Greenhouse Grower to Grower

Ep. 29 - Trends, Takeaways, and Other Tales From Cultivate’24

Greenhouse Grower editors Brian Sparks and Julie Hullett were at Cultivate’24 in Columbus, OH, walking the tradeshow floor, attending education sessions, and connecting with friends across the floriculture industry. In this episode, Brian and Julie offer their top takeaways from one of the industry’s largest annual gatherings.

Ep. 28 - Denise Godfrey of Olive Hill Greenhouses on Sustainability in Floriculture

During Cultivate’24 last month, Denise Godfrey of Olive Hill Greenhouses in Fallbrook, CA, participated in a panel discussion on sustainability in floriculture. Denise brought the grower perspective, and she was joined by a group representing all sectors of the industry, including breeding, packaging, benchmarking, and university research. I caught up with Denise after Cultivate to talk more about how Olive Hill approaches sustainability, how they’ve been able to adjust their sustainability strategy in response to consumer needs, and what she learned from participating in the panel. 

Ep.27 - The Bright Future of Horticulture Education (Part Three)

Greenhouse Grower’s July cover story features a closer look at how university horticulture departments from across the country are attracting new blood to the industry while fostering career development. I had the chance to talk to six department heads about a wide range of topics, and we’re using this podcast as a way to offer extended versions of these conversations. In this episode, I talk to Dr. Desmond Layne, Head and Professor of the Department of Horticulture at Auburn University, about some of the unique programs Auburn has place in place to engage both students and industry professionals, including working with culinary experts. 

Ep. 26 - The Bright Future of Horticulture Education (Part Two)

Greenhouse Grower’s July cover story features a closer look at how university horticulture departments from across the country are attracting new blood to the industry while fostering career development. I had the chance to talk to six department heads about a wide range of topics, and over the next few weeks this podcast will include extended versions of these conversations. In this episode, you’ll first hear from Dr. Justin Moss, Department Head and Professor at Oklahoma State University’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. Following that, I talk to Dr. Neil Anderson, Professor and Interim Head of the Department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota. 

Ep. 25 -A Look Back at the First Half of 2024, and a Preview of Cultivate

Greenhouse Grower editors Brian Sparks and Julie Hullett revisit the Spring of 2024 and look ahead to Cultivate, including what they’re most looking forward to at this annual horticulture industry gathering.

Ep. 24 - The Bright Future of Horticulture Education (Part One)

Greenhouse Grower’s July cover story will feature a closer look at how university horticulture departments from across the country are attracting new blood to the industry while fostering career development. I had the chance to talk to six department heads about a wide range of topics, and over the next few weeks this podcast will include extended versions of these conversations. In this episode, you’ll first hear from Dr. Doug Karcher, Professor and Chair of Horticulture and Crop Science at The Ohio State University. Following that, I talk to Dr. Ryan Contreras, Professor and Associate Head of the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University.
 

Ep. 23 - Insights on IPM and Biocontrols With Michelle Opela at Costa Farms

Michelle Opela, Senior IPM Manager at Costa Farms, will be giving two talks at Cultivate on the topic of IPM and biocontrols in the greenhouse. Michelle’s career path started with studying biology at Cornell University. After a brief stint in marine biology, she joined Costa’s R&D team eight years ago, eventually finding her way into managing the company’s IPM program. In this episode, I talk with Michelle about keeping up with new advancements in biocontrols, how her marine biology experience convinced her to follow her passion for plants, and why integrated pest management is all about learning from your mistakes. 
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Ep. 22 - Costa Farms’ Mari Carrasquillo on the Emerging Role of E-Commerce in Floriculture

Mari Carrasquillo, Vice President of Marketing and E-Commerce at Costa Farms, has more than 25 years of experience in creating brand strategies for companies such as Whirlpool, KitchenAid, and Food Saver. She joined the Costa Farms team in 2021 and currently focuses on developing and managing digital and e-commerce programs. Mari will be joining a panel at Cultivate24 to talk about strategies for increasing revenue in 2025 and beyond. In this episode, I talk with Mari about the continued growth of e-commerce in horticulture over the past few years, best practices and strategies, and how the consumer shopping experience overall is evolving.
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