What is the true meaning of Earth Day? And what about Arbor Day? The answers really depend on one’s personal perspective. I think of parades with causes on big poster boards, and a mix of environmental advocates, students, and parents with baby strollers. I asked my daughter and her two friends, all sophomores in high […]
Excitement in the air
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The nursery and greenhouse industry is known for adopting new technology. When it comes to exploring advanced production technologies, we’re not exactly wallflowers. OAN members have invested their time in the development of smart-sprayer technology by serving as testers. They’ve embraced the OAN’s Nursery Guide, a searchable hub that brings buyers and sellers together online. […]
Our mission is to serve
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The Oregon Association of Nurseries wouldn’t have lasted for over eight decades without changing with the times, but the pace of societal change feels like it is accelerating. We must keep up. All across the country, trade associations have struggled to demonstrate the return on investment (ROI) to their membership. They’ve presented a wide […]
Turning the page to 2018
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I have had the pleasure of working for the association for a dozen years. I have worked for a United States senator, been chief of staff to a regional government, but this industry is something special. I am a workaholic — our past president Mark Bigej endured well over 2,000 emails over the course of […]
Convention and the nursery family
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Something special happened at this year’s OAN Convention, held in November at Salishan. Anytime there’s a large gathering of our membership, I find myself rejuvenated. The camaraderie is something to behold. You see titans of the industry interacting with up-and-comers and the future of the industry. They talk about trends, production and labor challenges as […]
Going big on transportation
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As Oregon’s largest agricultural sector, the nursery and greenhouse industry depends on an integrated transportation system so product can get to market. Nearly 75 percent of the nursery stock we grow ends up leaving our borders, with more than half ticketed for markets east of the Mississippi River. As a trade association, we have supported […]
A time for reasoned minds
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October is upon us — the release of summer’s long grip on our operations, leaves rapidly changing into a wonder of colors, crisp mornings and celebrations of Columbus Day and Canadian Thanksgiving. It is difficult not to write about all the tumult happening around our great nation. It is not the first time nor the […]
A game changer
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As a leader and innovator in plant production, Oregon’s nursery and greenhouse industry has an equal responsibility to make a difference on the environmental side of the coin. We frequently remind our members of Congress and the Oregon Legislature that the industry sends ecologically friendly green products out of the state, bringing traded sector dollars […]
I’ll be there
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The Farwest Show, located in one of the most productive nursery growing areas in the country, has it all.
Answering the anthem
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We sing it. But do we know the story behind “The Star-Spangled Banner?”