This program has been divided into six sessions. These sessions, taken together or separately, can help you understand the sustainability concept, its potential impact on your business, and the many opportunities (and pitfalls) it represents. No use burying your head in the sand on this issue. Get educated!
Sunday, 5:15pm-7:15pm
Town Meeting: The Business and Business Sense of SustainabilityKnowledge leaders: Stan Pohmer, Steve Castorani, Lloyd Traven, Gary Mangum, John Kinsella, Mike DuvallSponsored by Ball Horticultural Company and BioWorks
Few movements have captured the heart of American consumers and provided our industry with a tremendous business opportunity like sustainability has and seems to promise. But all new opportunities come with challenges and potential pitfalls. This panel of progressive grower and retail professionals will share their vision for the potential that sustainability offers their businesses and the challenges and benefits they've experienced along their path toward an economically sustainable sustainability.
Monday, 8am-9:15am
"Green" Nuts & Bolts: Understanding What the Proposed ANSI Sustainable Draft Standard Means for YouKnowledge leaders: Michael Arny, Linda BrownSponsored by Ball Horticultural Company and BioWorks
This is your opportunity to learn the details of and ask questions about the proposed establishment of an American National Standard for Sustainable Agriculture and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) process by which the draft could become a national standard. Do you have a grasp of the obligations that would be required of greenhouse, nursery producers, and garden centers - and why you should care if this is a “voluntary” standard? While conformity to the proposed standard would be voluntary, consumer awareness and retail directive could make it voluntary in name only. Learn the details of the draft standard, its roadmap leading to potential ANSI adoption, and floriculture’s involvement in shaping its content.
Monday, 9:15am-10:30am
"Green" Nuts & Bolts: Understanding CertificationKnowledge leaders: Linda Brown, Theo de GrootSponsored by Ball Horticultural Company and BioWorks
You've decided that it is in your best interest to become certified as sustainable. In this session you will learn of the duties and obligations that you will be required to meet as you position your growing or retail operation for certification with Veriflora or MPS.
Monday, 2:30pm-3:45pm
"Green” Nuts & Bolts: The Journey to CertificationKnowledge leaders: Chris Schlegel, Juan St Amant, Abe Van WingerdenSponsored by Ball Horticultural Company and BioWorks
The obligations of sustainable and organic certification programs will require changes to your business and production practices AND may seem intimidating and perhaps unreasonable. Come with questions and open minds as these panelists share wisdom and experiences gained in their efforts to become certified -- and perhaps dispel some of your fears.
Monday, 4pm-5:15pm
“Green” Nuts & Bolts: Take-Home “How-To’s” on the Road to SustainabilityKnowledge leaders: Lloyd Traven, David Pruitt, John BonnerSponsored by Ball Horticultural Company and BioWorks
Moving toward sustainable and away from traditional crop production could mean a change in almost every aspect of your production program. From pots and media to seed and cuttings and from pest management to product movement and shipping, your production strategies and practices could change. But those changes needn’t bankrupt you. The panelists will share creative ways they contained costs and saved time.
Monday, 5:30pm-6:30pm
"Green" Nuts & Bolts: Marketing Sustainability for Money
Knowledge leaders: Niles Riese, John Kinsella, Annie Gardiner
Sponsored by Ball Horticultural Company and BioWorks
Learn how to embrace sustainability and avoid subsidizing consumers' growing demands for sustainable products. The panelists will share successful strategies they and others are using to market sustainability to get higher prices at wholesale and retail, and how the industry might use sustainability to increase consumer appreciation and consumption.