Winter Flower Growers Educational Program
Print version of Program and registration form 
A program for all growers and retailers of greenhouse crops!
Sponsored by: The Massachusetts Flower Growers’ Association and
University of Massachusetts Extension Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture Program
Special additional Features: Allied Trade Tables
8:00 – 10:00 Visit Local Growers at Open Houses
- Host: Russell’s Garden Center, Route 20, Wayland (Host greenhouse-tours will be available)
- J.P. Bartlett Co., Inc.578 Boston Post Rd. (Rte 20)
- Cavicchio Greenhouses, 110 Codjer Lane, Sudbury
9:30 Registration: Complimentary Coffee
10:00 Welcome: Cindy Bertrand, President MFGA, Elizabeth Russell-Skehan, Russell’s Garden Center
10:00 – 11:00 Scheduling Perennials to Improve Your Sales
Paul Pilon,Consultatant and author of the book “Perennial Solutions-A Growers Guide to Perennial Production”
Paul will speak about how to improve your perennial production through crop scheduling and production techniques. Paul is also a columnist on perennials for the GPN publication.
11:00- 11:50 Pesticide Rules: Basic Requirements
Taryn LaScola, Pesticide Inspector, MA Dept. of Agricultural Resources. 1 pesticide recertification credit.
Are you in compliance? Taryn will provide a "virtual tour" of Russell's Garden Center reviewing the basic requirements needed for greenhouse growers to comply with pesticide regulations including record keeping and worker protection standards. This is an opportunity to ask questions related to pesticide regulations.
11:50 – 12:10 Russell’s Organic Vegetable Program
Peg Mallett, Ron Williams and Tracie Ward, Russell’s Garden Center will briefly explain their organic vegetable program, including the crops they grow and offer to their customers.
12:10 – 1:15 Catered Lunch – Reservations requested by January 20th
MFGA Annual meeting- Cindy Bertrand, The Farmer’s Daughter and Bob Luczai, MFGA
Henry Gillet will be on hand to give an update on legislative issues affecting the greenhouse industry.
1:15 - 2:30 How to Bring New Customers to Your Garden Center!
Getting more customers to come to your business is the key to success for garden retailers and growers in the future. We will bring together a great group of people from the greenhouse/floriculture industry to discuss what they have done to improve customer traffic. Whether you are a garden center, year round or seasonal farm stand or greenhouse flower retailer we will have ideas for you to help your business. Speakers will include Karen Randall (Randall’s Farm), Elizabeth Russell-Skeehan (Russell’s garden Center) and others.....
2:30 - 3:00 New Perennials that are A Must for your production or retail sales!
Paul Pilon will discuss the latest and greatest additions to your perennial offerings.
3:00 - 4:00 Town Hall Meeting
The experience and information from greenhouse growers, garden retailers and allied trade members at our winter meetings are phenomenal! We will run a “Town Meeting” and discuss topics, such as marketing, labor and business management. Bring your ideas, questions and concerns so we can all discuss them and solutions may be found to help everyone!
Still need more info? Contact: Tina Smith , UMass Extension or Bob Luczai, Mass Flower Growers Association
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