The Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo will be held on November 12–13, 2025, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown Hotel and Expo Center. Registration is open for attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors, and the full schedule of educational sessions is now available.
This year's program includes several Spanish-language presentations on Wednesday, November 12. Paul Fisher and Nelda Hernandez from the University of Florida will present Train Your Staff How to Irrigate. Anna Meyerhoff from the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health and the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety will present Pesticides, Workplace Safety, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Rosa Raudales from the University of Connecticut will present Disease Identification of Common Ornamental Crops Grown in Greenhouses.
Paul Fisher is a Professor and Floriculture Extension Specialist in the Environmental Horticulture Department at the University of Florida. With more than 35 years of experience in applied research and consulting for the commercial greenhouse and controlled environment industry, he leads Greenhouse Training Online, which offers professional development certificate courses. He also co-directs the Floriculture Research Alliance and Root Alliance, both university–industry groups focused on applied horticultural research, and he oversees outreach for CleanWateR3, a multi-university initiative addressing irrigation water quality and conservation. Paul has co-authored books on pH management and greenhouse lighting, published over 350 articles in trade and scientific journals, and consulted internationally. He holds a B.Sc. in Ecology from the University of Auckland, a Master of Applied Science from Lincoln University in New Zealand, and a Ph.D. in Horticulture from Michigan State University.
Nelda Hernandez earned her M.Sc. in Horticulture from Auburn University and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Horticultural Sciences at the University of Florida with Dr. Paul Fisher. Her research examines workforce training in horticulture, and she created the "Professional Irrigator" training series, which combines online learning with hands-on activities to promote efficient water use and consistent plant quality. She also investigates irrigation automation in seedling propagation, with the goal of creating measurable standards for irrigation decisions.
Anna Meyerhoff is the bilingual farm safety educator at the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health and the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety. She provides training on pesticide safety, tractor use, and other workplace risks, and she teaches first aid and CPR on farms. She also conducts respirator fit testing and helps farmers select appropriate personal protective equipment.
Rosa Raudales is an Associate Professor of Horticulture and Greenhouse Extension Specialist at the University of Connecticut. Her background is in plant pathology and horticulture, and her research focuses on practical challenges in water management for controlled environment agriculture. Her lab studies water recirculation, the use of lower-quality water for irrigation, and the design of water treatment systems that address both chemical and microbial factors affecting crop quality and yield. The Raudales Lab also develops educational opportunities for Spanish-speaking workers in the greenhouse industry.
For more information:
Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo
Email: [email protected]
negreenhouse.org/
