It's time for photos! Earlier this week, Cultivate took place in Columbus, Ohio. The combination of educational sessions and exhibition results in the largest event for the green sector in North America. Breeders, propagators and technical suppliers welcomed thousands of growers and other interested parties to their stands.
The fair seemed a little quieter at times than it had been in previous years, and certainly on Sunday there was talk about the usefulness of a fair on this weekend day. Especially in combination with the final of the European Football Championship it was quite tame in the afternoon. This was more than made up for on the busy Monday, and also on the traditionally quieter Tuesday a number of interesting visitors passed by.
Click here for the photo report of the floriculture companies
Click here for the photo report of the technical suppliers
Rain, rain, and more rain
The floriculture industry is having a challenging year so far. A much discussed topic was the rain. In both Europe and North America, there has been a lot of rain in the spring. This affects not only production but also consumers. There is a relatively short period in the year when people go to the garden centers and work in their gardens. So when those weekends are rainy, it has a big impact. Moreover, the U.S. economy is not helping. Flowers and plants remain a luxury product. When consumers are tight on money, a bouquet or new garden plant is not a priority.
The industry had particularly successful years during the pandemic. People stayed home and spent their money on flowers and plants for the home and garden. There were hopes that this would continue after the pandemic, but that did not prove to be the case. Still, this year appears to be better than last year, and the outlook for 2025 is even more positive.
Another important topic in North America is the U.S. elections later this year. Although politics are not normally talked about at U.S. trade shows, the subject was touched upon from time to time, partly because of the attack on candidate Trump last Saturday. Should he be re-elected, it is expected that this will mainly affect the availability of (illegal) labor, interest rates (down) and import duties (up).
All in all, the climate brings much attention to automation: labor has never been more expensive in the U.S., and at the same time there has never been such a severe shortage of workers. No wonder the suppliers of automation and robotic solutions were present in large numbers and also welcomed many visitors. Even the traditionally well-represented Amish community viewed these solutions with interest, or wonder.
Furthermore, we of course saw several new varieties pass by and heard news of production expansions from a few companies - but we won't talk more about that until after our summer vacation. First, let's get to the pictures!
Click here for the photo report of the floriculture companies
Click here for the photo report of the technical suppliers