Winter Flower Growers Program • February 8, 2018
Join us at King Farm Inc., 15 Scales Lane, Townsend, MA
Sponsored by the Massachusetts Flower Growers’ Association and University of Massachusetts Extension Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture Program
Special feature: Allied Trade Tables
Download a registration form pdf
8:30–9:50 am
Open House at greenhouses King Farm and The Flower Hutch (42 Bayberry Hill Rd. Townsend, MA)
9:30 am
Registration: Complimentary Coffee
9:50 am
Welcome: Bart King- President MFGA, Dana, Barbara and Christy King, King Farm
10–11am
10+ Ways to find $10,000 in business. Erin Pirro, Farm Credit East
Topics will include: how to make your expense dollar go further, Everything’s a tradeoff: How do you know it’s the right one?, Price taker or profit maker: what’s your perspective?, Manage margins crop by crop, Know your costs so you can price appropriately, What’s the right amount to grow?, Grow less and charge more, Managing shrink and more.
11am–12pm
A California Spring Trial Tour – Think Spring with Jim Nau, Ball Horticulture
Jim is the Manager of the Gardens at Ball Horticulture, and has been the organizer of the Spring Trials Tour for Ball Horticulture. He will lead us on a Spring Trial Tour and see how the Breeding organizations present their products to Growers and Retailers. He will point out some of the key items introduced in 2017 that you are growing this spring. And maybe we will have a peak at what’s coming up for 2018. Everyone on the bus!
12–1pm
Catered lunch – Reservations requested by February 6, 2018
MFGA Annual Meeting: Bart King, President and Bob Luczai, Secretary MFGA
1–2pm
Adding Sales Horsepower: Emerging Trends & Concepts
John Johnston, Retail Education Manager for Griffin Greenhouse and Nursery Supply
John has been helping Retailers improve their business bottom line for over 30 years. He will point out some key ideas to improve your retail sales using examples he has seen in his travels around the country as a retail consultant. Some of those examples will include retailers in Massachusetts
2–3pm
New Worker Protection regulations and Requirements
Laurie Rocca, Pesticide Inspector, MDAR Crop and Pest Service (1 pesticide credit)
Laurie will be discussing the current EPA WPS regulations which will include: Medical evaluation requirements, fit test and Respirator requirements. This is part of what is in effect for 2018 to comply with WPS. Also to be discussed is what to expect when having an inspection. Discussion on Storage Recommendations will also be part of the presentation
Download a registration form pdf
For more information contact: Bob Luczai, 781.275.4811 from MFGA or Geoffrey Njue, 781.891.0650 x12, from the UMass Extension Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture Program
