August 21, 2015
CapitalPress.com
3
Farwest Show brings buyers from around world
By ZANE SPARLING
Capital Press
PORTLAND — Oregon’s
second-most valuable agricultur-
al product isn’t cherries, raspber-
ries or hazelnuts.
It is horticulture, which in-
cludes everything from sculpted
shrubs to ornamental flowers.
Horticulture will be the star of the
Oregon Nursery Association’s
2015 Farwest Trade Show.
Growers, suppliers, land-
scapers and wholesalers rep-
resenting Oregon’s $830
million commercial nursery
industry will gather for the
three-day show at the Oregon
Convention Center in Portland.
The show begins on Thursday,
Aug. 27.
Tom Kegley, the marketing
consultant for the trade show,
said that after years of delayed
plantings and stretched invento-
ries, growers have regained their
confidence in the decorative
landscaping market.
“Coming out of the reces-
sion, attendance is going back in
a positive direction, and not just
attendees, but booths,” Kegley
said. “People are really, truly
optimistic.”
Kegley said that positive out-
look is tied to the recovery of the
housing market, which slumped
after the housing bubble burst in
2008.
“Housing is what runs this
entire industry, that’s what I
think,” Kegley said. “And as
housing goes, so goes the nurs-
ery industry.”
Last year, almost 400 exhib-
itors were at the show, attracting
more than 5,500 attendees from
45 states and 11 countries, ac-
cording to the 2014 Post-Show
Report. Nearly 75 percent of
nursery plants grown in Oregon
are sold across the country.
This year’s trade show in-
cludes an expanded exhibitor
list, as well as seminars, educa-
tional classes and guest speak-
ers.
Ron Rosenberg, a marketing
and customer service guru, will
give the keynote address, “Must
be Present to Win: The Secret
to Finding the Opportunities in
Business and Life that Other
People Miss!”
Allan Niemi, who coordi-
nates events and education for
the Oregon Association of Nurs-
eries, praised Rosenberg in a
press release for his message of
“opportunity and action.”
“The industry is on the
rebound from the recession.
Rosenberg’s keynote address
will accelerate its momentum
and unleash the power of its po-
tential,” Niemi said.
The run-up to the trade show
is filled with ag-related events.
From Aug. 24 to 27, the Oregon
Convention Center will host the
2015 International Trials Con-
ference, which brings a multina-
tional group of experts in plant
breeding together to discuss
methodology and standardiza-
tion of trial testing for annual,
perennial and woody plants.
Farwest will also feature
its annual pub crawl, as well
as other networking events
for women and young profes-
sionals in horticulture. Kegley,
the marketing consultant, said
Equipment Innovation Day, a
favorite of attendees, will return
on Tuesday, Aug. 25. This year,
they will travel to GK Machine
Inc. in Donald, Ore., for product
demonstrations and a look at au-
tomation in farming.
The New Varieties Show-
case, another feature of the
Farwest Show, focuses on im-
provements to plants’ form,
function and color. While some
attendees find the bright colors
of flowering perennials most at-
tractive, Kegley said it was the
subdued trees that caught his
eye at the showcase.
“We sometimes take those
evergreen plants for granted
— they’re kind of thought of
as work horses,” Kegley said.
“Some of those interesting char-
treuse colors and miniatures … I
find very interesting.”
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