June 2023 - 6

INDUSTRY NEWS
from americanhort to you
Getting Back to the Basics:
Train and Empower Your Team
BY CELINA YOUNG, MARKETING
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
AmericanHort recently sat down with some of our
Cultivate'23 speakers to discuss why they're helping
attendees get " back to the basics, " to focus on training
and empowering their teams to succeed. Education
sessions for greenhouse growers at Cultivate'23 provide
tools for training at all levels - basic, intermediate
or advanced.
" Our employees are the core of what we do and
what makes our businesses successful. Not the best
plants or equipment, it's the people who execute our
plan. Training those employees is your best tool for
translating a vision into results that matter, " says Neal
Glatt, managing partner at GrowTheBench.com and a
Cultivate'23 speaker.
As our speakers point out, what may be the most
" basic " task in your greenhouse may be the most
essential task to your business. Michelle Klieger,
president of Stratagerm Consulting, says, " The person
watering the plants is not typically your highest-paid
employee, but watering plants all summer is the crux of
your business. That's why I think quality training is so
important - so you can have trust in your employees
for these tasks that are so critical to your business. "
Education sessions at Cultivate are focused on saving
you time, money and resources. From crop-specific best
management practices to a deep-dive session on insect
identification, this information can help you build a wellrounded,
consistent and confident growing team.
" Getting this training is so important because the
BIOBEST ANNOUNCES PLAN
TO ACQUIRE BIOWORKS
Biobest has signed a non-binding
letter of intent to acquire BioWorks,
a manufacturer and marketer of
biopesticides.
The proposed acquisition will
accelerate Biobest Group's expansion
into biopesticides using BioWorks'
portfolio of biopesticides for disease
6 JUNE 2023 GPNMAG.COM
industry is constantly evolving, " says Drew Jeffers, a
horticulture and natural resources agent at Clemson
University Cooperative Extension. " From a business
standpoint, growers are having to look at things
differently. We just don't know what to expect anymore,
so getting this training is going to be essential, even if it
is just a refresher of the basics to keep your skills sharp.
We can always improve. "
Employee training programs help improve the
knowledge and skills of employees to match the various
changes in the industry, and training shows employees
they have value, which can increase retention. According
to a 2021 Gallup Poll, 66% of 18- to 24-year-old workers
look for an employer that helps them grow their skills.
" It's an investment to go to Cultivate, but if you
don't expose yourself and your team to new ideas and
techniques, you'll never know what's possible, " Jeffers
says. " There are very few opportunities in the industry
to get concentrated knowledge in a one-stop shop. "
Take advantage of essential education when you
attend Cultivate'23, July 15-18 in Columbus, Ohio, by
purchasing an All-Access Pass and invest in your future
today. Choose from 50+ sessions specially curated
for greenhouse growers and a full learning track of
Back2Basics sessions, covering essential skills for your
team. You also won't want to miss the " Greenhouse
Back2Basics: Media & Fertility Workshop " on Saturday,
July 15. Additional registration is required, so don't wait
to save your seat.
Explore the full lineup of education and register today
at AmericanHort.org/Cultivate.
and insect control, as well as its
product development, marketing,
and logistics expertise. With a
continued focus on the horticulture
and specialty agriculture markets,
and as a member of Biobest Group
following the proposed acquisition,
BioWorks will expand its range
of biopesticide solutions for
growers, enhancing the company's
contribution to reduce industry
reliance on synthetic pesticides.
BioWorks' headquarters will serve
as the North American manufacturing
and marketing hub for biopesticides
for the entire organization. The
Victor, New York, facility features
more than 55,000 square feet and
combines office, manufacturing,
research and development, and
http://www.GrowTheBench.com http://www.AmericanHort.org/Cultivate http://www.GPNMAG.COM
June 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2023
