Three-day California Spring Trials tour announced

Floriculturists Mark Bridgen and Neil Mattson of Cornell University, and Roberto Lopez of Purdue University, announced that they will again organize a tour of several of the main stops of the 2013 California Spring Trials. Having successfully organized this trip twice before, the guided excursion allows attendees to attend the trials without having to plan their own stops, hotels and transportation.

The itinerary begins on Friday, April 5, with attendees staying at a designated hotel near the San Jose Airport. The tour then begins on Saturday and continues until the end of Monday near Los Angeles. The hotel for Monday night is included in the package, and participants will arrange their own flights to return home on Tuesday. The tour is not finalized, but the tentative itinerary is as follows:

Saturday, April 6: Syngenta Flowers, Garlic World, Speedling Inc., Golden State Bulb Growers, Sakata
Sunday, April 7: Dümmen USA, Ball Horticultural Co., commercial production greenhouse
Sunday, April 8: Skagit Gardens, GroLink Plant Co., Fides-Oro (including Ecke Ranch)

The cost has not been finalized yet, but it’ll be approximately $550 per person, and will include hotels, bus travel, lunches and some breakfasts. Attendees will need to arrange their own transportation to and from California, but a travel agency is available to assist with the reservations. 

All greenhouse growers, floriculture professionals and academics are invited to attend. If you are interested in joining the tour group, or have questions, contact Mark Bridgen at mpb27@cornell.edu, or at (631) 727-3595.

To learn more about the California Spring Trials, visit www.ofa.org/springtrials.