January 2023 - 4

FROM THE EDITOR
BEING THE CONSUMER
Have you ever wandered through a garden center looking for plants
that will look great in your space and put a smile on your face? Then,
when you find options, the labeling is sparse and you're not sure it's the
right choice or if you can keep it alive?
As a consumer, I've had this experience more than once when
shopping for plants to put in my full sun, very hot Florida gardens.
Despite knowing a lot about plant care, labeling and tags are important
to me when making buying decisions. Chances are if the plant doesn't
come with growing and care tips, I will pass on purchasing it for a
product that does.
According to the National Gardening Association's plant trends
survey, American gardeners spend around $50 billion on lawn and
garden goods, so make sure your initial point of engagement with
consumers (i.e., plant tags) is getting them to spend on your products.
Check out page 34 for more details on drawing purchasers in with
labels and signage.
2023 GPN/PROSPIANT INTERN OF THE YEAR
Internships provide valuable opportunities for students to learn
through real-world experiences and build relationships within the
horticulture industry.
GPN and Prospiant have been recognizing outstanding college
students in horticulture every fall for the past 23 years, and we are
pleased to announce number 24!
Seth Benjamin, a student at Michigan State University, grew up listening
to his family's farm history from his father (sixth-generation owner), who
can trace their family farming heritage back to arriving in Boston in 1632.
While Seth doesn't plan to take over the farm, he will continue his work
with plants through horticulture, making his internship at Mast Young
Plants an important step along the way in his career.
Learn all about Seth on page 30.
NEW YEAR, NEW BOOK
You'll likely notice that GPN has gotten an exciting new look. We heard
your feedback for a more reader-friendly sized magazine and wanted
to deliver. You'll also find a return of GPN's award-winning Chat Room
(on page 66), where you can get to know your peers. A new Product
Marketplace (on page 58) will make it easier for you
to research the products you need for your operation.
I'd love to hear your feedback. Share
your thoughts with me at hmachovina@
greatamericanpublish.com.
EDITORIAL
MANAGING EDITOR | Heather Machovina
hmachovina@greatamericanpublish.com * 616.520.2171
RETAIL EDITOR | Teresa McPherson
tmcpherson@greatamericanpublish.com * 616.520.2163
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR | Abby McGarry
amcgarry@greatamericanpublish.com * 616.520.2161
ADVERTISING SALES
NATIONAL SALES MANAGER | Kimberly Sammartino
ksammartino@greatamericanpublish.com * 616.520.2173
GROUP PUBLISHER | Tiffany O'Kelley
tokelley@greatamericanpublish.com * 616.520.2172
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER | Kim Meyers
kmeyers@greatamericanpublish.com * 616.520.2137
PRODUCTION
SENIOR CLIENT SUCCESS REPRESENTATIVE | Jolan Godfrey
jgodfrey@greatamericanpublish.com * 616.520.2148
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR | Amanda Mackey
amackey@greatamericanpublish.com * 616.520.2157
CREATIVE DIRECTOR | Allison McKenzie
amckenzie@greatamericanpublish.com * 616.520.2142
CIRCULATION/SUBSCRIPTIONS
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT | Becky Stovall
bstovall@greatamericanpublish.com * 616.520.2138
CORPORATE
CFO & DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES | Deb Carnes
dcarnes@greatamericanpublish.com * 616.520.2169
COO & CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER | Kim Baker
kbaker@greatamericanpublish.com * 616.520.2135
CEO | Matt McCallum, mmccallum@greatamericanpublish.com
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
DIANE BLAZEK NATIONAL GARDEN BUREAU
JIM DEVEREUX GREEN FUSE BOTANICALS
PAUL FISHER UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
JUSTIN HANCOCK COSTA FARMS
LELA KELLY DOSATRON
ANNE LEVENTRY PANAMERICAN SEED
DANNY TAKAO TAKAO NURSERY
BRIAN WEESIES MAST YOUNG PLANTS
GREAT AMERICAN MEDIA SERVICES INC.
P.O. Box 128, Sparta, Michigan 49345
Phone: 616.887.9008 | Email: frontdesk@greatamericanpublish.com
Greenhouse Product News is a publication of
a division of Great American Publishing
The opinions and views expressed by authors, contributors and advertisers in Greenhouse
Product News do not necessarily reflect those of the editors and publisher. Appearance
in Greenhouse Product News does not constitute endorsement by Great American Media
Services or Greenhouse Product News of the advertiser, its products, or services. Great
American Media Services and Greenhouse Product News accept no responsibility of
liability for the validity or accuracy of information supplied by contributors, vendors,
advertisers, or advertising agencies. Great American Media Services and Greenhouse
Product News do not make any claims or guarantees as to the accuracy or validity of
information supplied by contributors, vendors, advertisers or advertising agencies.
616.520.2171
hmachovina@greatamericanpublish.com
BE SURE TO CHECK US OUT ON SOCIAL!
4 JANUARY 2023 GPNMAG.COM
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
GPN (ISSN 1529-5524) is published monthly except Nov/Dec
(Jan,Feb,Mar,Apr,May,June,July,Aug,Sept,Oct,Nov/Dec) by Great American Media
Services., 75 Applewood Dr., Suite A, Sparta, Michigan 49345. Subscription rates
in the U.S. are $10 per year (Canada is $40 and all other countries are $95 payable
in U.S. currency). Reproduction of contents forbidden. Copyright 2023. Periodicals
postage paid at Sparta, MI and additional mailing offices.
Print in the USA. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Great American
Publishing, PO Box 318, Lincolnshire IL 60069.
http://www.GPNMAG.COM
January 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2023
