May 10, 2016

AmericanHort Production Tour Planned for New Jersey

AmericanHort will host a tour this fall of growing facilities in Southern New Jersey. The Field & Covered Production Tour, Sept. 14-15, will provide growers the opportunity to see new techniques, industry trends, best practices, and make industry connections.

Tour stops include Overdevest Nurseries, Centerton Nursery, and Lucas Greenhouses. Lucas Greenhouses is one of eight pilot sites for SANC (Systems Approach to Nursery Certification), so growers will have the opportunity to learn more about this harmonized, risk-based systems approach to nursery and greenhouse certification; what it means for the industry; and how to implement it in their operation.

Overdevest Nurseries, Bridgeton, New Jersey, is a wholesale grower that sells to independent garden centers and distributors within a 300-mile radius. Overdevest Nurseries grow more than 1,400 varieties of shrubs, trees, vines, and perennials on 210 acres, while container production involves more than 2.7 million square feet of covered growing space.

Centerton Nursery, Bridgeton, New Jersey, is a family-owned operation that produces nearly 1,000 types of container-grown hardy garden plants, including perennials, shrubs, vegetables, and herbs. Centerton Nursery sells exclusively to independent garden centers, franchises, farm and roadside markets, landscape contractors, and florists.

Lucas Greenhouses, Monroeville, New Jersey, known for its plant quality and customer service, sells to garden centers and landscapers. More than 1-million square feet of indoor growing facilities combine with more than 30 acres of outdoor production space to house Lucas Greenhouses’ full line of annuals, mums, and poinsettias.

Information about the event, tour locations, and registration is available on the AmericanHort website.