A celebration on Thursday, August 27 at Monrovia Nursery Company’s headquarters in Dayton, Oregon marked the centennial of the storied nursery as it looks toward the future.
“A hundred years ago, Harry Rosedale began growing plants differently than everyone around him, and that willingness to innovate became the root of everything we’ve built since, attracting customers who value the difference we provide,” said former CEO Miles Rosedale. “Today, our nurseries and craftsmen carry that same spirit forward to ensure our future of growth.”
“From the very beginning Monrovia nursery has been about craftsmanship,” said Monrovia President and CEO Jonathan Pederson. “As we celebrate our 100th anniversary, we are as passionate and committed to quality today as Harry E. Rosedale Sr. was in 1926. This week we are celebrating Monrovia’s legacy and focusing on our bright future.
“Our craftsmen, customers, and our partners are the heart and soul of our business. Together we are ready for the next 100 years.”
Those customers and partners were among the more than 800 guests who attended the dinner on the grounds of the Dayton, Oregon, nursery. The dinner capped a weeklong series of tours and other special events for customers and partners visiting the nursery.
“It’s amazing. It’s quite an accomplishment for any business to be in business for 100 years,” said Keith Krout, owner of Progreen Garden Center in Crawfordsville, Indiana, which has been in business 34 years. “I was a new customer to Monrovia and my sales rep invited me out. I was quite impressed and made Monrovia my primary source for my nursery stock.”
“Everyone’s been really excited energized,” said Monrovia Plant Selections Coach Georgia Clay. “It’s been great to have garden center customers talking to breeders and it’s been a great experience for them.”
“Monrovia’s an iconic nursery and they have the most exciting genetics in the industry,” said Allison Pennell, territory sales manager for Coast of Maine Organics. “You can count on them for excellent varieties. Plus they’ve made Dayton their official home. We love Monrovia.” Pennell took a break from the Farwest Show to attend Monrovia’s event.
Frank Benzing, CEO of SummerWinds Nursery, brought several of his executives with him to Monrovia’s celebration and the Farwest Show. The retail nursery has its headquarters in Boise, Idaho but operates several nurseries in the greater Phoenix, Arizona and Silicon Valley, California.
“It’s really cool to see and understand what they’re doing and how that affects retail,” said Jose Menendez, vice president of operations.
“Their craftmanship shows in their products,” said Sara Cimbalik, special projects manager. “There’s a lot that happens behind the scenes that you’re not even aware of.”