For many in the industry, this year’s Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market EXPO and Greenhouse Growers EXPO are the first chance to gather together again. The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based show is chock-full of meetings, education sessions, and chances to connect with other growers, vendors, and Extension agents from around the country.
This year, Brian Jackson, professor of horticultural science and the director of the Horticultural Substrates Lab at North Carolina State University will be leading two substrate sessions growers will not want to miss. These sessions cover several topics related to substrates, including how the current challenges in the supply chain are impacting growers across the globe.
In “Next Generation Substrates: Peat Reduced and Peat Free Options,” Jackson will discuss trends and projections in peat-free horticulture. He will explain how the products are advertised and discuss how they perform with research-based evidence. After last year's industry-wide shortage, growers may be considering low-peat or peat-free substrates. The session will be interesting to growers interested in sustainable practices to reduce their own environmental impact. Jackson will share information regarding peat or peat-free substrate uses and what is being developed in new low-peat or peat-free options that will work well for greenhouse growers.
For growers interested in sustainable practices, this session will help them better understand how the choice of peat or peat-free can change their own impact on the environment through this simple choice.
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For more information on the conference, visit www.glexpo.com.