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New Board Member
Darrell Ades of Ades & Gish Nurseries has joined the San
Diego County Flower & Plant Associations board of directors. Ades & Gish Nurseries, Inc. is a family
business founded in 1974. They
specialize in a wide variety of indoor blooming and foliage potted plants. There operation resides in the San Marcos valley along Twin Oaks Valley Road. The greenhouse covers approximately 300,000
sqft. with an additional 40,000 sqft. of shade grown material. In addition to a wide variety of products,
they also have a widely diverse customer base.
Darrell Ades is extremely excited to join the association as a board
member and looks forward to helping the association move forward.
Filling out the
slate of officers are: President: Susan
MacFarland, Valley View Nursery, (San Marcos),
First Vice President: Todd Ingham,
Kendal Floral Supply (Carlsbad), Second Vice
President: Michael Kent, Kent's Bromeliad Nursery, Inc. (Vista),
Treasurer: Gregg Warren, American AgCredit (Escondido),
and Secretary: Gregg Oppgenorth, The Plug Connection (Vista). Completing the board are Chris Johnson,
Norcal (San Marcos), Rich Ouellet, EuroAmerican
Propagators, (Bonsall) and Melissa Main, John Henry (Carlsbad).
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Living Plant Growers Meeting - Kent's Bromeliad Nursery
It was a great evening had by all. Over 115 people attended this event. We'd like to thank the Living Plant Growers
Association. The LPGA was an Association
started back in 1962 and when they saw how quickly the SDCF&PA was growing
they combined forces with us and donated their proceeds to our Association so
every year we have an event in their honor.
Kent's
Bormeliad Nursery hosted our Annual Living Plant Growers Meeting on Oct.
15th. As most of you know Kent's
Bromeliad Nursery features more than 100 commercial varieties of bromeliads,
developed from those collected in the jungles of Central and South America, as
well as 40-50 varieties developed by Kent's, and 20 hybrids on which Kent's holds
patents. The Kent family members are the
recognized experts in bromeliads, with more than 25 years' experience in
bromeliad propagation and care.
We had three guest speakers who are buyers of growers, Liane
Mast with Stater Bros., Brian Parker with Home Depot and Debbie Jackson with
SuperValu. They shared with us how the
ecomony has affected their business and what we can do to help increase sales
at the store levels. Also, what are
buyers looking for in a vendor, marketing programs etc. The atmosphere was positive and the meeting
was very productive.
Thanks to our
sponsors, A-Roo Distributing of CA, LLC, Farrand Enterprises, Gallup &
Stribling Orchids, John Henry, McConkey Co., US Farms, Inc. and Western Cactus
Enterprises, Inc. The driving force
behind the idea of this "Meet The Buyers" was Todd
Ingham with Kendal Floral, LLC and Melissa Main with John
Henry. They invited the speakers and the
rest is history. Thanks to all who
support the association and attended this event. Keep an eye out for the next social event
which will be our holiday party in January.
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Testimonial
 "Ask the
Advisor" meetings
You are missing
out if you have not been attending these informative sessions!!!!
As an association we are always looking for programs and
information that will benefit our members. The "Ask the Advisor" sessions
should not be missed by anyone who wants to get up to date on the subjects
being covered by Jim and his network of "experts". These sessions are being held at the New Center
for Applied Horticultural Research which is located at the Tamara Lane Altman's
facility. You can't get a location more central to the county and surrounding
areas. We are fortunate to have Jim working with us and for us. I am constantly
amazed at the wealth of knowledge he has when it comes to what is going on when
it comes to the issues that affect our industry. If he doesn't have the answer
we need, chances are he knows where to get it!
As a grower and
manager in our business I always come away from these meetings with some new
piece of useful knowledge or information. Topics that have been presented range
from Poinsettia pest control to Water Laws and Regulations to the world of
Adjuvants, Surfactants, and Pentrants for more effective Sprays. Often times
it's not only the information that is being presented but the discussions and
interaction between Jim, the growers, and many of the industry suppliers and
associate members that are in attendance as well. If you have not already
attended these sessions you need to get the schedule and be a part of these
great meetings.
Coming up on November 12 the subject is Water quality
testing: Equipment and Laboratories with guest speaker Valerie Mellano.
Remember refreshments are provided so there is a snack and something cold to
drink when you get there.
We should always
try to remember the breadth and depth of our industry here in San Diego and the surrounding areas. These
sessions are great way to tap into the pool of knowledge that goes with such a
large concentration of growers and industry associates.
I look forward to seeing you at the next
session!
Sincerely,
Gregg Opgenorth
The Plug Connection
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Here's the Dirt
Edgar Engert celebrated his 50 year career fund raiser for the
California State Floral Association on October 23rd. The San Diego County Flower & Plant
Association was there tending bar! Over
250 people came to help celebrate.
German cuisine was had by all and the entertainment was great. Congratulations to Edgar, keep up the good
work.
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Farmers Almanac
Nov 12 - "Ask the Advisor" Guest speaker: Valerie Mellano is
going to address "'Water Quality testing: Equipment and Laboratories". It's going to be a workshop demonstrating
various equipment.
Dec 10 - "Ask the Advisor" 1PM to 2PM Jim Bethke - Summary of
applied research conducted at the Center for Applied Horticulture Research by
UCCE San Diego.
2PM - 3PM Lucia Villavicencio
- Summary of research conducted by the Center for Applied Horticulture
Research.
3PM to 3:30 Break
3:30PM to 4:30 PM Bryan Vander
Mey - Summary of applied research conducted by the Staff Research Associate
funded by growers in San Diego
County.
4:30 to 5PM Question and Answer Session
January 28th & 29th, 2010 - Water Quality and Treatment - Center for
Applied Horticulture Research, 3742
Blue Bird Canyon Rd., Vista. Registration fee per person $250 (before
January 14, 2010) or $295 (after January 14, 2010) Pay with a check made out to
UC Regents and send payment to UCNFA C/O Linda Dodge, Dept.of Plant Sciences
Mailstop 6, University of California, One Shields Ave., Davis CA 95616. Register online at
http://groups.ucanr.org/CORF
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Classified ads are FREE to members and run for three months unless otherwise specified. Ad text should be submitted no later than the 25th of the month to the Association office for the upcoming publication.
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The Complete
Package
Are you still selling plants the same way you have for
years?
Granted many larger trees and shrubs are purchased like stoves
or refrigerators....once their performance starts to decline or a freak of nature
happens, you need to replace them. Our
customers that have new homes are choosing many trees and shrubs with a strict
budget in mind. However, in a down economy people stay home and decorate! They do not have monies to travel and they
entertain at home. Hopefully they look
around the yard and say...."This place needs a facelift!" When they hit the stores what is grabbing
their attention? A few great marketing
programs have come along with excellent marketing behind them and made many
retailers more money and have caught HER eye....Endless Summer Hydrangea is one
everyone talks about. Great POP, blue
pot, large tag...she can't walk by it without taking a look...blue flowers! Yes, She's hooked!
So, how about your perennials?
I know for many of you, perennials have been a goldmine for the past
five to ten years! Just like grocery
store customers who stop in on a weekly to bi-weekly basis, those wonderful
perennials keep your shoppers coming back to see what's in bloom this week. Want to make more margin? These days we are seeing more and more
packaging and merchandising coming to our marketplace just like every other
retail outlet. We are just now catching
up and our consumer is biting!
Graphically pleasing pots with matching tags and interesting signage
creates the total merchandising package.
This new package should be sold at a higher margin than the individual
parts!
Some people think printed pots don't work. I believe that most of the printed pots in
our marketplace are picturing the plants that are already in bloom and putting
way too much information on them....wasted real estate? I'm all about a good message, but what would
Target do? I'm sure their pots would
have fun, eye-appealing graphics that SHE couldn't resist and information clean
and simple on a tag and/or card!
However, picturing perennials is a good thing...especially if they are not
in bloom. Picturing annuals on tags and
pots when they are in bloom (which 99.9% are) is wasted real estate in my
book.
I've hosted many a focus group AND being a woman myself, I've
learned that our customer is predominately female and is a homeowner....not a
gardener. She gets excited over the
silliest things and can't resist many inspiring items at retail. Do you want her to pick your plants or
someone else's plants? Do you want her
in your store other than spring time? Package your plants as gifts...she is dying
to give something to a hostess besides a bottle of wine. Plants make terrific gifts especially when
packaged like one! Many successful
companies spend a lot of dollars and research on packaging and merchandising to
win her over...are you spending any?
Written by Brenda Vaughn
John Henry Company
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President's Message
For most businesses the fourth quarter is here and it's time to
evaluate this years sales. How well did you do with the choices you made and
what will you change for next year? It's
always tough to speculate your future sales. This ultimately comes down to
guessing what the consumer will want.
Then take that a step further because it's actually what does the retail
buyer think the consumer wants!
That was the
question on everyone's mind on October 15th at the Living Plant Growers Association
meeting. Thanks to our new Social Committee, Todd
Ingham and Melissa Main, they found a way to answer that.
They invited Liane Mast with Stater Bros., Brian Parker with Home Depot, and
Debbie Jackson with Super Value to speak to our members. It was very informative and the speakers
were so interesting. They were all extremely enjoyable to listen to. I thought it was quite inspiring to know that
Brian Parker started out as a water boy at a nursery in the mid west. I think that each of them works very hard at
their jobs and they have a lot to deal with. Flowers and plants are not the big
money maker for these stores. We are getting beat out by tools and balloons!!
They have to know that what plants they order turn and sell every week. I like
the expression "presumed value". The product that the consumer likes, at the
price they are willing to pay. I have a much better sense of what the buyer has
to deal with at the retail level. I
found it very reassuring that they were also there to meet all of us. They were
all very interested in hearing about new programs and new product ideas. They
made it quite frank that they were approachable and available to talk to (just
not on Mondays). I couldn't believe that
the last people to leave were the buyers. That meeting could have gone on for
hours. I want to thank the Kent's
for allowing us to use their facility, the place was beautiful and we are sorry
for keeping them up so late! Because it was such a huge success our
board is already working on similar ideas for future events. We have some big
plans in the making. I am so fortunate to work with a board full of born
leaders, and now we have Darrell Ades joining us too! This Association is
geared to go. No matter how hard this year may be we are working hard at making
it better for our members. We are here for you.
I hope to see you all at our next event.
Susan MacFarland, Valley View Nursery Inc.
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Pest Advisor
Bagrada bug, Bagrada hilaris, is a new uninvited pest here in
the Southland. First reported in Los
Angeles County
in June of 2008. I didn't think much of this smuggled illegal alien till last
week when it was found heavily infesting some vegetable crops in flats. You see
most growers treat for other pests, like ants, fungus gnats, or Glassy-winged
sharpshooters and products used to control those pests prevent this Bagrada bug
from participating. But what if your goal is to spend as little money on
chemicals as possible so you could claim environmental friendly production?
Correct! However this is an opportunist
insect, and it does love moist environments with healthy food sources. It
sucks, doesn't chew, its food, and it prefers the youngest plant parts, sucking
the growing point and forcing branching when we don't want branching, (thinking
if we could only control when it was sucking, we could use them as plant growth
regulators). Please - check this bug out
on the web; cisr.ucr.edu/bagrada_bug.html
and be forewarned. They say it enjoys plants in the Brassica family, but I
think it may venture out to other tasty plant families.
Downey mildew
has shown its fierce presence in our counties already. It is a fast moving, water loving disease.
But then, here it is at the end of the drought, could it be an irrigation issue
too? I've heard that there are newer highbred species whose spores move with
the wind and that much of the east coast was infested earlier this year. If you are uncomfortable with the difference
between the various mildews, like Downey
vs. Powdery, please ask you Pest Control Advisor - or send those questionable
plant samples to your preferred lab for confirmation. We don't want to treat if
we don't have to, and we certainly don't want to treat for the wrong problem.
Out in the field crop areas of our state they preventively treat for Downey mildew all the
time! There must be less pricey solutions!
Again, ask your Pest Control Advisor for advise - that's their pleasure
and their job.
David Pattison, PCA, CaCCA
Crop Production Services
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"Ask the Advisor"
 Poinsettias and
Whiteflies
James A. Bethke
UC Cooperative Extension San
Diego
151 E. Carmel
San
Marcos, CA 92078
jabethke@ucdavis.edu
760-752-4715
It's that time of year again where poinsettias fill most
greenhouses. This year, due to the economy, some growers have cut way back on
the numbers, but they still dominate most places I visit. It is one of the
largest potted crops and one of the highest value crops in the county. It ranks
in the top ten agricultural commodities (see county crop statistics,
http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/awm/crop_statistics.html). New varieties of
poinsettia that have dominated the market over the last few years have made
growing the crop much easier, but there are still those few pesky problems that
require attention, and one of the pesky pests is the sweet potato whitefly
(SPW), Bemisia tabaci.
The SPW (B biotype or formerly known as the silverleaf
whitefly) occupies a special place in poinsettia production because it did not
originate in the U.S.
It is another one of those invasive species that appeared probably through
world trade. Back in the day, the greenhouse whitefly (GHW) was the real
problem on points, and they only occasionally became serious pests. In the late
1980s, however, I remember watching GWF populations disappear, transitioning to
the SPW. The SPW was much more tolerant of pesticides than the GHW, so it posed
a real problem that needed national attention. A few new products were the
answer, such as Distance (pyriproxyfen) and later Marathon
(imidacloprid). Pyriproxyfen was also the answer for sticky cotton in cotton
producing areas of Arizona and Imperial County.
Unfortunately, since 2005 we have been faced with another
threat, the Q biotype (Q) of the SPW. Biotypes of the SPW are not new. They have
been studied for a long time, but recently there has been some research to show
that each biotype has different genetic make-ups that can enhance their ability
to become resistant to insecticides. Q originates in the Mediterranean area,
and the highly resistant strain originated in Spain. This strain happened to be
resistant to pyriproxyfen and imidacloprid. It was then moved to many other
countries including the U.S.
via world trade, and when it arrived here the Animal Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) considered it to be a quarantine pest because the cotton and
agricultural industries feared they would not be able to control it with
pesticides that controlled the B biotype (B). By the way, the original find in
the U.S.
was from a poinsettia plant.
In the U.S.
the original sweetpotato whitefly biotype is now known as the 'New world'
biotype or the A biotype (A), and it was controllable with pesticides and
natural enemies. When B arrived, it genetically dominated and caused A to
disappear, and it was out of control for a while.
The panic over Q has subsided for now for a number of reasons:
1) it has been detected it in 23 states so it would be hard for APHIS to
regulate it, 2) the ornamental industry took it seriously and made good efforts
to control the pest, and 3) B is also dominant over Q as it was over A.
However, this is a warning, so take heed. There is a lot riding
on the ability of the ornamental industry to continue to be vigilant against Q,
especially in poinsettia production.
Much of the poinsettia plug and cutting production remains offshore,
which means that Q will continue to invade the U.S., and it can be spread widely
via the poinsettia trade. The fear is that this insect will establish in cotton
or agriculture, and if that happens, things will change significantly.
Therefore, it behooves the industry to make sure that whiteflies on poinsettia
crops are well managed. For hints on the best management practices for whitefly
control on poinsettias as well as other ornamentals, see the following web
site: http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lso/bemisia/bemisia.htm
If you think you cannot control whiteflies on your poinsettia
or other crops, please contact me for more information. If you are concerned
because whiteflies always get out of hand at the end of the poinsettia crop,
that may be another problem, so it would be a good idea to investigate your
cultural or treatment practices. In addition, it makes sense to determine if
you have Q. We would be glad to do the biotype survey for you.
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Crime Stoppers
San Diego County Crime Stoppers is a resource for people
looking for a way to report crime anonymously.
For the past 25 years, San Diego County Crime Stoppers has been
a key partner in assisting law enforcement in solving crime. Our track record speaks for itself-more than
3,800 cases have been solved through tips provided by Crime Stoppers, including
103 homicides. Our goals are simple;
solve crimes and make San Diego
safer.
San Diego County Crime Stoppers is a citizen-run, community
organization with proven strategies that work.
Crime Stoppers:
§ Operates three
anonymous tip lines where citizens can
report crime: telephone 888 580-8477,
text and web tips www.sdcrimestoppers.com
§ Provides rewards for
tips leading to an arrest
§ Works with the media
to publicize unsolved felony crimes with the aim of bringing in more tips
§ Partners with local
school districts through Campus Crime Stoppers to provide students with an
avenue to anonymously report weapons, narcotics, fights and other crimes on San Diego school campuses
To provide a tip, call 888 580-8477, send a text time to CRIMES
and put Tips 409 at the beginning of your message, or send a webtip at
www.sdcrimestoppers.com
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Advertisements
Looking for work in Customer Service and/or Reception. Have experience in the Horticultural
Industry. Punctual, reliable, and great
work ethic. Let me help you take care of
your customers! Please contact me at
760-728-8018 or opgenorthg@aol.com.
For Rent: Jaswind Tropicals, San Marcos, CA
Appox. 54,000 sq ft of heated green houses, shade houses,
office and loading dock. Also there is a ranch style house, 3bdr./2bt. on
properly for rent as well. Call for price and more details @ 760-644-1587.
Windermere Exclusive Properties - OWNER SAYS..."get them
leased" Growers, supplement your
production with convenient and inexpensive greenhouses, Asking only $2000 per
month , discounted to growers. Easy 5
MINUTES off I-5. 1 to 3 year lease with
deposit required. Heater, plumbing for
drip system, electrical in place., Leased in AS IS condition. May be combined with Nursery Retail
Center selling direct to
the public.. Ask about options. For
private showing, or more information
CONTACT STAN, 760-224-2292 .
Serving the wholesale nursery community since 2005
Farm Land for Rent - 11.43 ac Twin
Oaks Valley,
San Marcos. No
bldgs., previously farmed. There are 2-2" water meters and 1 well but no pump.
Month-to-month lease at $850/mo. Can start September 1, 2009. Contact Mary
Alice Cedrone at (760) 754-5500, ext 13 or macedrone@casadeamparo.org.
Help Wanted: Production
Foreman needed for succulent division.
Must have experience in potted plant propagation and in leading a
crew. Bilingual. Call Thomas @ (760)535-4312..
For Rent: Greenhouse
180,000 sq.ft. All houses heated with
natural gas, some have additional bottom heat.
Propagation area with heat & overhead mist system. Two large smith fertilizer injectors,
moderate climate in Encinitas. Easy access to freeway. Available immediately. Call (760) 801-4388.
For Rent: Office space
available on the Dramm & Echter greenhouse property, great location off Leucadia Blvd. in
Encinitas. Approximately 600 sq. feet
with three large office rooms. Contact
Rhonda Kavanaugh for more information.
760-436-0188x213 or rkavanaugh@drammechter.com.
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Just Sprouted
Aldershot of New
Mexico/ Steve Dodge
4884 S.
Main St.
Mesilla Park,
New Mexico 88047
Phone: 575 523-8621/Fax: 575 523-8688
Email: sdodge@aldershotnm.com
Over 100 acres under greenhouse. Outdooor and indoor plants. Over 500 different varieties.
25 years in business.
Barcelo Enterprises, Inc./ Tina DiPietro
1210
Rainbow Hills Rd.
Fallbrook,
CA 92028
Phone: 760 728-3444/Fax: 760 451-8803
Email: tina@barcelopalms.com
Wholesale grower of landscape palms, ornamentals,
color and ground cover. Growing
facilities located throughout California and
one in Arizona.
Florist-Jobs.com/ Mark Benjamin
P.O. Box
70333
Las Vegas,
NV 89170
Phone: 888 672-5295/ Email:
webmaster@florist-jobs.com
Offers job listings in the floral industry.
Gallup and Stribling Orchids, Inc./Rodney Stribling,
Suzie Schneider
3450 Via Real
Carpinteria,
CA 93013
Phone: 805 684-1998/Fax: 805 684-3227
Email: suzie@gallup-stribling.com
Growers and shippers of potted and fresh cut
Cymbidium orchids.
Jaygee Sales Co./Gary Gelzer
703
Arroyo St.
San Fernando,
CA 91340
Phone: 818 838-4443/Fax: 818 365-5591
Email: jaygeesales@verizon.net
Manufacturer and distributor of glass and ceramic
containers.
Nufarm Americas/Barner Jones
1161
34th Ave.
Sacramento,
CA 95822
Phone: 831 737-8082/Fax: 831 737-8082
Email: barnerjones@gmail.com
Nurfarm offers a diversified product portfolio that
includes herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and plant growth regulators that
can be usxed in a variety of markets nationwide.
Sunbursts Nursery Products, LLC/Steve Luhrs
22102
Ironbark Lane
Lake Forest,
CA 92630
Phone: 949 973-8872/Email: steve@sunburstnp.com
Propagation trays, handling trays, and pots for the
nursery industry.
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Sincerely,
Jan Berry
San Diego County Flower & Plant Association
5600 Avenida Encinas, #108
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Email: info@flowerandplant.org
Website: www.flowerandplant.org
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