Tewksbury, Mass., November
6, 2017 – Griffin has set the dates for its 2018 Grower & Retailer
Expos. The company will host two Expos next year, one each in Massachusetts and
Pennsylvania; each will be a two-day event.
The Expos are open to Griffin customers of all types
including greenhouse and nursery growers, independent garden centers and
controlled-environment agriculture operations. Both shows will feature
suppliers, booking specials and educational opportunities representing the full
breadth of Griffin’s product offering – hard goods, live goods and retail
supplies.
The Massachusetts Expo will take place August 28-29, 2018,
at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass. The Pennsylvania Expo is set for
September 26-27, 2018, at the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster,
Penn.
The Expos are an annual staple for Griffin customers
dating back to 1981. The events serve to kick off the booking season, offering
customers a range of Expo-exclusive promotions, booking specials and
educational sessions. For more information, log on to www.griffins.com.
About Griffin
Griffin Greenhouse Supplies, Inc., headquartered in
Tewksbury, Mass., has served the needs of growers in greenhouse and nursery
production, and independent garden centers for 70 years. Griffin operates 15
fully stocked service centers, serving growers and retailers nationwide. The
business also distributes live goods including seed, cuttings and young plants.
Griffin is among the premier distributors in the U.S., with an outstanding
reputation for operational excellence, high-quality products and superior
customer service. For more information, please visit www.griffins.com.
Tewksbury, Mass., September 5, 2017 – Griffin will host an educational workshop for medicinal marijuana growers on September 26 at the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, Penn. The half-day program will include three seminars, presented by members of Griffin’s GGSPro technical services team.
Griffin held its first cannabis growers' workshop on Aug. 22 in Worcester, Mass.
“The workshop includes something for cannabis growers at every level of expertise,” explains Tami Van Gaal, division leader for controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) at Griffin. “The program will help new growers get a solid start in crop production. Experienced commercial growers will gain insights to help improve yields and production efficiency.”
The workshop will begin at noon with a catered lunch. Educational sessions will follow on the topics of sanitation, crop fertility and pest control. The latter will focus on scouting techniques and the use of biological control agents (BCAs).
“We’re seeing strong demand for production advice in the cannabis market,” Van Gaal continues. “Our intention is to equip growers with foundational knowledge and best practices that they can apply right away to see immediate results in their grows.”
The Pennsylvania workshop replicates a cannabis growers’ workshop Griffin conducted on August 22 in Worcester, Mass. Timing of the Lancaster event coincides with the Griffin Grower & Retailer Expo, set for September 27-28 at the same venue.
Advance registration is required to attend the Pennsylvania cannabis growers’ workshop; online registration is now open. Cost to attend is $99.00 per person; group discounts are available. Visit http://www.griffins.com/cgw2017 for details and to register.
About Griffin Greenhouse Supplies
Griffin Greenhouse Supplies, Inc., headquartered in Tewksbury, Mass., has served the needs of growers in greenhouse and nursery production, and independent garden centers for 70 years. Griffin operates 16 fully stocked service centers, serving growers and retailers nationwide. The business also distributes live goods including seed, cuttings and young plants. Griffin is among the premier distributors in the U.S., with an outstanding reputation for operational excellence, high-quality products and superior customer service. For more information, please visit www.griffins.com.
Dave Hartshorn, John Farr and Ted Farr have been interested in hydroponics for decades, but the technology wasn’t fully mature until a few years ago. In 2013, the team founded Green Mountain Harvest Hydroponics with a focus on growing spring mix, summer crisp lettuce, basil and watercress. They began with a modest greenhouse that was previously used on a flower farm and eventually secured an account at Whole Foods that has enabled them to scale. Heliospectra AB’s new lighting solutions have helped accelerate harvest cycles and dramatically improve Green Mountain Harvest Hydroponics’ crop quality and yields.
Cutting-Edge Technology
Green Mountain Harvest Hydroponics was using traditional HPS lights in its greenhouse before partnering with Heliospectra and Griffin - the company’s long-term supplier partner - to install 115 new LED lighting fixtures. Since these lights were a direct replacement of the HPS lights, the installation process was very straightforward and the benefits were quickly apparent to the management team.
“As soon as the new Heliospectra LEDs were installed, Green Mountain recognized immediate benefits from the optimized light spectrum,” said John Farr. “We typically harvested our summer crisp lettuce at 55 days. With Heliospectra, we now harvest between 42 and 45 days. The opportunity to accelerate harvest and create additional revenue cycles significantly scales our business.”
Using an optimized spectrum of red, blue, and white light, Green Mountain achieves better penetration and distribution of light down to the bottom of the plant canopy with the Heliospectra solutions. The new LED lighting also helped reduce light pollution that had been a big issue with the HPS lighting - in fact, the HPS lights had prompted calls from neighbors and even visits from the local fire department.
“The Heliospectra lights mimic the sun and enable Green Mountain to supplement natural daylight during the shorter winter days and adjust to changes in local weather,” added Farr. “The ability to forecast production and predictable, repeatable harvest results has proved invaluable for our business.”
Great, Consistent Results
The Heliospectra lighting solutions helped improve both crop quality and yields while lowering operational costs to bolster profitability.
The Griffin and Green Mountain teams note that the lettuce and basil plants are now sturdier and more compact, with less tip burn and yellowing than those grown under HPS lighting. The increase in fresh weight improves the value of the product for both consumers and the business’ bottom-line. Meanwhile, the Heliospectra lighting solution also enables faster turns and an accelerated production cycle, which will add at least one additional harvest per year and help boost revenue.
“I think the biggest benefits are one, the crop quality and two, the elimination of light pollution,” says Farr. “That was huge for us. Through the Heliospectra lights, we actually grew the business by 25%. Same area, just different lights. Plus, no complaints from the neighbors.”
“If you compare LEDs electricity consumption with that of HPS, there is a huge opportunity for savings which of course is going to be translated to the bottom-line growth for Green Mountain Harvest’s business,” said Mr. Ahmadian. “And there is even greater opportunity for the business to increase yields and improve crop quality with Heliospectra’s solutions.”
“John and many of our customers emphasize that the ability to control the consistency of production and forecasts enables them to take finished goods to market faster. Delivering high-quality produce to grocers and retailers on a consistent, reliable basis creates a significant impact on Green Mountain’s business performance and profitability,” Ahmadian explains.
Looking Ahead
Green Mountain Harvest just broke ground on two new greenhouses that will incorporate the Heliospectra LX intelligent lighting solutions and real-time software controls. With higher quality products, accelerated production, and lower operational costs, the company is well-positioned to succeed as it expands its products into Whole Foods and beyond.
Griffin and Heliospectra work with dedicated growers and growing environments across the globe focused on medicinal cannabis, commercial food crops and a wide variety of flowers and ornamentals.
Griffin joins Master Nursery network of 150+ supplier partners
Master Nursery gains new product and service options for member businesses in the Midwest, Rocky Mountain and Pacific Northwest regions
Vacaville, Calif., August 7, 2017 – Master Nursery Garden Centers (“MNGC”) has announced the addition of Griffin Greenhouse Supplies (“Griffin”) to its vendor roster, effective immediately.
Griffin becomes one of five distributors in the MNGC network, and the only supplier with a product mix that spans green goods, hard goods, retail supplies. In total, the MNGC vendor network includes more than 150 manufacturers, growers and service providers.
“Griffin’s broad offer and national reach are terrific complements to our vendor lineup,” said Gerry Docksteader, vice president of operations at MNGC. “This addition enables Master Nursery to expand product and service options for our members, especially throughout the Midwest, Rocky Mountain and Pacific Northwest regions.”
“While Master Nursery is first and foremost a retailer group, nearly half of its members are also growers,” explained Jim Rottenberg, vice president of marketing and retail sales for Griffin. “We’re confident that Master Nursery members will find value not just in our retail products, but in other categories including production supplies and seed.”
About Master Nursery Garden Centers Master Nursery Garden Centers, Inc., is a member-owned cooperative comprised exclusively of independent retail garden centers. Founded in 1951, the group began as a small number of San Francisco Bay area nurseries looking to share advertising costs. Today, the organization leverages significant purchasing power for its members, with nearly 500 member businesses across the U.S. and Canada. For more information, please visit www.masternursery.com.
About Griffin Griffin Greenhouse Supplies, Inc., headquartered in Tewksbury, Mass., has served the needs of growers in greenhouse and nursery production, and independent garden centers for 70 years. Griffin operates 16 fully stocked service centers, serving growers and retailers nationwide. The business also distributes live goods including seed, cuttings and young plants. Griffin is among the premier distributors in the U.S., with an outstanding reputation for operational excellence, high-quality products and superior customer service. For more information, please visit www.griffins.com.
260-page print catalog features more than 350 new
varieties
Digital edition includes 20+ additional bonus resources
to enhance grower success
Print and digital editions available now
Lisle, Ill., July 27,
2017 – Griffin has announced the publication of its new seed and plant
catalog for the 2017-18 season. The 2018 catalog is available in both print and
digital formats, featuring more than 350 new varieties from the industry’s
leading breeders.
The 260-page print catalog covers more than 3,300 seed
items including annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses, herbs and vegetables.
Vegetative annuals are also featured, including the complete assortment from
Syngenta Flowers, plus new introductions and top sellers from seven other major
breeders such as Proven Winners and Dummen Orange. For the first time, Griffin
has added items from the Kientzler portfolio to its catalog. The 2018 Griffin
catalog highlights more than 75 vegetative perennial varieties as well.
The 2018 Seed & Plant digital catalog includes all of
the variety information and photography from the print edition, plus additional
resources for growers. Griffin has added 21 digital-only extras – crop culture,
quick reference guides, mixed container recipes and other tools to enhance
production success.
The Griffin 2018 catalog is
available now for digital download at www.griffins.com/publications. The digital edition is best suited for
use on tablets and computers. Print catalogs are available through your local
Griffin sales representative or by calling 800.323.7253.
About Griffin
Griffin Greenhouse Supplies, Inc., headquartered in
Tewksbury, Mass., has served the needs of growers in greenhouse and nursery
production, and independent garden centers for 70 years. Griffin operates 15
fully stocked service centers, serving growers and retailers nationwide. The
business also distributes live goods including seed, cuttings and young plants.
Griffin is among the premier distributors in the U.S., with an outstanding
reputation for operational excellence, high-quality products and superior
customer service. For more information, please visit www.griffins.com.
Two
seminars will qualify attendees to receive pesticide recertification credits
Retailer-oriented
session to focus on differentiation in the container-gardening category
New-variety
seminar to cover highlights from the 2017 California Spring Trials
Online
registration for Expo attendees is now open at www.griffins.com
Tewksbury, Mass., June 27, 2017 – Griffin
recently announced the schedule of educational sessions for its 2017 Griffin
Grower & Retailer Expos.
The schedule
includes two seminars in which attendees may qualify for pesticide
recertification credits. The first, “Hot Topics in Pest Control,” is presented
by GGSPro Technical Support Manager Rick Yates. In this one-hour session, Yates
will review the latest new products and best practices in pest and disease
management. He’ll also share reviews on how recent introductions have performed
for growers in real-world conditions. “Hot Topics in Pest Control” is an annual
staple, and the most heavily attended Expo seminar each year.
In “How to
Fight Foliar Diseases,” Yates will lead a deep dive into prevention and control
of foliar diseases including Botrytis,
Rhizoctonia, fungal and bacterial
leaf spots, as well as downy and powdery mildew. Attendees will learn about
detailed rotation strategies, cultural best practices and practical prevention
tips. This session and “Hot Topics in Pest Control” are geared toward growers
at every level, from beginner to advanced.
“Beyond
the Plants: The Magical Mad Potter Tour” is a retail-oriented session presented
by John Johnston, Griffin’s retail education manager. Expo visitors are invited
to discover custom looks in containers, planting vessels and more to
differentiate their retail offer in the all-important container-gardening
category. Johnston will share examples from forward-thinking IGCs across the
country.
Hundreds
of new varieties come to market each year, but which of this year’s
introductions deserve a closer look? Griffin Business Manager Jeanne Svob will
share top picks from the 2017 California Spring Trials in her seminar, “Meet
Your Future Favorites: New Varieties for 2017-18.”
The 2017
Griffin Expos will also include educational sessions presented by HC Companies
and Dosatron.
The
Massachusetts Expo will take place August 23-24, 2017, at the DCU Center in
Worcester, Mass. This marks a change of venue for the Massachusetts Expo,
formerly held at the Eastern States Exposition Center in West Springfield,
Mass.
The
Pennsylvania Expo is set for September 27-28, 2017, at the Lancaster County
Convention Center in Lancaster, Penn.
Online
registration for the 2017 Griffin Expos is now open. For schedule details and
to register, log on to http://griffins.com/griffin-expo.
About Griffin
Griffin
Greenhouse Supplies, Inc., headquartered in Tewksbury, Mass., has served the
needs of growers in greenhouse and nursery production, and independent garden
centers for 70 years. Griffin operates 15 fully stocked service centers,
serving growers and retailers nationwide. The business also distributes live
goods including seed, cuttings and young plants. Griffin is among the premier
distributors in the U.S., with an outstanding reputation for operational
excellence, high-quality products and superior customer service. For more
information, please visit www.griffins.com.
Griffin has signed agreement to open new branch location in Aurora, Colo.
The 18,500 square-foot facility will stock hard goods and select retail products for distribution
Aurora, Colo., branch is set to open in February
Tewksbury, Mass., January 3, 2017 – Griffin
announced today that it will open an all-new service center in Aurora, Colo.,
early this year. The 18,500 square-foot facility will become the fifteenth
branch location for Griffin, and the company’s first hard-goods distribution
center west of Pennsylvania.
“For several
years, Griffin has been working to bring our complete product offering to
customers nationwide,” explained Craig Hyslip, chief operating officer at
Griffin. “Establishing a distribution center in Colorado is a logical next step
in our progression toward that goal."
While
Griffin has had live-goods representation in Colorado for many years, the
company began establishing hard-goods roots at the beginning of 2016, with the
hiring of Bob Conner as its first hard-goods sales representative in the area.
“The response has been fantastic, and the territory has developed quickly,”
Hyslip confirmed. “Growers in Colorado are seeing the benefits of our
integrated solutions. We’re eager to strengthen our connection to these
customers, and to be able to serve them with greater speed and efficiency
through a local distribution center."
Inventory at
the new Aurora branch will focus on primarily hard goods, along with select
retail products. Griffin indicates the product mix will include grower staples
such as containers, growing media, fertilizers, chemical controls and
coverings. Specific items and vendors will be catered to the needs and
preferences of growers in the Rocky Mountain region. John Hyslip
will oversee the Aurora branch as western regional operations manager for
Griffin. He comes to the role with several years of site-management experience,
having previously served as branch manager for the Griffin facility in
Cheshire, Conn. Prior to that, John was warehouse manager for the company’s
Morgantown, Penn., branch.
Griffin is
set to open its Aurora, Colo., branch in February.
About Griffin Griffin
Greenhouse Supplies, Inc., headquartered in Tewksbury, Mass., has served the
needs of growers in greenhouse and nursery production, and independent garden
centers for 70 years. Griffin operates 15 fully stocked service centers,
serving growers and retailers nationwide. The business also distributes live
goods including seed, cuttings and young plants. Griffin is among the premier
distributors in the U.S., with an outstanding reputation for operational
excellence, high-quality products and superior customer service. For more
information, please visit www.griffins.com.
