August 2020 - 6

FROM THE EDITOR
2021: POISED FOR SUCCESS
By now, you have probably heard the news of the California Spring Trials making its
return next year - but with new summer dates. The California " Summer " Trials will be
taking place June 23-27, 2021.
This is a pretty drastic change for exhibitors and attendees. After the event's
cancellation this year, representatives from PanAmerican Seed, Dümmen Orange,
Syngenta Flowers and other breeding companies have been in talks regarding how to
move forward.
The early spring dates
in years past have been a
struggle for some. Many
brokers and growers
were unable to leave their
operations behind during
this very busy time in the
greenhouse. After some
debate, the breeders decided
to try out a new timeframe
later in the season and after
the peak of spring gardening.
You can read more about the
date change on page 8.
I recently surveyed readers about the event dates, and while half of the respondents
were undecided regarding whether the later time frame is positive or negative, the
majority did say they hope to attend! While 2020 has had its share of challenges, 2021
is looking brighter already.
In this month's Chat Room - which you can find on page 10 - I asked readers how
their spring season turned out, despite the obvious COVID-related challenges. And I was
pleasantly surprised with the responses. An impressive 65% said sales were up this year!
We only have so much space to share your comments, and I wish I could share them
all. So many of you said this was your most successful season in years. Some of you were
overwhelmed and busier than anticipated, but welcomed the chaos.
Many respondents viewed this spring as a lesson that they will carry on into planning
for next season. One recurring theme I found was the boom in online sales. For some,
online sales was a totally new channel for their businesses. For others who already
dabbled in online sales, this was the year that their digital space really took off. It will be
interesting to see if this is one of those trends that is here to stay.
As you prepare for 2021, don't forget about the 2021 " Year of " crops selected by
the National Garden Bureau. Each year, the organization selects crops for the North
American market that are easy to grow, genetically diverse and with new breeding to
showcase. These crops are then promoted heavily at the retail and
consumer levels to encourage sales and educate gardeners.
The crops selected for 2021 are: sunflower, monarda, hardy
hibiscus, hyacinth and garden bean. You can learn more on page 8.
How is your 2021 planning coming along? Do you have any new
tricks up your sleeve that you are willing to share? If so, shoot me
an email; I'd love to hear where you are leading your business
next season.
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August 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2020