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OFA: Edibles and Other Must-haves with a Little Urban Zest

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Personally, my absolute favorite aspect about OFA Short Course is the energetic buzz that emanates from every person walking the show hall – exhibitors, buyers, marketers, media, brokers, everyone. It is a refreshing energy unlike anything I’ve felt at another tradeshow.

Everyone is excited to introduce his or her new products and services, and start the new product year with a fresh start. It is an optimistic and positive attitude that, in my opinion, keeps this industry moving forward with innovative ideas and products. When I was a child, my father used to wake us up for school with the token line, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” And, this is the underlying mind-set I so enjoy at OFA.

With that said, OFA is always one of the best outlets for seeking out new trends in horticulture. The most innovative companies have had enough time to observe grower, retailer and consumer wants and needs, and are inspired to develop inventive ways to meet them directly. One example of this could be seen at Kurtz Farms’ booth with the Urban Gardener program.

To quote directly from the Kurtz Farms’ brochure, “Urban Gardener products and programs allow anyone to be a gardener regardless of time, space, agility or ‘know-how.’” Specifically, Urban Gardener products target small-space gardeners, busy homeowners, patio entertainers, outdoor decorators, children and first-time gardeners. I think this is fantastic.

The newest market of gardeners has less time to spend on gardening.

Developed by Jen Kurtz, the folks at Kurtz Farms have launched a product line that directly mirrors popular urban product and décor trends. From the trendiest Pantone color selections to the latest veggie / organic craze, Kurtz Farms has created a niche for the average Gen X and Y person…one who, perhaps, lives in a condo or small home, works 11 hours a day, and grew up in the suburbs or city without a garden. Each product is designed to be decorative and practical, and often sold in ready-made containers for a stress-free, low-maintenance purchase. Each product is tagged with a number internet-savvy buyers can easily use by logging onto the Urban Gardener Web site, for details on their exact purchases.

The product line includes annuals, perennials, tropical foliage, and edibles. The edibles encompass products such as eggplant, tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, and herbs. There are also decorative options such as faux pumpkins planted with colorful mums and climbing clematis in urban-use cages perfect for indoors or out, and much more.

I look forward to seeing how Urban Gardener continues to develop new product trends in the coming months…while the Gen Y shopper in me truly hopes my local garden center brings in a few of those tomato cages.

P.S. Check out the Urban Gardener Recipes section of the Web site! I LOVE it.

~ Leslie

OFA: Travel Destination, Novalis Plants that Work

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Each year Novalis® Plants that Work® builds a destination display at OFA. In some inspired way, the network’s growers always feature their new product lines creatively with a mix of beauty and retail-ready ideas.

Novalis® did not disappoint again this year as they broke up the display into a village of Plants that Work® growers. Guests were able to oogle at all the new plant selections such as the very popular evergreen shrub, Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’, very prominently displayed in the Carolina Nurseries area; and the striking arrangement of Nooks & Crannies in the Imperial Nurseries alcove. My personal favorite was a large, compact gathering of Phlox Confetti Candy Store™ ‘Bubblegum Pink’ displayed in the Willoway area of the overall booth. It was the perfect set-up to show the kind of wow-factor this bright bloomer can have en masse.

The best part about the village set-up? Customers were excited to visit the booths that were most applicable to their specific regions. They were each able to see the best new selections that would thrive in their climate as well as speak to the contact most knowledgeable about their particular needs. It was simple, easy to understand… and quite perfect.

Another Novalis® crowd favorite this year was the announcement (and attractive displays in several of the growers’ booths) of Plants that Work® In the Kitchen™, a brand new program for early spring 2010. The existing herb program will be expanded to include products such as blueberries, raspberries, figs, and others. Veggies will also be added to the line to include popular varieties and heirloom plants like eggplant, beans, peppers, and tomatoes. A few of the displays even showed-off the retail packaging options for the new line, including convenient 6-pack trays for garden herbs, and larger containers for fruits and veggies.

 

*Novalis® perennial and woody ornamental growers include Armstrong Growers, Bailey Nurseries, Carolina Nurseries, Fisher Farms, Greenleaf Nursery Company, Hackney Nursery Company, Imperial Nurseries, The Conard-Pyle Company, Willoway Nurseries, and Windmill Nursery of LA. Novalis® color growers include Armstrong Growers, Beds & Borders, Carolina Nurseries, Peace Tree Farms, Sunbelt Greenhouses, and Wenke Greenhouses.

~ Leslie