May 2025 Associations, Education, Events

Spanish-language education at Cultivate’25 By Alejandra Feliciano Rivera

AmericanHort will launch a series of Spanish-language educational programs during Cultivate’25. Held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center from July 12-15 in Columbus, Ohio, this event provides education for horticultural professionals of all levels, including opportunities to learn new skills and network with peers. 

More than a dozen sessions, taught entirely in Spanish and tailored to greenhouse and other industry professionals, are included in the Cultivate’25 All-Access Pass. Topics range from shipping operations, fertilizer practices and pest management to identifying talent, establishing an open culture for conversation and more. Highlighted sessions for greenhouse growers include: 

“Insect pests: Identification, damage and symptoms on greenhouse and indoor ornamental plants,” which will provide insights into greenhouse pest identification and management strategies and be led by professor Luis Cañas from Ohio State University. 

“Training your team on substrate choices: Communicating media differences for better plant care” will discuss how to effectively communicate the properties and effects of substrate ingredients for improved plant health with Gladys Opiyo from Profile Products. 

“Building team development programs: How to identify talent in your workforce” will explore best practices for identifying and nurturing managerial talent, fostering open communication and implementing training strategies that motivate employees to excel. This session will be presented by Elizabeth Gomez from Costa Farms. 

BENEFITS OF SPANISH EDUCATION 

For employers, investing in Spanish-language horticulture education provides multiple advantages. 

Many horticulture businesses have both English- and Spanish-speaking employees. Educating workers in Spanish helps create a more cohesive work environment as they are acquiring English proficiency by narrowing the language gaps. 

Training in an employee’s primary language enhances comprehension, accelerates skill application, and boosts efficiency and performance. This increases productivity and efficiency throughout the operation. 

Offering education in Spanish encourages collaboration between Spanish and English-speaking employees, fostering a more productive culture with stronger team building and workforce integration. 

Providing training in Spanish fosters a sense of belonging, which can lead to higher employee retention. 

From the perspective of Spanish-speaking employees, having access to education in their primary language opens doors to personal and professional advancement. Learning new skills in their native language empowers employees to contribute more effectively, and employees who feel supported in their growth and development are often more engaged and committed to their horticulture career. 

“AmericanHort is excited to bring these programs to the industry,” said Meagan Nace, senior manager of education program development. “Our goal is to equip leaders and managers with practical tools to better support, communicate with and train their Spanish-speaking team members — helping to build stronger, more inclusive and efficient teams.” 

AmericanHort will offer the Spanish courses along with 30 Cultivate education session recordings via the Cultivate’25 On-Demand package. For more information, visit americanhort.org/cultivate/spanished.