Susan Yoder is executive director of Seed Your Future, an organization that’s working hard to engage the next generations of horticulture professionals. In this episode we’ll discuss current programs and future strategies to promote our industry and the passionate people that make it strong and relevant.

With decades of experience, Gary Vollmer has a passion for poinsettias. Our discussion is equal parts history lesson, poinsettia selection and development insight and hardcore production tips and tricks. You’re going to love it!

In this episode we are lucky to be joined by Jason Grimmett, Key Account Manager for Philips Lighting. LED technology is all the talk these days and I know for a fact growers have a lot of questions about this new lighting option.

Perennials experts Leland Toering and Chris Fifo share best practices, tips & tricks, favorite varieties and pitfalls to avoid in this episode completely dedicated to perennials. From reasons behind current market growth and recent breeding breakthroughs to where the perennials industry is heading, these guys cover the market from all angles.

Take these 38 Stolen Retail Ideas for what they are – ideas meant to inspire creativity and fresh approaches. We’re entering a new era of retail – driven by an emerging massive customer base! I trust at least one of these ideas (and hopefully more) will resonate with you or your customers. The best way to vet out what will work and what won’t, is to share as many of these ideas as you can with your team and generate discussion. Let me know your thoughts. I’m always happy to talk retail!

The guest for this 11th episode of STEM: Insider Tips for Greenhouse Pros is Kris Carlsson. Kris has a background is growing at the wholesale level before coming to Ball FloraPlant, working at Chico Propagators in California growing an A to Z assortment annuals, perennials and a full line of flowering foliage for nurseries and wholesale florists.

Our guest for the tenth episode of STEM is Scott Rusch, the Product Development Director at PanAmerican Seed. Our topic is Wave – a fascinating history lesson, current grower, retailer and consumer solutions and what to expect in the near future from what I consider the top annual product brand in our industry.

We explore the latest vegetable breeding touching on the industry’s top sellers (tomatoes and peppers), current and future direction, the importance of earliness and disease resistance and even dig into the unique needs of home gardeners and fresh market farmers with PanAmerican Seed’s veggie expert, Josh Kirschenbaum.

The cofounders of GrowIt!, Seth Reed and Mason Day, share insights into the wants and needs of today’s lawn and garden shopper with a focus on the under-35 demographic. GrowIt! is a “from the industry, for the industry” social gardening app, strategy for garden centers and botanic gardens and much more.

Jim Kennedy, National Sales Manager for Ball Seed joins STEM to share his favorite new varieties for 2019, tips for identifying viable innovations and thoughts on the direction of plant breeding today and in the near future.