The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, Inc. (ASCFG) will hold its 2012 National Conference and Trade Show November 12-14 at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Tacoma, Washington.
The Conference opens with its popular Growers’ School, an intensive one-day program covering the basics of cut flower production. This hands-on event will take place in Mount Vernon at Jello Mold Farm, a seven-acre diversified farm, which provides sustainably-grown cut flowers for Seattle area florists, and the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market. A special session on designing with succulents will be presented by Robin Stockwell of Succulent Gardens, Castroville, California.
Attendance for this session is limited, and it is already half filled. Growers interested in on-farm learning should register soon.
At the same time, “Building Coalitions for Marketing”, will take place in Tacoma. This new event will be unlike a typical growers’ meeting, promises Diane Szukovathy, co-owner of Jello Mold, and Conference chair. “We will bring together growers from across the country to share their models of cooperation, examine funding possibilities, and discuss the marketing of locally-grown products. Local flowers are becoming as important as local foods, and the more growers can communicate about these processes, the better.”
Debra Prinzing and David Perry will present their new book, The 50Mile Bouquet, at the kickoff reception Monday evening.
Tuesday includes sessions on new cut flower varieties and crops like hellebores and gloriosa lilies; updates on the postharvest handling concepts; high tunnel production; and profitable business planning. The trade show Tuesday evening will provide networking opportunities with national and regional suppliers. On Wednesday, tours will start at the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market, then continue to the Skagit Valley to visit Choice Bulb Farms, Azusa Farm and Gardens, and Skagit Gardens, before wrapping up with a locally-sourced dinner at Maplehurst Farms in Mount Vernon.
For more information go to www.ascfg.org
The ASCFG is a trade association which provides production and marketing information to commercial cut flower growers in the United States and Canada. Its goal is to unite growers of specialty cuts produced in the field, greenhouse or hoophouse, and sold to wholesalers, retailers or directly to consumers at farmers’ markets. The Cut Flower Quarterly is the only major periodical which focuses on field and greenhouse growing, research, market trends, new varieties and other aspects of the cut flower industry.
Source: The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, Inc.