The Cyber Risk Horticulture Can’t Afford: Downtime
By Ken Keller, lead IT advisor, Pinion Technology Core For horticulture businesses, cyber risk is no longer limited to stolen passwords or exposed customer data. The bigger threat may be downtime — losing access to the systems that keep orders moving, crews scheduled, payments processed, deliveries routed, and living inventory protected. In an industry built […]
Carrying a Legacy Forward
The continuation of a customer-first philosophy at Growing Green. When Joel and Teri Pesapane founded Growing Green in St. Louis in 1973, they built more than an interiorscaping business. They created a company rooted in exceptional customer service, horticultural creativity, and a belief that plants improve communal spaces. More than 50 years later, that philosophy […]
The Hidden Cost of Shipping Air: Optimizing Rack Cubing for Greater Freight Efficiency
By Gary Cortés, Founding Partner of FlowVision As freight costs continue to climb due to rising fuel prices, and higher transportation expenses, there has never been a better time to focus on optimizing rack utilization and maximizing truck payloads. The goal of rack optimization is simple: fill every rack as much as possible to maximize […]
Unlocking More Value from the Resources You Already Have
In business, growth is often associated with adding more, whether it’s space, staff, equipment, or even infrastructure. While those investments may be necessary at times, they are not always the first step toward better performance. Sometimes the greatest opportunity lies in making better use of the resources already in place. Every operation has valuable resources […]
September 2026 Connect
New TSCL Compliance Agreement Creates Consistent Path for Nursery Stock Movement
By Kamron Newberry The National Plant Board has finalized a new compliance agreement aimed at limiting the spread of the two-spotted cotton leafhopper (TSCL) while maintaining efficient interstate movement of nursery stock. TSCL, also known as cotton jassid, is an emerging pest of concern in the Southeast for cotton, okra, and ornamental plant production. USDA […]
State of the Horticultural Research Institute: Building on Strength, Investing in Tomorrow
By Jennifer Gray, Senior Director, HRI Programs & Advancement What an encouraging and joyful season this has been for the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI). Thanks to the steadfast partnership of our longtime supporters, HRI continues to strengthen the foundation that keeps our industry resilient, innovative, and growing. The milestones we have reached are more than numbers. They are living proof that […]
100 Years of Phytosanitary Collaboration: AmericanHort at the National Plant Board
By Kamron Newberry AmericanHort joined state plant regulators, USDA APHIS, Customs and Border Protection, and industry partners in Alexandria, Virginia, for the 100th Annual National Plant Board Meeting. Discussions focused on several issues with direct implications for horticulture businesses, including e-commerce plant shipments, regulation of latent plant viruses, and greater recognition of SANC-certified nurseries. E-Commerce […]
Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation True-up Process
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) provides workers’ compensation coverage based on estimated payroll. Therefore, at the end of the policy year, BWC asks employers to report their actual payroll for the prior policy year and pay any shortage (or receive a refund for any overage) in premium. This process is called a true-up. […]
AmericanHort, California Association of Nurseries, and Oregon Association of Nurseries Coordinate Industry Response to State Plastics Regulations
Rachel Pick, Jeff Stone – OAN, Emily Rooney – CAN AmericanHort is working closely with state nursery and landscape association partners to monitor the growing number of state extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws and proposals affecting plastic packaging. Seven states – California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington – have enacted packaging EPR programs, while similar policies […]