How do you grow and sell cut flowers without electricity? What are the best treatments for fresh cut flowers? Did you know Amish brides don't carry a wedding bouquet? Which shrubs are the best for floral designs?
You'll find the answers to these questions – and more than you could have imagined – at the Midwest Regional Meeting of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers August 8-9 in Wooster, Ohio. This meeting will bring together cut flower growers from the Midwest, Northeast and Ohio Valley at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.
Morning sessions will include talks on healthy soils and developments in postharvest handling of cut flowers. A tour of Secrest Arboretum will feature Director Ken Cochran discussing the best woody shrubs for cuts. After lunch, attendees may choose two options: talks on IPM scouting and organic weed management, or a floral design session. The day wraps up with a reception and tour of the ATI gardens. The workshops will be presented by the Ohio State University research faculty and industry experts. The following morning, Tuesday, August 9, will feature a tour of two off-the-grid Amish flower farms.
Megan Shoenfelt, program coordinator of the Agroecosystems Management Program at the OARDC, encourages anyone interested in growing cut flowers in the field or greenhouse to attend. “This is a terrific opportunity to meet like-minded flower growers from across the Midwest. You’ll learn more in one day than you thought imaginable!”
Specialty cut flower production is a rewarding farm enterprise. Just as the interest for local food is growing, now is a great time for specialty cut flower producers. Consumers, florists and wholesalers are delighted to find the incredible selection of fresh cut flowers that can be grown in the Midwest.
Find the complete program and registration at www.ascfg.org or call (440) 774-2887.
The ASCFG is a non-profit trade association which provides production and marketing information to cut flower growers across the country.
Source: Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers