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2020 Farwest Show canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic

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The 2020 Farwest Show in Portland, Oregon has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to show producer the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN). The show, for nursery and greenhouse operators and professionals, had been scheduled for August 26–28 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. “We are very disappointed not to be […]

HRI accepting grant proposals for 2021

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Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), the foundation of AmericanHort, is now accepting research project proposals for the 2021 grant cycle. Applications are due no later than June 1. Each year, the institute funds projects that are designed to improve green industry efficiencies and profitability. Grants of between $5,000 and $35,000 may be awarded to research projects […]

Michigan nurseries can resume operations

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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has modified that state’s stay-at-home orders from March 23 and 30 with a new order issued April 24, thereby allowing the state’s green industry businesses to resume operations immediately — provided they follow “enhanced” social distancing rules, as required by the state. Although the state’s stay-at-home mandate was extended through May 15, […]

New Mexico garden retailers can reopen

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Independent nursery retailers in New Mexico have won the right to reopen for business, provided they do it via curbside pickup and/or delivery service only. The state government had previously left garden centers, retail nurseries and retail greenhouses off the state’s list of essential businesses, although farms — a category that includes wholesale growers — were […]

Garden centers must remain closed in Pennsylvania

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The Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association (PLNA) submitted a request that independent, family-owned garden centers be considered essential businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, but received a response that no change would be made, according to the association website. Other states in the northeastern U.S., including Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio, have allowed […]

One-stop national nursery industry resource for COVID-19 launches

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The Nursery & Landscape Association Executives of North America (NLAE) have launched a one-stop tool for green industry businesses to see how operations and shipments to and within various North American states and territories are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Agriculture is essential, and nurseries are a part of agriculture,” Margaret McGuire-Schoeff, executive director of […]

Little Prince of Oregon creates retail referral program

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, OAN member Little Prince of Oregon Nursery (Aurora, Oregon) has created an online affiliate marketing program called Garden Center 911. Under this program, retailers refer customers to the wholesale grower’s consumer website, www.littleprinceplants.com. Little Prince sells the plants and ships to the customer directly, and the retailer gets a 20% commission on each […]

24,000 people register for OSU Master Gardener vegetable course

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The chance to learn more about vegetable gardening has proved irresistible to people who are spending copious time at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After the Oregon State University (OSU) Master Gardeners began offering their online vegetable gardening course for free, more than 17,600 people signed up as of April 1, an OSU Extension […]

Fall Creek Farm & Nursery, Inc. welcomes new board member

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Blueberry plant breeder and grower Fall Creek Farm & Nursery Inc. (Lowell, Oregon) has added Kevin Murphy to its board of directors, the company announced. Murphy became the company’s fifth board member outside of the founding Brazelton family. The company said it wants to incorporate diverse business perspectives as it explores growth opportunities and strategies. […]

J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. appoints Ben Rough as CEO

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J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. nursery (Boring, Oregon) has appointed Ben Rough as its new chief executive officer (CEO), the company announced April 2. Rough brings more than 20 years of green industry experience to his new post, climbing up from an entry-level customer service position to several executive leadership appointments.  He most recently […]