Specialty cut flower growers from across the country will head to the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States Oct. 19-22 for the 2014 national conference and tradeshow of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers in Newark, DE. The theme of the show is Growing Growers, according to a news release.

“When you go to a conference, everyone is so excited and willing to share - it’s a really fun group to be with,” said Frank Arnosky, president of ASCFG. “Everybody I’ve ever met from the association has been completely open and willing to share their knowledge and that sets this group apart.”

Arnosky told The Produce News that the ASCFG is a grassroots organization and the growers themselves put a lot of energy into the association. The group came about in order to find and disseminate growing information about specialty cut flowers because the floral market focused on roses, carnations and mums and everyone forgot how to grow sweet peas, zinnias and delphiniums.

During the Growers’ School, which has already reached its full capacity of 120 attendees, sessions Oct. 19 will cover record keeping, business planning, equipment and supplies, what to grow and why, and harvest and postharvest practices.

Judy Laushman, executive director at ASCFG, told The Produce News that the Growers’ School has always been popular. Its original incarnation was limited to 50 attendees, but as demand has grown over the years, so has the size of the program.

“The intent of the original program was to keep it small and intimate, so that new growers would feel comfortable asking beginner questions, and for easier communication within the group,” Laushman  said.

Educational topics at the conference Oct. 20 and 21 will include successful wholesaling, greenhouse management, designing and weddings, and hiring and managing crew,. At the evening banquet and live auction on Oct. 21, Kasey Cronquist, chief executive officer at the California Cut Flower Commission, with present the “American Grown Update.”

For the tour on Oct. 22, attendees will travel to Delaware Valley Wholesale Florist in Sewell, NJ, in operation since 1959 and one of the larger floral wholesalers in the country. There will be a visit to Love ‘N Fresh Flowers in Philadelphia, one of the few flower farms in the nation located within a large city’s limits. It uses organic growing practices. Next up is a stop at Terrain at Styers, a trendsetting garden and lifestyle store in Glen Mills, PA, and the final destination will be Longwood Gardens, a renowned public garden and a leader in horticulture education in Kennett Square, PA, according to the conference brochure.

“We are still receiving and accepting registrations for the Oct. 20 and 21 sessions, and also the tour on Oct. 22,” said Laushman. “The location of the meeting in the Mid-Atlantic affords easy access to a dense population and I think we’ll top 300 attendees this year.”

For more information go to www.ascfg.org.