Columbus, Ohio – The OFA Grow & Sell for Profit Conference is going on location on Thursday, November 8 to Metrolina Greenhouses in Huntersville, North Carolina – the largest single-site heated greenhouse in the United States with 162 acres under roof. Growers and retailers will take part in a tour of Metrolina Greenhouses, where they will see in action one of the most automated greenhouses in the country. In addition to a tour of Metrolina, the growers and retailers will get practical classroom, demonstration, and workshop learning opportunities covering a range of production and retailing topics.
What’s in It for Growers?
Growers will attend learning labs in the morning, followed by the tour with demonstrations in the afternoon. Learning labs include:
•The Value of Shade & Effective Shading Systems for “Big & Small” – Kurt Parbst, Ludvig Svennson
•Integrated Crop Management Programs with Conventional and Biological Controls – Marla Faver, Syngenta
•Effective Biocontrol Strategies and Agents for Managing Top Insect Issues – Jeremy Webber and Ryan Hill, Koppert Biological Systems
•Effective Biocontrol Strategies and Agents for Managing Top Disease Issues – Steve Parker, Natural Industries
What’s in It for Retailers?
Retailers will spend the morning touring Metrolina and seeing demonstrations, and will spend the afternoon in learning labs which include:
•You Can Increase Revenue by 10 Percent – Carol Miller, Today’s Garden Center
•Garden Center Signage: From Roadside to Pot Labels – Timothy Howard, Clarity Connect
•Cross Merchandising – Ann Greve and Lisa Gilstrap, Plant Partners
•Connecting Printed Products & Digital Media – Kristi Huffman and Natasha Marback, The John Henry Company – A Multi Packaging Solutions Company
Employing 825 people during peak season, and shipping up to 150 trailer loads of product per day, Metrolina Greenhouses is sure to impress even the most seasoned veterans.
Registration is only $50; $20 for students. Full event details can be found at www.ofa.org/gsp.
About the organization: OFA – The Association of Horticulture Professionals is the leading horticulture educational association in the United States. It is a not-for-profit, all-industry organization and its core purpose and mission is “to support and advance professional horticulture.” Industry segments served include: garden centers, greenhouses, nurseries, retail and wholesale florists, and interior plantscapers. OFA is especially known for its outstanding publications and its annual OFA Short Course, U.S. horticulture’s premier convention and marketplace. The OFA Short Course was named the 150th largest trade show in the United States by the Trade Show News Network. The next Short Course will take place on July 13-16, 2013 in Columbus, Ohio USA.
Source: OFA – The Association of Horticulture Professionals
