President's Letter: Bring on 2025!
Bring on 2025!
2025 is here, whether you are prepared or not, and the 2025 Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE) is just around the corner. The last day for registering at best pricing is Friday, Jan. 3, so hurry up and register! After that prices increase from $25 to $35 for trade show badges.
This year’s TPIE will take place January 22-24 in Ft. Lauderdale. This industry trade show is a great location for vendors and exhibitors from all around and highlights the industry with so much foliage grown in the southern part of Florida. The TPIE Road Show begins Tuesday Jan. 21 and has some interesting stops along the way.
Education programming this year is packed with industry knowledge on topics from pest management to sales and marketing techniques, so be sure to register to attend.
FNGLA worked hard to encourage Congress to produce a hurricane package for businesses who suffered losses this season. Bottom line: we need to have a program in place that helps soon after the storm has passed. Programming should be available to allow growers and other commodities to rebuild and move on with the assurance that agencies are there to help and keep products moving.
The FNGLA Landscape Irrigation Committee has been hard at work. We met in early December to discuss water budgets, assisting the Florida Water Management districts to determine adequate means to conserve and efficiently irrigate. We also discussed the Florida Water StarSM program and the growth it has seen in recent years -- and how FNGLA is assisting in that growth.
Some additional items FNGLA is working on…
- The urge for developers and builders to replace landscapes with unirrigated Bahia grass. This seems to be the tendency for developers and builders to meet the growing water supply demands for restrictions and reductions in allowable irrigable area.
- Local government restrictions removing irrigation from landscapes to conserve.
More to come in upcoming months as the Committee continues to press.
FNGLA Annual Convention is just around the corner, slated for June 19 - 21 at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando. The Rosen Shingle Creek is the Headwaters of the Everglades and was picked because of its truly fitting location. With water use issues near and dear to me and the work I have done over the past several years, I knew it was the right place. This exceptional resort was also selected for its elegance – and many nearby attractions. Please be there to join me in welcoming the new FNGLA Officers and to give FNGLA Chief Operating Officer Linda Adams an awesome farewell into retirement.
Lastly, if you didn’t know, the 9th Annual Chili Cook-off, hosted by the FNGLA Frontrunners and Northeast chapters, is slated for January 18 at Hearthstone Gardens, just west of Lake City in Wellborn, FL. The event will kick off at 2:30 p.m.
Happy New Year and may your 2025 be healthy with blessings and prosperity.
Your FNGLA 2024-25 President,
Phillip Hisey
FNGLA 2024-25 President
