Greenhouse Grower to Grower

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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Ep. 21 - How Cheryl Wagner Greenhouse in Michigan Stays Connected to Plant Lovers

Greenhouse Grower Senior Editor Julie Hullett recently caught up with Cheryl Wagner, who runs a small greenhouse business near Ann Arbor, Michigan. In addition to being a staple at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market, Cheryl also hosts an annual Art and Garden Show at her greenhouse, the most recent one taking place on May 5. The event allows local artisans to display and sell their products at the greenhouse. Julie’s conversation with Cheryl offers an inside look at how a small greenhouse business operates. 

Ep. 20 - The Latest Updates on the Future of Skagit Horticulture

In early February, Skagit Horticulture in Washington announced it would be shutting down within a couple of months. Then in early April, the news broke that Smith Gardens had stepped in to acquire a portion of Skagit’s operations. In this episode, we talk to Scott Crownover at Skagit and Eric Smith at Smith Gardens to learn more.
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Ep. 19 - Why Having a Succession or Exit Plan for Your Business Is More Critical Than Ever

So far in 2024, we’ve seen too many large greenhouse operations shutting down, and while there are many reasons for this, one of the biggest is the lack of a succession plan or an exit strategy. In this episode, I’m joined by Chris Cimaglio, Managing Director of PivotPoint Business Solutions. Chris and his team specialize in helping growers build value into their company and their team, so when the time comes to exit the business, they are well prepared. We talked about how to make succession planning a priority, the consequences of not having a plan in place, and much more. Here’s our conversation.

Ep. 18 - New Varieties, Consumer Trends, and More With Must Have Perennials

Greenhouse Grower’s April issue features a heavy focus on perennials, from new varieties to production tips. We also addressed marketing trends, what consumers are looking for in new plants, and how growers and breeders are responding. In this episode, I sat down with Justin Wisniewski and Kris Smith at Aris Horticulture and Must Have Perennials to discuss everything from the growth of first-year flowering varieties, to how growers can better engage with consumers.
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Ep. 17 - Doug Cole of D.S. Cole Growers on Varieties, H-2A, Certification, and More

Doug Cole is the owner of D.S. Cole Growers, a young plant and finished plant grower based in Loudon, NH. The team at D.S. Cole is constantly on the hunt for what’s new, and the company also places a huge emphasis on certification for clean production, sustainability, and more. I caught up with Doug in the middle of a busy spring season, right before he leaves for California Spring Trials, to talk about these issues, and a lot more. 

Ep. 16 - How Urban Buds Turned an Abandoned Greenhouse Into a Local Favorite

Urban Buds City Grown Flowers is a St. Louis-based company that emerged from the shell of an abandoned greenhouse to become a favorite supplier of cut flowers in their community. In this episode of Greenhouse Grower to Grower, I spoke with Mimo Davis, co-founder of Urban Buds, about her path from social work to floriculture, how the company emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic stronger than ever, and a lot more. Here’s our conversation.