Excellence in the greenhouse market was on full display on Monday, July 15 at Cultivate ’24. To start the Greenhouse Grower’s Evening of Excellence, Julie Hullet, Brian Sparks and Dr. Allan Armitage reminded the audience of the importance of the green industry in our society and that we all have a role to play. Dr. Armitage went on to say, “We are essential, and I have no problem patting each of you on the back and saying well done because you make the world a better place.”
Categories for the Evening of Excellence included Readers’ Choice, Operation of the Year, Industry’s Choice, Industry Achievement, Technology of the Year, Editor’s Choice, and Head Grower of the Year.
GLASE advised Greenhouse Grower on selecting the Technology of the Year winner for the second year in a row. This year’s finalists included Growmentum’s production software, Corvus Drones’ drone-as-a-service model, and Biotherm’s C-Gen CO2 generator.
Congratulations to the nominees and winners in each category:
- Readers’ Choice Award: First Editions Eclipse Bigleaf Hydrangea (Bailey Innovations)
- Operation of the Year: Little Prince of Oregon Nursery, Aurora, OR
- Industry’s Choice Award: Canna ‘Cannova Gold Leopard’ (American Takii)
- Industry Achievement Award: Rick Grazzini, GardenGenetics
- Technology of the Year: Growmentum
- Editor’s Choice Award: Coleus ‘Skeletal’ (Kientzler)
- Head Grower of the Year: Tom Costamagna, Young’s Plant Farm
Gretchen Schimelpfenig, GLASE Executive Director, evaluated the Technology of the Year finalists and said the following on the importance of the Evening of Excellence and continued advancements in technology:
“This event brings together operators, breeders, and manufacturers to showcase the best of the best. GLASE offers a perspective on the technology that will make the most difference to growers, their plants, their bottom line, and their environmental impact.”
Also at Cultivate ‘24, the GrowerTalks/Ball Horticultural Company/BASF Young Grower Award and Green Profit/The Garden Center Group Young Retailer Award were presented to dedicated nominees who show passion and desire to excel in their greenhouses.
GLASE wants to congratulate the growers and retailers who continue to push the boundaries of our industry. We are committed to finding climate-smart solutions that improve business for growers and we look forward to watching the rising stars of our industry innovate.
