It’s been quiet around here on the Daily Digger blog, but that’s just because we’ve been getting ready for the 2013 Farwest Trade Show, in Portland, Ore.!

Farwest is the biggest nursery industry trade show in the West, and it’s still the place where buyers can overcome developing shortages and find the material they need. But it’s not just about our trade show.

We also have exciting nursery tours on Tuesday and Wednesday (Aug. 20–21), plus a can’t-miss series of seminars on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Aug. 22–24). For these seminars, the Farwest Trade Show has brought in nationally-recognized experts.

There are too many to list them all here, but several of the key seminars are designed to help you understand the economy as it now stands, the preferences of today’s (and tomorrow’s) consumers, and practical ways you can address markets and achieve success:

• Joe Whitworth, president of the Fresh Water Trust, will talk about how environmental restoration and infrastructure projects will create lucrative new markets for the green industry. 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, Room B-117.
• Charlie Hall, professor and Ellison Chair in International Floriculture at Texas A&M University, will discuss the green industry’s lessons from the Great Recession, including ways that some stayed profitable. 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, Room B-115.
• Bridget Behe, professor of horticulture marketing at Michigan State University, will discuss research-based perspectives on consumer preferences, with an emphasis on information useful to growers, wholesalers and retailers. 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, Room B-110.
• Jennifer Dennis, professor of horticulture marketing at Purdue University, will discuss how to appeal to environmentally-conscious consumers the right way, based on a true understanding of how they view terms like “eco-friendly” and “sustainable.” 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, Room B-110.
• Jim Ault, director of ornamental plant research at the Chicago Botanic Garden and manager of the Chicagoland Grows® plant introduction program, will talk about discovery of plants from the natural landscape and breeding them to develop successful perennial hybrids for the garden. 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 23, Room B-110.

This year’s Farwest Trade Show is so packed with seminars, networking events, demonstrations, plant exhibits and great booths that you don’t want to miss a single day. Starting Tuesday, you can check this blog for regular updates on what’s happening, and you’re also urged to follow the Farwest Show on Twitter (@FarwestShow).

@DiggerMag will carry many of the same updates, too, so follow both, and you’ll be set! The Farwest Show Facebook page is another good place to get regular updates.

We hope to see you in Portland — #FindItAtFarwest!