Apr 6, 2012

2012 Springs Ahead! By Tim Hodson

The early arrival of spring in most parts of the country has really given a shot in the arm to many growers and retailers as consumers have been consumed with early spring fever.

In the Chicago area, we have already had a stretch of days where the thermometer hit the mid to upper 80s. Even though our temperatures have returned to “normal” (whatever that is), we dipped back down in to the lower 30s in the evenings toward the end of last week.

Us Diehard Chicago Cub Fans were pleasantly surprised to see the ivy on the outfield walls at Wrigley Field are already sprouting out on opening day of the baseball season last Wednesday. Nobody in the Cubs organization can ever remember a home opener where the ivy was already peeking out.

The garden centers in my area also have been incredibly busy the past couple of weeks as gardeners look to get a head start on the 2012 season. Shoppers are snapping up whatever product is available as fast as they can.

How has your spring been so far? Are your customers calling for product earlier than in years past? How was the weather in your region over Easter weekend? Was the Easter Bunny kind to you?

Drop me a line at thodson@greatamericanpublish.com and let me know.