The importance of horticulture industry groups for growers

If you had to boil the horticulture industry down to just one word, that word would be growth. Growth is not only what we do, it's how we do it. But growth doesn't happen on its own. It requires inputs. New ideas, new knowledge, and new ways of doing things.

Timbuk Farms and Garden Centre at IPPSER 2024 Annual Meeting

So where can growers go for such inputs? In our digital world, you might be tempted to say TikTok! YouTube! And that wouldn't be wrong. Social media platforms can be great educational resources for growers. But nothing quite compares to gathering face-to-face. Making real connections, with real people in our industry, to fuel real improvements.

One of the best ways to do this is through participation in horticulture industry groups. Groups like the International Plant Propagators Society (IPPS).

IPPS is a decades-old global knowledge network for plant producers with a collective mission "to seek and to share". The Eastern Region chapter, better known as IPPSER, recently held its annual conference, which travels up and down eastern North America, bringing together propagators, growers, plant producers, and suppliers for four days of learning and collaboration.

"It's a year's worth of information packed into a four-day agenda that includes greenhouse visits, talks, and informal discussions," said Rick Bradt, co-managing director of A.M.A. Horticulture, a wholesale horticulture supplier in Kingsville, Ontario. Rick has personally been a member of the society for over a decade. "What I like about it is the peer-to-peer nature of the meeting. Industry group meetings can sometimes be different from the bigger trade shows in that way. They're more personal. Just a group of growers, getting together to share what they've learned."

And learn, they did. One major highlight of this year's event was hearing from keynote speaker, Marie Chieppo. A native plant designer and horticulturalist, Marie recently partnered with the Association of Professional Landscape Designers to research and author Plastic Pots and the Green Industry, a report on the environmental impact of the default container type in the horticultural industry: plastic plant pots. The discovery that billions (98 percent) of plastic pots are thrown into landfills regardless of efforts to dispose of them responsibly has resulted in an international hunt for adequate, alternative materials. Marie's talk explored alternative solutions, including plantable, compostable, and bio-plastic pots, and more.

A tour of Decker's Nursery was another key highlight. Located in Groveport, Ohio, Decker's supplies finished nursery stock, specialty liners, and grafts to retailers and growers across the U.S. Focused on quality and efficiency, they've adopted the use of trike forklifts to transport stock around their 100+ acre farm. They're also using rice hulls as a topper in their potting process. It's not only chemical-free and environmentally friendly but has significantly reduced weeding time.

Canadian growers were also well represented at the event – including on the speaking agenda. Ryan Munroe, Horticulture Advisor on the Plant Health Team at NVK Nurseries in Dundas, Ontario, spoke to the group about root health in trees. "Air root pruning plays a big role in both short and long-term tree health because it promotes fine root development, which improves water and nutrient uptake during production, and prevents root deformities such as girdling roots that can kill trees later on in the landscape," said Ryan. In a recent trial led by NVK comparing the root pruning capabilities of popular growing containers, Ryan and his team found that the Pioneer Pot came out on top. "It provides superior air root pruning, while also managing dry-out in the root zone through its innovative insert-and-holder design, and that's what growers should be looking for."

Demonstrating trike forklift system at Decker's Nursery in Groveport, Ohio

IPPSER has 300 regular members and over 500 student members. With scholarship programs and free membership for students, that number is growing. More student involvement is just what IPPSER wants to see, according to Kyle Banas, who is a member of the IPPSER Board and has served as Chair of the Publicity Committee since 2023.

"We want to promote the industry and maintain a strong funnel of talent," said Kyle. "We're seeing that more young people are looking for a career that is meaningful, varied and productive. Horticulture offers that kind of work environment."

Kyle would know. He has been the Nursery Manager at Pizzo Native Plant Nursery in Leland, Illinois for over fifteen years. As a long-time member of IPPSER, he's reaped the benefit of creating connections between growers in his region.

"Apart from the plants, what keeps me in this business is the people. We all grow together, and groups like IPPSER really help with that. For instance, at Pizzo, we recently hosted a small meeting for plant producers in the Illinois area to get to know one another and exchange information. It was an informal, helpful event," said Kyle. "Same thing with the IPPSER conference. I've been attending for years and have made a lot of connections. If I hear something interesting, I'll call the person who spoke about it and three weeks later, I'm doing the same thing at our nursery."

When looking to the future of his work at Pizzo, Kyle said it's all about sustainability.

"As native plant growers, we have to be more conscious of our impact on the environment. At this year's event, it was great to have a keynote speaker address the topic of plastic consumption and how the horticulture industry is exploring other media. It was practical and realistic and will hopefully help with research and solutions in this area."

Driving solutions for growers is what it all comes down to. As Kyle described it, IPPSER offers an invaluable two-way street for innovation.

Discussing air pruning. L-R: Todd Baker, Baker's Nursery; Ryan Munroe, NVK Nurseries; David Dobos, Blackmore Companies

"Growing the horticulture industry is just like growing a plant. It's a two-way street. You give inputs, but you also have to pay attention to what the plant is asking for. Our industry will only grow if we're both guiding and listening. Industry groups matter because they create the conditions for this type of growth."

This is a feeling strongly shared by Rick at A.M.A. Horticulture. Having supplied commercial growers for over forty years, the company makes a point of partnering with industry groups to advance its vision of cultivating the future of horticulture.

"In many cases, these groups are made possible by growers like Kyle and countless others who volunteer their time and energy to the benefit of our industry," said Rick. "To all of you, I want to say thanks for all you do!"