PA Green Expo 2008

July 22-24, Harrisburg, Pa.

PA Green Expo’s initiation into the Pennsylvania Nursery Trade Show business began in 2005 in York, Pa. At that time, Gary Schoenly, show promoter, was asked to provide a wholesale trade show venue for landscape and nursery businesses in the state.

The following year, Department of Agriculture Secretary Wolffe invited PA Green Expo to relocate the Nursery & Landscape Wholesale Trade Show to the PA Farm Show Complex & Expo Center.

Today, the PA Department of Ag continues to promote and support PA Green Expo’s efforts to produce a trade show that offers both businesses and visitors a “state-of-the-art experience” in one of the nation’s largest multiuse facilities.

Now entering its fourth year, PA Green Expo continues to successfully grow bringing together some of the best exhibitors, throughout the United States and Canada, to their customers in Pennsylvania and the surrounding mid-Eastern states.

Show Dates and Times

Location: PA Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, Harrisburg, Pa.
Tuesday, July 22  9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wednesday, July 23  9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday, July 24  9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Public Auction  Thursday, July 24   2 p.m.

PA Green Expo offers exhibitors the opportunity to donate for auction live plant materials that are not return shipped to their companies. Some of these trees, plants, flowers and shrubs are absolutely beautiful and auctioned off at very reasonable rates to the general public.

In addition to live materials, other products such as pavers, stone, mulch, chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, and landscape and horticultural supplies are all auctioned off for charity. The proceeds from the auction are donated to a designated annual charity.

In 2006, over $10,000 was raised for the Penn State Arboretum. In 2007, the $11,000 raised was shared by The Future Farmers of America Organization for scholarships towards career development and interests in the nursery and landscape industries and the City of Harrisburg Beautification Project.

Educational Classes

Complimentary educational seminars will be held at the PA Green Expo Trade Show. They will run in conjunction with the trade show and located on the show floor. These seminars will cover topics important to garden centers, landscapers, nurserymen, greenhouse growers and turf professionals. CEUs will be available at qualifying talks.

Speakers

Tim Abby: PSU Cooperative Extension, extension educator in horticulture
Title: “Protecting Pollinators in the Landscape”
Applied for: Pesticide Credits

The European honey bee is our most important pollinator. However, there are other insects, including some native bee species, that deserve our attention. This presentation will discuss the identification and conservation of these wonderful and valuable insects.

Patric Bey: Wachovia Securities LLC
Title: “Financial Issues and Answers for Business Owners”

This presentation will address some important issues facing owners of closely held businesses and ways to protect the business, as well as the owner’s family and key employees that rely on the business. This session will also address what can be done by owners to help themselves and their employees save for retirement and what strategies are available to prepare for the time when an owner may wish to decrease involvement in the business, or even transfer ownership to an employee, partner or family member.

Barry Draycott: Tech-Terra Organics, LLC (Booth # 826)
Title: “How to Use Soil Organic Matter (SOM) to Improve Plant Health”

Suzanne Wainwright-Evans: Bug­lady Consulting, ornamental entomologist
Title: “Scouting Crash Course”
Applied for: Pesticide Credits

Learn tips and tricks on how to find those pesky insects and mites faster, making scouting more efficient. Identification will also be covered.

Kristin Nemeth: The Conard-Pyle Co., new plants coordinator (Booth # 1119)
Title: “New Roses, Woodies and Perennials from The Conrad-Pyle Company”

Ready to learn about the newest rose introduction from the Conard-Pyle Company? Come hear Kristen talk about the new Sunny Knock Out Rose, the first yellow rose of the Knock Out Family. She will also be covering recent wood and perennial introductions.

Jen Batchelder: Hillside Nursery
Brian Kunkel, Ph.D.: University of Delaware, ornamentals IPM extension specialist
Applied for: Pesticide Credits

Cultural management of pest insects is improved by better understanding insect-plant interactions and how they influence pest populations. These interactions will be discussed in relation to efficacy of predators, parasitoids and entomopathogens. Some of the pests covered in the presentation include white grubs, bill bugs, cutworms and armyworms.

Ed Naughton: Senninger Irrigation, N.E. district manager (Booth # 523)
Title: “Nursery Irrigation Design”

Need to add irrigation to your field or container-grown nursery stock business? Need to improve your current system? Come learn about the benefits of uniformity and pressure regulation from an expert.

Jeff Gabric: Becker Underwood
Title: “Beneficial Nematodes-What Can They Do For You?”
Applied for: Pesticide Credits

Everyone is talking about greener pest management these days. Beneficial nematodes can be an excellent starting point. This talk will cover how to use these helpers in turf, landscape, nursery and greenhouse. It will also cover the pests they control.

Curt Ceresini: TMStoves, project manager
Title: “Alternative Fuels Facts & Fiction-Making the Most Heat for Your Buck!”

With the high cost of fuels, many are looking to alternate fuel sources for their businesses. Come learn what the pros and cons are of these new alternatives, as well as the best ways to use them safely.

Exhibitor List