.org. If you are a member and have not checked the website recently, do yourself a favor. It’s chock full of information pertinent to everyone in this industry, including lots of ways to help offset the cost of your membership through discount programs. If you are not a member and are reading this, look at our website or call the FNGLA office at (800) 375-3642 and ask for information regarding membership. We will be happy to help you in any way we can. We can even help put you in touch with your local FNGLA chapter officers with whom you can get involved immediately.

Sandy SteinThe Jungle Nursery (Homestead)sstein@junglenursery.com

Maximize Your FNGLA Member Benefit“I believe that the community - in the fullest sense: a place and all its creatures - is the smallest unit of health and that to speak of the health of an isolated individual is a contradiction in terms. (pg. 146, Health is Membership)”

-Wendell Berry, The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays

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Continued from page 1

So, at least for now, marijuana continues to be illegal under federal law which, in turn, gives rise to a whole host of vexing questions. How does one obtain a legal supply source? Given tight financial regulations, will banks and financial institutions be able or even willing to service nurseries licensed for medicinal marijuana? And, there are even more complicated industry issues which loom large if the constitutional amendment passes. Here are just two poignant examples:

Although the State of Florida may not prosecute a nursery licensed to grow marijuana for medicinal purposes, a Florida nursery grower is still vulnerable to enforcement action under the federal Controlled Substances Act. Enforcement of this federal law subjects a grower to arrest and conviction for cultivation of marijuana which then compromises one’s crop insurance eligibility. Cannabis is ineligible for federal crop insurance. So, if convicted, the grower would be ineligible for crop insurance presumably for all of one’s crops during the crop year of conviction as well as the four succeeding crop years.Under the Charlotte’s Web law, a Dispensing Organization is a qualified nursery approved by the Department of Health to cultivate, process and dispense this low-THC cannabis. In other words, these nurseries must become vertically integrated operations cultivating the plant, extracting the compound and dispensing the product to patients added to by a physician. These vertically integrated operations with dispensaries may complicate at least part of a nursery’s Greenbelt agricultural land tax classifications, as well as local zoning ordinances.

Stay tuned for updates because this chapter in Florida and U.S. history has just begun to be written.

FNGLA HAPPENINGS

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The Landscape Show’s Momentum BuildsThere will be no shortage of momentum at The Landscape Show! You’ll find FNGLA’s signature event is charged with new energy as the industry moves forward with positive momentum. Taking place September 25-27 in the south concourse of the North/South Building of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, The Landscape Show offers new industry vendors, new activities and newcomers for you to meet.

With construction and consumer spending in Florida on the rise, it’s becoming more challenging to find certain plants and trees. Use The Landscape Show’s 400+ exhibiting vendors to gauge product inventories needed for future projects. It’s the ideal venue to pick up business intelligence and industry trends to help your business in the upcoming year. A new feature at The Landscape Show will be daily exhibitor presentations offering products which provide solutions in the following areas: The Buzz about Bees, Butterflies and Pollinators; The Skinny on Palms and Trees; More Food for Thought on Edibles; Words about Water; Killer Information on Pest Control; and, Covering Color in the Landscape.

More than a marketplace, The Landscape Show is the home of The Knowledge College which will offer a new format of in-depth workshops for various segments of the industry. Landscape designers, commercial and residential landscape managers, garden center professionals and growers will find on-point programs to better their businesses. (See sidebar for details).

FNGLA’s landscape certification program is considered one of the very best in the country, often seen by other groups as a model. New this year at The Landscape Show is the FNGLA Landscape Certification Exam Showcase which will offer demonstrations of several exam stations. Certification exam judges and mentors will be on hand to provide study tips and exam details. Mentors will also share the advantages of hiring certified landscape contractors.

You’ll receive political insider information at The Landscape Show’s Opening Session on Thursday, September 25 at 9 a.m. With the assistance of other Tallahassee political insiders, FNGLA’s political guru, Jim Spratt, will lead a lively discussion on the hot issues in this year’s election. From the medical marijuana amendment to the Governor’s race… and national players to watch… to key local races, Spratt and his team will cover the gamut of Florida election year politics for 2014 and beyond from both sides of the aisle.

What better place to announce the 2014 FNGLA Landscape Awards winners than The Landscape Show? Open to all, the awards will be presented on The Landscape Show main stage on Friday, September 26 at 3 p.m. Also taking place on Friday at the main stage is the FNGLA Career Fair. FNGLA uses The Landscape Show to provide exciting inspiration for students as they consider future careers.

While the show and education activities will keep you busy during the day, The Landscape Show also offers nighttime networking. The show’s opening reception takes place at the Hilton Orlando’s outdoor pavilion on Thursday, September 25, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. The Hilton Orlando is the new headquarters hotel for The Landscape Show and offers a tropical landscaped pavilion to mix and mingle

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FNGLA HAPPENINGS

Continued from page 4for young professionals. It takes place Friday, September 26, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at the new B.J.’s Brewery and Restaurant on International Drive.

One day is not enough to take advantage of all there is happening at The Landscape Show. So, take advantage of special rates at The Landscape Show’s host hotels, including the Hilton Orlando, the Hyatt Orlando, Embassy Suites and the Rosen Inn. Make hotel reservations early for the best options on rooms and prices.

Get the best prices on trade show and workshop classes by registering no later than September 8. Trade show pre-registration is only $15 for three days admission, the Opening Night Reception, the Opening Session and all presentations taking place on the Main Stage. After September 8, the price is $30. For more show details, including exhibitor information, visit www.thelandscapeshow.org.

The Knowledge College Offers In-Depth Workshop Training at The Landscape ShowWe’ve all heard the adage ‘Knowledge is Power.’ As the industry continues its recovery momentum, The Knowledge College brings six amazing, unique, hands-on workshops. Choose one or multiple workshops to build a program that is tailor-made to meet your needs and sets your, knowledge wise, on top of your competitors. Register by September 8 for $60 per workshop.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Container NurseriesDrs. Tom Yeager & Juanita Popanoe, University of Florida/IFAS ExtensionBMPs for container nurseries are a proactive approach to protecting surface and groundwater quality. Learn the in’s and out’s at this workshop which will transport you to a local nursery for hands-on tactical training.

Pest Management WorkshopTim Flowers, Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, FL & Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, Buglady Consulting, Slatington, PAThis workshop will provide a hands-on approach to identify some of the new and potential threats to the landscape, understand application methods and help attendees evaluate the costs of using biocontrols vs. traditional spray programs.

Landscape Design for 21st Century Living - Parts 1 (Thursday) and 2 (Friday). Each session is one workshop.Rob Templar Williams and Moira Farnham, Garden Design School, Devizes, Wiltshire, EnglandThese workshops explore the principal processes and building blocks to achieve excellent landscape design.

Garden Center Workshop: Make the Most of Your Retail Hot SpotsThis workshop offers key do’s and don’ts of laying out retail garden center spaces for maximizing your impact and profitability.

Efficiency in the Landscape Workshop: Principles of the Five S’sDo your trucks and trailers need a redesign? Is your crew constantly losing or misplacing things because equipment is unorganized? Learn the 5 S’s and how to create an organized work environment.

Learn more about each workshop or register at www.thelandscapeshow.org!

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FNGLA HAPPENINGS

Sign up for The Landscape Show/SHARE Golf TournamentIt’s the best game in town during The Landscape Show — The Landscape Show/SHARE Golf Tournament! Taking place Wednesday, September 24, this annual fund-raiser event returns to the Marriott Grande Pines Golf Course. Located conveniently near the Orange County Convention Center, home of The Landscape Show, Marriott Grande Pines offers a beautifully maintained course with each hole designed to be a strategic challenge to bring out the best in each player’s game. The course received rave reviews from golfers participating in past show tournaments.

Golf registration fee is only $99 — a great bargain for this exciting course! Back by popular demand are package prices for mulligans, red tee shots and the Par 3 Challenge. The tournament includes green and cart fees and lunch. Awards will be given to the top three teams, closest to the pin and longest drive.

This annual fund raiser, hosted by FNGLA’s Allied Division, has raised more than $161,800 since 1994 to benefit the FNGLA Endowed Research Fund through SHARE/UF. Participating in the golf tournament is an excellent way to support the industry while enjoying a morning of sports with colleagues.

Tournament Sponsorships

Sponsorship opportunities are available at 2013 prices. Sponsors will receive exposure at the tournament and also at The Landscape Show. Higher levels of sponsorship include golf registrations and can be viewed using the registration link. Register online to reserve your spot in the game. For more information, call FNGLA at 800-375-3642.

Special thanks to those who have already committed to sponsor this year’s tournament: Agri-Starts, DOW AgroSciences, BWI Companies, Applied Polymer Systems, and, ARM International.

Thursday, September 25 / 11:30 amOrange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida

All proceeds towards promoting Florida agriculture.

Save-the-DateFarm Credit/Ag InstituteCandidates Forum

For more information, contact Ron O’Connor at marketing@farmcreditcfl.com.

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seize

SEPTEMBER 25-27Orlando, Florida

TheLandscapeShow.org | 800.375.3642

SHOW SPONSORS

Not Exhibiting? Why Not? Share in the industry’s momentum: Show you are a viable player by exhibiting at The Landscape Show, the largest trade event in the southeastern U.S. for the nursery and landscape industry!

Top Reasons to Exhibit at The Landscape Show:

1. Efficient Use of Time and MoneyThe Landscape Show offers 3 days of face-to-face interaction: Data collected from The Center for Exhibit Industry Research says it costs 62% less to close a lead generated from a trade show than one originated in the field. The Landscape Show is about people connecting with people, brands, information and business solutions– all under one roof. This means less time, less money and less effort on your end– all resulting in higher profits.

2. Grow Your BusinessAttendance levels have started to increase at all major trade shows across the industry. The Landscape Show boasts nearly 7,000 attendees and 86% of last year’s attendees report doing business with exhibitors within 3 months of the 2013 show.

3. Capture & Generate Sales LeadsOn average, 20% of The Landscape Show’s attendees are there for the first time. As businesses consolidate, new employees are brought in. This means new buyers and new faces with which to connect.

4. Greater Risk in Being AbsentWhat is the long-term effect of not exhibiting at The Landscape Show? Being absent from a key show instantly makes you a non-player in the field and puts your competitors in the spotlight with customers.

5. Celebrate New ProductsDid you know that one of the top reasons Landscape Show attendees attend the show is to see and learn about “What’s New?” The Landscape Show is ideal for introducing your new items.

For only $825, (FNGLA member rate, 10’ X 10’ space) you have 3 days of access to thousands of industry professionals attending The Landscape Show! Do the math– this is one of the best marketing values you can buy! Contact FNGLA’s Billy Deal at bdeal@fngla.org to learn more or to reserve your space!

FNGLA HAPPENINGS

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FNGLA HAPPENINGS

FNGLA Members Enjoy Fresh From Florida Program Benefits

Point of Purchase Items available at no cost and by request are:

Posters: Tropical Fruit AvailabilityFlorida Tropical Fruit HandlingFlorida HoneyBuy Fresh From Florida CitrusBuy Fresh From Florida Tropical FruitsBuy Fresh from Florida Veggies

Shelf Price Cards:Buy Fresh From FloridaFresco de la Florida

Product Tags:Fiery FoodsFlorida Honey

Yard Sign:Locally Grown

The Department is expanding the options and will be providing more industry-specific items in the coming months.

FNGLA is now paying for member growers, retail garden centers and landscape professionals to be a part of the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services’ Fresh From Florida campaign. This brings the many benefits of the Fresh From Florida program direct to FNGLA members.

As members of the Fresh From Florida campaign, you can take advantage of their many program benefits for your business including the following customized benefits:

• Use of widely recognized FFF logo on products, packaging, advertising and promotional materials including catalogs.• Point-of-purchase materials to display with Florida-grown products: See the list of available items: http://app1.freshfromflorida.com/marketing/fapc/• Customized business signage with FFF logo.• Participation in the logo incentive program. Qualified members may be reimbursed up to $1,500 in printing costs when using the FFF logo on retail packaging, plant sleeves, and automobile signage/wraps. Access details on participating: http://forms.freshfromflorida.com/06711.pdf• Company listing and website link on the FFF website.• Discounted advertising in industry publications.• Trade leads and exporting assistance.• Subscription to the FFF magazine.

Contact the Fresh From Florida campaign for point-of-purchase items and additional information at (850) 617-7399.

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FNGLA HAPPENINGS

October 25: FNGLA’s Plant Geek Ride/Walk Do you have a Plant Geek-friendly company? Let everyone know by sponsoring FNGLA’s Plant Geek Ride/Run which takes place on October 25, starting and ending at Magnolia Park in Apopka. The ride/walk will take place along the Lake Apopka Loop -- a new nature trail along the northern ridge of Lake Apopka.

Now in its third year, the Plant Geek event attracts industry members, families and friends, as well as the general public who are all interested in plants and fun. While the majority of attendees are from Central Florida, approximately 25% are from other parts of the state. Some out-of-state enthusiasts take part too!

General sponsorships are available for $250 and include logos on email promotions sent to FNGLA members and beyond. More than 10,000 impressions will be made. Sponsor logos will be printed on the event t-shirts and each sponsor receives one complimentary Plant Geek III registration, which includes lunch.

Signature sponsors for various aspects of the event include the barbecue, Nature walk, Nature ride, long distance ride, scavenger hunt and family fun time. For more information on sponsorship options, contact Billy Deal at bdeal@fngla.org. The new Plant Geek route offers more than a riding and walking path along the lake. There is an abundance of wildlife to view in the native habitat. Lake Apopka has some of the finest birding in Central Florida with more than 300 bird species documented. It also has the highest species total for an inland site in the 100+ year history of the Christmas Bird Count. Other wildlife species seen there include American Alligator, Northern River Otter, Northern Raccoon and Bobcat, with sixty-five species of butterflies recorded.

The Plant Geek Ride/Walk is intended to promote the connection between people, horticulture, wellness and fun. Through the generosity of members, not only do participants get a tee shirt, everyone also goes home with a plant. If riders and walkers aren’t plant geeks when they arrive, they are by the time they leave!

FNGLA Connects with Extended Industry MembersPromoting participation in FNGLA events, connecting with industry members and reaching new potential exhibitors and attendees, FNGLA recently participated in quite a few industry happenings including AIFD’s annual conference, Cultivate’14, SNA’s tradeshow, and, ASLA’s Annual Conference. As we move forward this fall, your FNGLA staff will also participate in The Garden Writers Annual Symposium in Pittsburgh and The Nursery/Landscape Expo in San Antonio. For more details on FNGLA’s involvement with these groups, contact FNGLA at info@fngla.org.

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The Politics of Clean Water: EREF and Florida’s Green Industry Professionals Need Your HelpBy Mac Carraway

As green industry professionals in landscape, turfgrass, golf, sports turf and lawn care, we are united in a common passion for nature, working outdoors and in our roles protecting Florida’s pristine natural resources. We are also united in our concerns about Florida’s water supply and quality conditions across the state – from the Indian River Lagoon, to natural springs, to the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee.

As attention has focused increasingly on water quality problems, blame gets assigned and decisions get made based on emotion rather than science and fact. In the absence of cost effective or politically acceptable measures addressing water quality (such as requiring septic tank conversion to sewer lines or stopping water releases from Lake Okeechobee), these activist groups are demonizing green industry professionals as polluters.

These same groups then lobby local governments to react by adopting rules contradicting green industry best practices and peer-reviewed science. This unfairly impacts our industry and our urban green spaces without any real environmental benefit. You can help stop this trend today by supporting EREF -- the Environmental Research & Education Foundation of Florida.

Endorsed by FNGLA, EREF is a coalition of urban landscape professionals, golf course superintendents, lawn care service providers, turfgrass producers, nursery growers, landscape contractors, sports turf managers, commercial/residential property managers, and municipal/parks grounds keepers. Collectively, we are working to protect Florida’s environment and natural resources through the funding of environmental research and the dissemination of sound scientific findings on the environmental and human health benefits of properly maintained green spaces and urban landscapes.

EREF promotes the work of green industry professionals and advocates for better local policies. EREF has met newspaper editorial boards and authored guest columns. EREF has communicated with elected officials across the state on fertilizer restrictions - providing scientific research, advocacy materials and industry expertise that highlight the benefits of turf and the good work of green industry professionals. EREF’s website, www.ereflorida.com houses research and news and offers an interactive mechanism for more efficient communication with elected local officials.

Healthy lawns and landscapes have many significant environmental benefits, including air filtration, temperature cooling, carbon sequestration and oxygen generation. Yet, perhaps the greatest benefit of healthy lawns and landscapes is their ability to capture and filter pollution and urban runoff that would otherwise flow into waterways.

Despite this, activist groups falsely argue Floridians must choose between healthy landscapes or healthy waterways – incorrectly suggesting one outcome contradicts the other. We know nothing could be further from the truth. Despite

INDUSTRY NEWS

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INDUSTRY NEWS

overwhelming evidence, the emotions caused by mysterious algae blooms, manatee deaths, fish kills and the falsely blaming urban landscapes too often leads local decision makers to reject landscape/turf science and best practice precedents and towards decisions based on the need to “just do something” – even if such are unscientific, unenforceable, discriminatory towards green industry professionals and achieve no environmental benefit.

You can help change this. Individual lawn care companies, golf courses and other industry leaders have already joined EREF. We now need to add your name and your company to this growing list. You can pledge a direct contribution to EREF or you can enroll with EREF and your fertilizer supplier(s) and divert 0.6% of self-assessed fertilizer sales to EREF. This amounts to just $6 per $1,000 of fertilizer or fertilizer combo products purchased. Your contribution will create a significant and recurring source of funds to promote EREF’s objectives – research, education and outreach promoting the benefits of urban landscapes and their interaction with surrounding environments. Signing up is simple, just go towww.members.ereflorida.com, click on the “enroll” tab at the top of the page and proceed. (All contributions to EREF go to a segregated and restricted fund managed by the Florida Turfgrass Association).

We expect local governments will continue their exploration of restrictive fertilizer and landscape ordinances. Whether policymakers are seeking to improve water flows in north and central Florida springs; reduce nutrient runoff from agriculture, golf courses or homeowner lawns; initiate mandatory septic tank conversions; or, redirect waterway flow into the Everglades, public policies will carry major ramifications for green industry professionals throughout Florida.

We can’t allow our professions to be defined falsely by outsiders. We must aggressively promote the environmental benefits of healthy lawns and landscapes and the knowledge/expertise of green industry professionals who work every day to protect Florida’s water resources. Contribute and join EREF today!

Mac Carraway chairs the FNGLA-endorsed Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) and President of Carraway Consulting, a management consulting firm in Bradenton.

July 17 marked the 98th anniversary of President Woodrow Wilson signing the Federal Farm Loan Act in 1916 which

created what is today the Farm Credit System. To celebrate, Farm Credit of Central Florida offices marked the day with

a commemorative cake baked by Special Assets Loan Officer, Jessica Slaughter (center). Joining the celebration are Farm Credit of Central Florida President & CEO, Reggie Holt and Executive VP & Chief Credit Officer, Craig Register.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

AmericanHort Announces Initiative to Explore the Future of Garden RetailPartners with National Design College to Challenge Paradigms

The future of garden retail is being explored with a new initiative announced this week by AmericanHort at Cultivate’14. Over the next 12 months, the association will engage its membership and consumers in a project to explore and then identify strategies to expand garden retail. Along with the Horticultural Research Institute, the association will partner with the MindMarket program of the Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD), the oldest design college in the United States, with its main campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio.

Like many business sectors of the post 2008 economy, the horticulture industry is actively looking for new perspectives and business models. One of the industry’s strongest customer forces, the affluent baby boomer, is entering into retirement with their houses, savings accounts, and pensions intact with plenty of time for gardening. However, the next generation of consumers presents an entirely different set of realities. It is believed the millennial generation, with less leisure time, smaller housing, and possibly fewer financial resources, will challenge and confound current garden retail models, especially at the independent level.

“This initiative is more than just about designing attractive stores. We are taking a holistic approach to better understand and recommend how in the future we can bring more value to our customers and engage them in purchasing more products and services,” said Mark Foertmeyer, AmericanHort’s Chairman of the Board. “Store design, customer service, the mix of products and services, marketing, and staffing will be considered, for example.”

The project will involve multiple phases, including research, developing concepts and feasibilities, and testing prototypes. Over the year, CCAD students and faculty will engage association members and consumers in the United States and Canada as part the project.

“We recommended taking a design approach to affect the garden customer experience in new ways for a new generation of consumers,” said Jack Storey, Director of CCAD MindMarket. “We will bring together our multi-disciplinary campus and more than 1,000 students—most of them part of the millennial generation—to help find solutions for the future of the horticulture industry.”

The Horticultural Research Institute, the research affiliate of AmericanHort, will support the project. “The Horticultural Research Institute has funded several consumer and retail-focused projects over the years. We feel this initiative is important so we are glad to lend our support. Our involvement also provides an opportunity to individuals and companies to make tax-deductible gifts to support the project,” said Harvey Cotten, president of the Horticultural Research Institute.

The project kicked off at Cultivate’14, AmericanHort’s annual exposition and convention “As the trade association for garden retailers, we are doing everything we can to support our members. This includes the expansion of the retail program and trade show at Cultivate’14 and now this initiative,” said Michael V. Geary, CAE, AmericanHort’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

Matching contributions or multi-year pledges can be made online at www.HRIresearch.org or by contacting the Horticultural Research Institute at 202-789-2900.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Ag Woman of the Year Nominations Accepted Until August 15The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking nominations for the 2014 Woman of the Year in Agriculture Award.

Since 1985, this award has recognized 30 women who have made significant contributions to Florida agriculture. Recipients of the Woman of the Year in Agriculture award have come from all parts of the industry, including cattle, vegetables, timber, citrus, row crops, equine, horticulture, tropical fruits, sugar cane, dairy, agricultural journalism and agricultural education and outreach.

Nominees for the award must be at least 25 years of age, be active in the agriculture industry and have resided in the State of Florida for the past 10 consecutive years. In addition, she must serve her community in some professional or civic capacity and have made some unique or outstanding contribution to the agriculture industry.

The deadline to submit nominations for the 2014 Woman of the Year in Agriculture Award is August 15. The recipient will be honored at next year’s Florida State Fair in Tampa.

For more information about the program or to download the 2014 nomination application, go to: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Marketing-and-Development/Agriculture-Industry/Agricultural-Awards-and-Honors/Woman-of-the-Year-in-Agriculture-Award.

How Does Your Town Measure Up Against America’s Prettiest? America in Bloom, with cooperating sponsorship from Home & Garden Showplace and Monrovia Nursery, is encouraging and recognizing beautification efforts through a new annual photography contest. The deadline to submit photos is August 5. Cities and towns across the United States will be evaluated on their overall beauty as demonstrated by a submitted portfolio of up to 18 photos. Entrants are invited to submit any photographs from their city. Though not required, entrants may want to take a page from America in Bloom’s long-standing National Awards Program and provide photography exemplifying: Floral displays, Landscaped areas, Urban forestry, Environmental efforts, Heritage preservation, and, Overall impression. In its regular National Awards Program, which involves judges traveling to cities for an in-depth, on-site evaluation, each of these six criteria are evaluated based on evidence of municipal efforts, business and community group efforts, and residential efforts with part of each score relating to community involvement across these three constituent groups.

Three $1,500 prizes will be awarded to the individual photographer or group entry, one for each population category. Announcement of the winning cities, as portrayed by the submitted portfolios, will be made at the America in Bloom Annual Symposium and Awards Program, which will be held in Philadelphia on October 2 - 4, 2014. Visit www.AmericaInBloom.org for more details.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education Impacts Consumer PerceptionAfter six years of growth and accomplishment, UF/IFAS’ Center PIE is touting its accomplishments in community education, research and public opinion surveys. Among the many PIE Center benefits, industry members can utilize the center’s Easy as Pie Webinars, Infographics, and special report web pages.

This past year, the Center for Public Issues Education touts: $8+ Million as the total value of research projects & partnerships, 24,978 website page views, 16 regional national and international awards won, 4 days, 16 hours of total time visitors watched PIE Center videos on You Tube, 107 reports and publications, 1,505 votes submitted to photo contest, 443 views of recorded webinars, 10,029 research participants, 270 webinar attendees, 152 focus groups, surveys and interviews, and, $42,442 saved with webinars.

PIE Center efforts also led to public opinion results for four top issues of industry concern.

Center PIE has changed its leadership. Founding PIE Center Director Dr. Tracy Irani has shifted her talents to lead the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural Life Sciences Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences. Stepping up to the plate, Dr. Ricky Telg, interim associate dean in the College of Agricultural Life Sciences is now the PIE Center Director.

For more details on the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education, contact the center at (352) 273-2598 or visit their website at www.piecenter.com.

15

MEMBER NEWS

Agri-Starts Celebrates Top HonorsAgri-Starts celebrates its 30th anniversary this year as a premier supplier of plant tissue culture starter plants. But its anniversary is not all there is to celebrate! The last few months have brought a hat trick of awards:

The Commissioner’s prestigious Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award recognizes agricultural enterprises which are at the forefront of developing and adopting environmentally innovative farming practices and is awarded each year by the Florida Department of Agriculture’s Commissioner.

“The recipients of these awards have each demonstrated a sustained commitment to conserving our natural resources and improving our environment,” Commissioner Putnam said. Also being honored are: • Bryan Jones, owner of Riverdale Potato Farms in Elkton.

Riverdale is a successful family enterprise that has produced hearty potato varieties for almost 30 years.

• Sutton and Kris Rucks, 3rd generation dairy family and owners of Milking R Dairy in Okeechobee. The nearly 1,200-acre dairy is home to 1,200 milking cows. Milking R also leases 2,000 acres for beef cattle and another 350 acres for row crops.

This award has been presented annually since 1994. The program spotlights the environmentally innovative farming practices of the state’s growers and ranchers. The winners will be recognized at the Florida Farm Bureau’s Convention at the Commissioner’s Ag Environmental Leadership Breakfast in October.

In addition to this honor, Agri-Starts was also named as one of four finalists for the Greenhouse Grower Operation of The Year Award. This award is nationally based and while one award winner is named, being nominated as a top four is prestigious. The Greenhouse Grower “Evening of Excellence” was held at Cultivate’14 in Columbus, Ohio.

Ty Strode, Agri-Starts’ Vice President & Marketing Director also received SNA’s David E. Laird Award. The award was designed to recognize qualified young men and women for outstanding service in the field of environmental horticulture and to offer inspiration for others starting out in the field and was presented to Ty at the SNA show on July 24. Congratulations Randy, Ty and the entire Agri-Starts team!

FNGLA Sadly Reports Member DeathSuzanne Burnham Speer of Tropical Plant & Seed Locators in Boynton Beach passed away July 3. She was 89. Suzanne was a longtime active FNGLA member & supporter of industry happenings.

Suzanne is survived by her husband of 61 years, Syd, her two children, and many grand and great-grand children.

Agri-Starts is led by Randy Strode, President & Owner and his son Ty, Vice President & Marketing Director.

16

NEW MEMBERS

Welcome New MembersThe following are new FNGLA members: from June 22, 2014 - July 21, 2014

ACTIONHusqvarna Tom Stevens24900 Carson LaneAstatula, FL 34705 704-597-5000

SundanceJohn Ruggieri9580 Delegates DrOrlando, FL 32837 407-496-2253

BROWARDCarl Wallack (Supportive)4103 N 49th AveHollywood, FL 33021 954-802-0951

FRONTRUNNERSBronson Heights Family Nursery, Inc.Gerardo FloresPO Box 1635Newberry, FL 32669 352-213-2779

HIGHLANDS HEARTLANDTradewinds Power Corp.Mike Waldron600 State Rd 66Sebring, FL 33875 863-382-2166Rec’d by: John Gose, Lykes Citrus Division

MIAMI-DADEProfast USA,Inc.Marcos Drobiner340 W 78th RdHialeah, FL 33014 305-827-7801

Fernando Infante LLCFernando Infante620 SW 89th CtMiami, FL 33174 305-215-1668

Brown & Brown of FL - Homestead dba T.R. Jones & CompanyFausto Alvarez (Associate)1780 N Krome AvePO Box 901505Homestead, FL 33030 305-247-5121

NORTHEASTUnique Plants & PalmsLogan Wood Gonzalez7530 Argyle Forest BlvdJacksonville, FL 32244 904-777-5309

OUTSIDE FLORIDARAB Lighting, Inc.Elizabeth Henry170 Ludlow AveNorthvale, NJ 07647 201-784-8600

Resort PalmsTim Jones310 Ann DrBerlin, MD 21811 410-629-1181

PINELLASLand Care SolutionsJoshua Ford1010 4th St So. Bldg #2Safety Harbor, FL 34695 727-423-5135

Sea World ParksTimothy Wills (Associate)3704 N Marguerite StTampa, FL 33603 530-632-2876

ROYAL PALMKathryn Errington (Student)19880 Breckenridge Dr #307Estero, FL 33928 239-948-6707

TAMPA BAYCH Robinson WorldwideJennifer Ruebeling1600 E 8th AveTampa, FL 33605 813-840-4595

CH Robinson WorldwideScott Thomasson (Assocaite)1600 E 8th AveTampa, FL 33605 813-840-4595

Welcome New MembersThe following are new FNGLA members: from June 22, 2014 - July 21, 2014

Calendar of EventsFNGLAPhone: 407.295.7994Toll-free: 800.375.3642Fax: 407.295.1619E-mail: info@fngla.orgWeb: www.fngla.org

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERBen Bolusky

GREENLINE EDITORJennifer Nelisjnelis@fngla.org

PresidentSandy SteinThe Jungle Nursery29100 SW 162 Ave Homestead, FL 33030(305) 246-5324

Past President Mike MarshallMarshall Tree Farm17350 SE 65th StMorriston, FL 32668-4508(352) 528-3880

President-Elect Billy ButterfieldAmeriScapes Landscape Management Services, Inc.PO Box 568762Orlando, FL 32856-5041(407) 872-0855

Secretary/Treasurer Robert ShoelsonGetting Green Plant Services & Betrock Information SystemsPO Box 840107Pembroke Pines, FL 33084(954) 680-1819

Contact UsSee and submit events at http://www.fngla.org, under calendar

About FNGLA

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2014-2015 STATE OFFICERS

1533 Park Center Dr iveOr lando, FL 32835-5705

Read the latest FNGLA news inside & visit Greenline online at http://greenline.fngla.org

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PAIDORLANDO, FLPERMIT #2041

This publication is produced by the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) as a service to its members. The statements and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Association, its staff, Board of Directors, Greenline or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers or their identification as members does not constitute an endorsement of the products or featured services.

The mission of the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association is to promote and protect the success and professionalism of our members.

August8-11: Garden Writers Association 66th Annual Symposium, Westin Convention Center, Pittsburg, PA

12-15: NCNLA Summer Green Road Show, Wilmington Convention Center Raleigh, North Carolina

13-16: Society of American Florists 130th Annual Convention, Marriott Marco Island Resort ,Marco Island

21-23: 2014 Farwest Trade Show, Portland, OR

25: FNGLACertifiedHorticultureProfessional(FCHP)TrainingClass Beings, PTEC, St. Petersburg

28-29: New Vision Forum, The Conference Center at the Maritime Institute Baltimore, MD

September4: FNGLACertifiedHorticultureProfessional(FCHP)TrainingClass Begins, Orlando

24-26: AmericanHort’sPlug&CuttingConference,BuenaVistaPalace, Orlando

25-27: The Landscape Show, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando