​Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo will feature these educational sessions on perennials and natives on November 8, 2023.

• Perennials: Past, Present and Future, and You Grow Perennials, What Could Possibility Go Wrong? Paul Pilon, Director of Growing at Opel Growers
• Natives and Beagles. Peter van Berkum, Van Berkum Nursery
• Growing and Selling Native and Naturalized Perennials for Pollinators. Jane Sorenson, Northeast Pollinator Plants
• Perennial Trial Results. Eileen Anderson, Aris Horticulture, Inc.

Meet the presenters:

• Paul Pilon received a degree in Horticulture from Michigan State University and has over 30 years of professional horticulture experience. Throughout his career, he has focused on researching and improving various aspects of perennial production to improve quality, decrease production losses and simplify cultural practices. For the past 20 years, he has authored over 400 articles and continues as Editor-at-Large for Ball Publishing's Perennial Pulse e-newsletter which reaches over 33,000 subscribers each month. He also has a bimonthly column called "Paul Pointers" in GrowerTalks magazine. Currently, Paul is the Director of Growing at Opel Growers in Hudsonville, Michigan where he oversees all aspects of producing high quality plants.
• Peter van Berkum, along with his wife Leslie, started Van Berkum Nursery (VBN) in 1986, a wholesale perennial nursery specializing in natives (with attention to local ecotype), shade perennials and wicked ruggeds, plants that perform well in New England landscapes. Peter has a degree in Plant Science from the University of New Hampshire and spent a year studying horticulture in the Netherlands. He is a past president of the NH Plant Growers Association, as well as a founding member of the NH Horticulture Endowment. They sold VBN in 2021, but Peter still works part time as a consultant to the nursery.
• Jane Sorensen is passionate about pollinator habitat enhancement. She is a full-time farmer and co-owner of River Berry Farm, an organic fruit and vegetable farm in Fairfax, Vermont, where she grows and sells native plants for pollinators on-farm and through her on-line nursery, Northeast Pollinator Plants. Jane has recently retired from the University of Vermont where she taught Landscape Design for Pollinators and is a retired landscape architect with 14 years’ experience.
• Eileen Anderson is the product and trial garden manager at Aris Horticulture, Inc. where they evaluate the latest genetics from key breeders and help to determine the product pipeline for Green Leaf. A key element of our evaluations is the comparison of new varieties to key industry standards. Prior to coming to Aris Green Leaf, Eileen worked for Hardscrabble Farms, in North Salem New York as a sales consultant in their perennial and nursery stock departments as well as working with their perennial growing division.

The conference schedule is online at https://www.negreenhouse.org/schedule.html.

Registration rates will increase after September 25, 2023. Register here: https://www.negreenhouse.org/registration.html.

The biennial Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo is co-sponsored by New England Floriculture, Inc. - a group of grower representatives from the Northeast, augmented by University and Cooperative Extension staff in each state who specialize in greenhouse crops and management.

Keeping up to date with pesticide recertification requirements is a fact of life for many greenhouse growers. The following qualifying presentations will be offered for the six New England states plus New York: A total of 5 hours (in English), and 4 hours (in Spanish) on Wednesday, and an additional 7 hours (in English) will be offered on Thursday.

Licensed pesticide applicators will be able to earn up to 5 credit hours each day of the conference.

Please check the schedule, and plan carefully which you will attend, as some sessions are held at the same time, and 4 of the Wednesday sessions are being presented in Spanish.

Come learn from the following experts in their fields:

On Wednesday, November 8th:

• How to effectively scout a greenhouse, Betsy Lamb, NYS IPM Program, Cornell CALS
• What’s new in the Biocontrol World, Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, Buglady Consulting
• Stopping Xanthomas and Other Plant Spotters, Margery Daughtrey, Cornell University
• Dealing with Diagnosis, Nora Catlin, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County
• What’s new in invasive pests of ornamentals, Betsy Lamb, NYS IPM Program, Cornell CALS

​On Wednesday November 8th: (Spanish language session)

• Diagnóstico de Enfermedades y Desórdenes Abióticos /Diagnosis of diseases and abiotic disorders, Rosa Raudales, University of Connecticut
• Leer las etiquetas y el equipo de protección personal (PPE, por sus siglas en inglés)/Reading labels and PPE, Anna Meyerhoff, NY Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health
• Monitoreo de Plagas de Insectos y Ácaros en el Invernadero /Scouting for Insect and Mite Pests in the Greenhouse, Carla Caballero, University of Connecticut
• Trabaje con seguridad /Work Safely, Anna Meyerhoff, NY Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health

On Thursday, November 9th:

• Botrytis- Feeling a bit grey and fuzzy? Mary Hausbeck, Michigan State University
• Getting the most out of PGR’s, Roberto Lopez, Michigan State University
• Biostimulants to improve plant health and quality, Michelle Jones, Ohio State University
• Pest issues for cut flowers, John P. Sanderson, Cornell University
• Scouting methods for greenhouse pests and beneficials, John P. Sanderson, Cornell University
• Root rot management, Don’t let you roots rot! Mary Hausbeck, Michigan State University
• Pesticides and beneficials, How to the get the best of both worlds in your operations, Suzanne Wainwright- Evans, Buglady Consulting

​
The conference schedule is online here.

Registration is now open! 

The biennial Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo is co-sponsored by New England Floriculture, Inc. - a group of grower representatives from the Northeast, augmented by University and Cooperative Extension staff in each state who specialize in greenhouse crops and management.

Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo will feature a Town Hall Panel: What’s New in Floriculture Breeding and Genetics on Wednesday November 8, 2023.
​
Meet the panelists:

Jim Devereux, GreenFuse Botanicals, Chief Executive Officer
Jim Devereux has over 20 years’ experience in the horticultural market. With a history in commercial growing, sales, and breeding. Currently he is the Chief Executive Officer of Green Fuse® Botanicals, a California based breeding company specializing in innovation of vegetative annuals and perennials. Jim is a past president of All-American Selections and graduate of the University of Wyoming with degrees in botany and soil science. He currently resides in Fort Collins, Colorado where he enjoys camping and, of course, gardening.

Megan Bowman, Ph.D., Director of Research Operations, Ball Helix
Megan Bowman is the Director of Research Operations at Ball Horticultural Company in West Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1905, Ball Horticultural is a world leader in the research, breeding, production and marketing of ornamental crops. Ball Helix, Ball’s central R&D team, provides innovative product development and production support for Ball’s various business units through a global network of research laboratories specializing in plant pathology and diagnostics, molecular marker development, cell biology, tissue culture production, and bioengineering. As a member of the Ball Helix team, Megan leads research portfolio management, major infrastructure projects, laboratory safety, and global biotechnology regulatory and compliance. She has a PhD in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and worked for several years in computational biology and bioinformatics in both the agricultural and biomedical research sectors. She joined Ball in 2018 to lead bioinformatics and genomics prior to moving to operations in 2020. She is a trustee of the American Floral Endowment and serves as a committee member and mentor for ASHS.

Gary Sainsbury, Syngenta Flowers, Account Manager
Gary Sainsbury has worked in horticulture all over the world for over 30 years, getting his education in Commercial Horticulture Production before moving into Sales and Sales Management roles. His current role, with Syngenta Flowers, one of the largest breeders of floral crops in the world, started over 8 years ago. He primarily works with growers and broker companies to help them better understand Syngenta's portfolio and direction.

Stephanie Whitehouse, Dummen North America Product Manager
Stephanie Whitehouse is the Regional Product Manager for Decorative Annuals with Dümmen Orange, North America. Previously she was General Manager for Dickman Farms Greenhouse, an independent garden center in Central New York State. During her 5-years in garden retail, she increased profit margins and helped the company successfully navigate challenges during COVID-19. Prior to Dickman Farms, Stephanie worked for Peace Tree Farm, a Certified Organic wholesale greenhouse in Bucks County, PA, as the Sales & Marketing Director. During her 8-year tenure, Stephanie worked to increase company profitability, redefined product lines and offerings, improved broker, and customer relations, and was instrumental in the global commercial launch of Lavender Phenomenal®. During her time at Peace Tree Farm she was recognized as a member of GPN Magazine’s 40 Under 40 inaugural class in 2012. Stephanie is a graduate of Cornell University (Plant Sciences, BS 2006 and Weed Ecology, MS 2010). She has written numerous articles for trade magazines, and given presentations to state horticulture associations, AmericanHort, GrowerTalks Magazine, and The Seeley Conference. She previously served as member and then chair of the GenNext Committee of AmericanHort for 5 years, and currently serves on the Retail Committee. Stephanie is passionate about horticulture and consumer trends and aims to improve and beautify lifestyles with plants.

The conference schedule is online at https://www.negreenhouse.org/schedule.html

Registration is now open! https://www.negreenhouse.org/registration.html
Exhibit space and sponsorship opportunities are available! Visit the website for more information (https://www.negreenhouse.org/sponsor.html) or contact Cindy Sherwood at (802) 448-9063 or [email protected].

The biennial Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo is co-sponsored by New England Floriculture, Inc. - a group of grower representatives from the Northeast, augmented by University and Cooperative Extension staff in each state who specialize in greenhouse crops and management.

The full educational schedule for the 2023 Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo is now available, with confirmation of Pesticide Applicator Recertification credits expected in August. Highlights of this year’s conference include:

• Spanish Language Sessions Wednesday
• Tracks that Include:  Business and Marketing, Controlled Environment, Cut Flowers, Disease & Pest Management, Floriculture Disease & Pest Management, Floriculture Production, & Perennials and Natives.
• Townhall Panel Discussion {link to the more detailed description} on “What’s New in Floriculture Breeding & Genetics” with distinguished panelists: 
  • Jim Devereux, Chief Executive Officer of Green Fuse Botanicals
  • Gary Sainsbury, Account Manager at Syngenta Flowers
  • Stephanie Whitehouse, North American Product Manager at Dummen
  • Mike Klopmeyer, Ph.D., President of Ball FloraPlant
• Reception with cash bar and snacks during the Townhall Panel

​The Northeast Greenhouse Conference will be held November 8 & 9, 2023 at the  DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown in Manchester, NH. 
​
​​The biennial Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo is co-sponsored by New England Floriculture, Inc. - a group of grower representatives from the Northeast, augmented by University and Cooperative Extension staff in each state who specialize in greenhouse crops and management. Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn, share and connect with other industry professionals!

Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo will feature these educational sessions on cut flowers on November 9, 2023.

• Outdoor Dahlia Production for Cut Flowers, Stephanie Burnett, University of Maine 
• Pest Issues for Cut Flowers, John Sanderson, Cornell University Entomology 

Meet the presenters 

• Stephanie Burnett is an Associate Professor of Horticulture in the School of Food and Agriculture at the University of Maine. Her research program focuses on irrigation management, novel plant propagation techniques, and field grown flower production. 
• For 36 years, John Sanderson has been a professor in the Cornell University Entomology Department, with research, teaching, and extension responsibilities for the biology and management of pests and beneficial arthropods of greenhouse/Controlled Environment Agriculture crops with an emphasis on biological control and integrated pest management.

The conference schedule is online at https://www.negreenhouse.org/schedule.html

Exhibit space and sponsorship opportunities are available! Visit the website for more information (https://www.negreenhouse.org/sponsor.html) or contact Cindy Sherwood at (802) 448-9063 or [email protected]. 

​Save these dates for the Northeast’s premier horticultural event! Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn, share and connect with other industry professionals!
Please note new location at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Downtown Manchester, NH. The hotel is located among the shops and restaurants of Elm Street in the downtown area.
Educational sessions focusing on advanced biocontrol, disease management, business and marketing, greenhouse vegetables, perennial production, and sessions in Spanish language will be offered. Come visit vendors at the trade show with three dedicated hours in each day of the program.
The biennial Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo is co-sponsored by New England Floriculture, Inc. - a group of grower representatives from the Northeast, augmented by University and Cooperative Extension staff in each state who specialize in greenhouse crops and management.
Exhibit space and sponsorship opportunities are available! Visit the website for more information (https://www.negreenhouse.org/sponsor.html) or contact Cindy Sherwood at (802) 448-9063 or [email protected].

The series has passed. Recordings of the 2022 Northeast Greenhouse Conference webinar series presentations are available to view; note that you may not earn Pesticide Applicator continuing education credit by watching the recordings. Learn more and access the recordings. 

​Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo will feature educational sessions on production of hydroponic leafy greens on November 4, 2021. These sessions will feature:

• Specialty Leafy Green Production: Managing the environment and Culture, Chris Currey, Iowa State University
• Tips for Producing High Quality, Non-flowering, and Flavorful Culinary Herbs by Manipulating Light, CO2 and Temperature, Roberto Lopez, Michigan State University
• Water and Nutrient Management for Leafy Greens, Neil Mattson, Cornell CCE
• Understanding Greenhouse Climate Control for High Yielding, Leafy Greens and Herbs, Neil Mattson, Cornell CCE
• Managing Diseases on Herbs, Mary Hausbeck, Michigan State University
• Practices to Have an Effective IPM and Biocontrol Program. Ron Valentin, Bioworks, Inc.

Meet the Presenters: 

• Christopher J. Currey is an Associate Professor of Horticulture in the Department of Horticulture at the Iowa State University, specializing in greenhouse and controlled-environment crop production. Dr. Currey received his B.S and M.S. degrees from the University of Minnesota. and then received his Ph.D. in from Purdue University. Chris' greenhouse crop and controlled-environment research is focused on providing research-based best-management practices to support commercial producers of ornamental and food crops to improve productivity, profitability, and sustainability using and managing light, temperature, mineral nutrition, and plant growth regulators.
• Dr. Roberto Lopez is an associate professor and controlled environment/floriculture extension specialist in the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University. His research focuses on propagation and production of young and finish plants (including bedding plants, specialty cut flowers, leafy greens, and culinary herb crops) in the field, high tunnels, and greenhouses. His cut flower research aims to increase yield, stem length and caliper, quality and reduce production time by manipulating the growing environment.
• Neil Mattson is a Professor and greenhouse extension specialist in the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University. Neil joined Cornell in 2007 after completing his PhD from the University of California Davis and Master’s from the University of Minnesota. Neil is the director of Cornell’s Controlled Environment Agriculture group and his research is focused on optimizing crop performance and resource use efficiency of greenhouse flower and vegetable crops. Research interests include LED lighting and environmental control to reduce energy use and fertilization strategies to improve crop performance.
• Dr. Hausbeck’s research and extension programs reflect Michigan’s diversity and currently include asparagus, snap bean, broccoli, carrot, celery, cucurbits (cucumber, melon, pumpkin, squash), onion, pepper, tomato, greenhouse vegetable transplants, and ginseng. She has a long history of working in floriculture crops, with emphasis on poinsettia, geranium, cut flowers, bedding plants, and herbaceous potted plants. Although the Hausbeck laboratory is involved in a wide variety of research projects reflective of her broad commodity responsibility, her overall goal is to increase growers' profitability through novel and integrated disease management strategies.
• Ronald Valentin was born in the heart of the greenhouse industry in the Netherlands. His family owned a greenhouse operation and his father started using biological control in 1971. At a very young age Ronald developed an interest for the “bugs” and as a teenager he was managing and producing the biological control agents for the family greenhouse operation. After finishing his education in crop protection management, biochemistry, and vegetable production at State Secondary College of Agriculture in De Lier the Netherland, he embarked on a career in biological control in 1986. After traveling to Canada once every 6 to 7 weeks in 1996 and 1997 he immigrated to Canada in December 1997. Over the years Ronald has worked with many growers to set up sustainable and effective pest management programs with as a focus to use BCA’s as a first line of defense. He also has trained and managed technical support teams in Europe, Canada, and the USA. Ronald is currently Director of Technical Business, BCA at BioWorks, out of Victor, NY. Ronald is very passionate about making an IPM and biological control approach work for every grower as well as reducing the use of pesticides for the better of the environment and the future.

The biennial Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo is co-sponsored by New England Floriculture, Inc. - a group of grower representatives from the Northeast, augmented by University and Cooperative Extension staff in each state who specialize in greenhouse crops and management.

The full program is on the NEGC website. Register online at https://cvent.me/L43loN

Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo will feature educational sessions on Perennial Production on November 4, 2021. This session will feature:

• Best Perennial Performers at the Penn State Flower Trials, Sinclair Adams, Penn State
• Plant Growth Regulators in Herbaceous Perennial Production, Joyce Latimer, Virginia Tech
• Tune in to Green Infrastructure through the Power of Plants, Steve Castorani, North Creek Nurseries
• Improving Irrigation Applications, Amanda Bayer, University of Massachusetts
• Diseases of Perennials and their Management, Sinclair Adams, Penn State

Meet the Presenters:

• ​Sinclair Adams has received a BS from the Univ. of Wyoming in Plant and Soil Science 1983, and a MS from the Univ. of Vermont in Plant and Soil Science 1988. He is an Extension Educator in Floriculture with Penn State Extension, based in Lebanon County PA, and Flower Trial Director since 2013. Sinclair has over 30 years industry experience. Sinclair has been published in research on The Penn State Flower Trials, as well as on plant propagation, nitrogen nutrition of perennial plants, stock plant management, germplasm releases from 1990-2013 in ASHS proceedings, Journal of Environ Hort, HortScience, Perennial Plant Assn. Journal, Daylily journal, IPPS proceedings, and American Nurseryman. Holder of 15 plant patents, Sinclair has developed Tiarella, Chrysanthemum, and Phlox selections for industry, and is a member of ASHS, PPA, Pi Alpha Xi, & the Hardy Plant Society.
• Dr. Joyce Latimer is the Extension Specialist for Greenhouse Crops for Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE). She assists local VCE agents in solving grower problems, provides direct support to commercial greenhouse operators, and develops educational programming for VCE agents and greenhouse operators. She also serves as an educational advisor to the Virginia Greenhouse Growers Association. Joyce conducts research on plant growth and development with over 30 years of experience with growth regulation of herbaceous perennials.
• Steve Castorani is President, CFO and co-Founder of North Creek Nurseries of Landenberg, Pennsylvania, a progressive nursery specializing in perennial, fern, vine, and ornamental grass plug production with an emphasis on Eastern regional native plants. In 2004, Steve co-created the American Beauties Native Plant® brand, which distributes plants to independent garden centers throughout regions of the United States. Steve is past president of the International Plant Propagator’s Society and became a Society Fellow in 2005. In 2012 Mr. Castorani had the honor of receiving the society’s most prestigious Award of Merit. Steve is very involved in his state’s green industry and served two years as President of the Delaware Nursery and Landscape Association, and has served on the Delaware Invasive Species Council, developing guidelines for the implementation of an invasive species policy for the state. Most recently, Steve became the 2020 recipient of the Paul Ecke Jr. Commercial award given by The American Horticultural Society in recognition of his contributions to commercial horticulture.
• Dr. Mandy Bayer is an Extension Assistant Professor of Sustainable Landscape Horticulture at UMass Amherst. She has a BS in Landscape Contracting from Penn State, a MS in Crop Sciences from the University of Illinois, and a PhD in Horticulture from the University of Georgia. Her research and extension outreach focuses on increasing the sustainability of built landscapes through improved landscape establishment and maintenance and improving ornamental plant production practices. She is particularly interested in improving irrigation and fertilizer use.

The biennial Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo is co-sponsored by New England Floriculture, Inc. - a group of grower representatives from the Northeast, augmented by University and Cooperative Extension staff in each state who specialize in greenhouse crops and management.

The full program is on the NEGC website. Register online.

• Working Efficiently and Effectively, Trabajando de Manera Eficiente y Efectiva Gerson Coates, Flow Vision 
• Principals of IPM in Ornamental Crops, Principios de Manejo Integrado de Plagas (MIP) en Cultivos Ornamentales, Vanessa Campoverde, University of Florida 
• Tips to Ensure Consumer Success with Compact Fruiting Vegetables, Consejos para garantizar el éxito del consumidor con vegetales compactos para jardinería de interior y en patios, Celena Gomez, University of Florida 
• Pest Scouting in Nursery Production, Monitoreo de plagas en la producción de viveros,  Vanessa Compoverde, University of Florida 

Meet the presenters: 

• Gerson Coates 36 years of Lean Flow Manufacturing experience includes actual implementations in factories where he worked at as well as guiding Lean Flow implementations in companies around the world. In 1998 Gary, with three other partners founded FlowVision, LLC, - The Lean Business & Supply Chain Consulting Group. He has implemented in companies that produce as few as 1 product a day in the semiconductor capital equipment industry to as many as 20 billion coins a year at the US Mint. His experience ranges from high tech, high volume to machine intensive, low volume, make to order industries. Some of the products that he implemented Lean Flow on include: Ultrasound and cat-scan medical equipment, sanitary ware, semiconductor capital equipment, networking equipment, SMT lines, leather, and electromechanical equipment.
• E. Vanessa Campoverde is a bilingual University of Florida/ (IFAS) Educator. She has provided training to growers and green industry professionals in south Florida since 2011. Ms. Campoverde began her career in agriculture in 2001 working at The International Potato Center in Peru.  After graduating with her Master’s in Plant Pathology from the University of Florida, she worked as a plant research scientist for the Plant Diagnostic Clinic at the Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, FL.   Campoverde has gained invaluable experience in leadership and agricultural projects involving research, teaching and Extension appointments in collaboration with research institutions, society organizations, academia, and private industry. Interacting with local, national, and international audiences in Latin America and USA. Vanessa was recipient of the UF/IFAS Award for Excellence in Internationalizing Extension, and Florida Association of County Agricultural Agents Young Professional Award among other awards. 
• Dr. Celina Gómez has a BS from Zamorano University in Honduras, a MS from the University of Arkansas, and a PhD from Purdue University. She joined the Environmental Horticulture Department at the University of Florida in late 2016, where she has research (60%) and teaching (40%) responsibilities. She leads a cross-commodity research program that supports specialty crop production in Controlled Environments. Her area of expertise is plant lighting and hydroponics. Celina teaches ‘Greenhouse and Nursery Crop Culture’ and co-teaches ‘Hydroponic Systems’ and ‘Advanced Controlled Environment Plant Production’. Dr. Gómez is the University representative for the NCERA-101 (Committee on Controlled Environment Technology and Use) and the NE-1835 (Resource Optimization in Controlled Environment Agriculture). She also serves as faculty advisor to the Zamorano Alumni Association at UF, comprised of international graduate students and staff.

The biennial Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo is co-sponsored by New England Floriculture, Inc. - a group of grower representatives from the Northeast, augmented by University and Cooperative Extension staff in each state who specialize in greenhouse crops and management. 

The full program is on the NEGC website.    Register online by Sept 18th for early registration rates.