CNGA LooseLeaf Aug/Sept 2019

7 G rowers on both coasts have always worked on a year-round basis, while their Midwest and Rocky Mountain colleagues had more seasonal fluctuations with labor. No doubt, the spring season remains busiest for all, but over the past decade or two, the slower seasons have been getting busier. A long period of down time is becoming a distant memory. Container production, the pervasive I-want-it-now culture, and increased forecasting data are three major reasons for the loss of off seasons in the green industry, according to Barry Gregory at Kraemer’s Nursery in Mount Angel, Ore. “To me, the industry has changed quite a bit. I do think 15 to 20 years ago there was so much more production of bare root and balled and burlapped trees and shrubs. Thirty years ago, it was a spring game. That’s what you got for the year,” said Gregory, who is Sales and Marketing Vice President for the 850-acre (or 650-acre?) wholesale grower south of Portland. “Now there is so much container-grown production. Because we can ship plants any time of year, work never stops. We got out of the B&B business right around the time of the big recession in 2010. Now, 100% of our production is container grown or container established before we ship it; 100% of it is in pots,” he explained. Container plants delivered year-round satisfy consumers who are getting used to instant gratification. Our modern, online society has become more of ‘I want it now and I’m going to get it now.’ Containers provide not only a way to harvest plants year- round, but offer a patio-ready product whether annuals or perennials. You can pick up your desired plant, take it home, put it on your deck, and voila—instant yard beautification. THE NEW NORMAL colorad o nga.org LooseLeaf Aug/Sept 2019 Year-Round Work Rather than Seasonal Barry Gregory continues on next page » Photo courtesy of J. Frank Schmidt & Sons