The evolution of Spanish education at AmericanHort

Spanish-speaking professionals are the backbone of our industry, playing a vital role across greenhouse, nursery, landscape and retail operations. For AmericanHort, providing accessible, high-quality education to these team members is more than a side project — it is a strategic priority essential to the industry’s future.

A BUSINESS ADVANTAGE FOR EMPLOYERS

For owners and managers, investing in Spanish education is a strategic business decision. Success depends not just on innovation in the greenhouse, but also on improving how we support and engage the people who power it.

Quality training ensures employees understand best practices, follow safety protocols and contribute meaningfully to crop quality and company success. The value of training goes far beyond technical proficiency.

Training signals to employees that they are valued members of a team and worthy of investment. It fosters a learning culture where people feel empowered to ask questions, improve their skills and grow with the company.

To unlock the full benefits of training, it must be delivered in a way that employees can understand and connect with. For many green industry workers across the U.S., that means offering training in Spanish.

Investing in education created specifically for your Spanish-speaking workforce fosters:

• Stronger communication and consistent training
• Higher employee engagement and retention
• Safer, more efficient operations through technical mastery.

A STRATEGY GUIDED BY INDUSTRY LEADERS

This commitment is rooted in collaboration, not guesswork. To ensure programming addresses real-world operational needs, AmericanHort leans on its Spanish Advisory Committee. Guided by leaders like Juan Sebastian Ponce of Metrolina Greenhouses, Rupert Saavedra Hoffman of Heimos Greenhouses and Alfredo Rios of Loma Vista Nursery, these initiatives are built by the industry, for the industry.

“The Spanish-language content gave my team a sense of belonging to the industry,” Rios said. “They felt included, not just by aligning with our company’s messaging, but by understanding best practices across the industry. I believe that kind of inclusion can lead to happier, more efficient, and more productive employees.”

CULTIVATE’26: A FLAGSHIP PLATFORM

At Cultivate’26, held July 11-14 in Columbus, Ohio, Spanish-speaking professionals will find a dynamic education track designed specifically for them. Moving beyond simple translations, these sessions offer technical, production-focused learning presented by respected experts. Key topics include:

• Advanced nitrogen management and water quality
• Substrate selection and hands-on pH and EC monitoring
• Effective pest and disease identification and control
• Leadership and career development roundtables.

SPECIALIZED DEPTH AT PLUG & CUTTING

Spanish education continues at this year’s Plug & Cutting Conference, held September 14-16, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This event features a dedicated Spanish track for young plant growers, focusing on specialized propagation techniques and technical production skills.

YEAR-ROUND GROWTH

Learning does not end with these flagship events. AmericanHort offers year-round opportunities through webinars and digital programming. HortCred micro-credentials are offered in both English and Spanish, providing both fundamental and more advanced training. As participants complete their HortCred program, they earn a digital badge that they can showcase to their peers.

The Cultivate On-Demand Education Pass this year will include 9 Spanish-language sessions, providing self-paced training tools that can be accessed online at your convenience.

ENGAGE YOUR TEAM

Now is the time to invest in your people. By removing language barriers, we empower every team member to grow. Together, we are building a more inclusive, professional and stronger horticulture industry. We encourage leaders to share these opportunities with their teams and register them for Cultivate’26 and the Plug & Cutting Conference.

Alejandra Feliciano is AmericanHort’s Spanish curriculum development manager. Find out more about these programs at americanhort.org/spanished.