Farwest Show calls for 2024 New Varieties Showcase entries

The 2024 Farwest Show is accepting submissions of new plant introductions for the upcoming New Varieties Showcase.

The showcase is an annual highlight at Farwest, the biggest green industry trade show and conference in the West. The show will be held Aug. 21–23, 2024 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. Hip Labels is once again sponsoring the New Varieties Showcase for 2024.

“New breeding and new introductions drive consumer interest, improve garden performance and push the industry forward,” said Allan Niemi, director of events for show producers the Oregon Association of Nurseries. “This trade show feature is a great opportunity for breeders and growers to reach and inspire more than 4,000 passionate retailers, brokers, garden writers, and industry leaders who browse the dazzling exhibit in search of the latest and the greatest new plant introductions.”

The New Varieties Showcase is one of the industry’s most-watched events every year for previewing new plant introductions that will raise the bar in the marketplace. All accepted entries are judged by a jury of industry experts, as well as the 4,000-plus show attendees. The top vote-getters have the chance to win a Judge’s Award or a People’s Choice Award.

For 2024, two tiers of entry are being offered:

• Tier 1 entries will be featured online at www.FarwestShow.com and displayed in the New Varieties Showcase on the floor with Hip Labels plant tag labels. Added-value incentives for Tier 1 entries include a layout in the July issue of Digger magazine ($750 value) and Hip Labels plant tag take-aways for attendees. Each Tier 1 submission costs $250. The registration deadline is April 12.

• Tier 2 entries will be featured online at www.FarwestShow.com and displayed in the New Varieties Showcase on the floor with Hip Labels plant tag labels. Each Tier 2 submission costs $90. The registration deadline is June 28.

To qualify for approved entry, plants must exhibit qualities of greater hardiness, increased bloom time, more vibrant color, improved habit and/or better disease resistance. Entries must be new market introductions for late 2023, 2024 or 2025. Additionally, entries must be available for purchase for the upcoming 2025 season from at least one designated grower or supplier exhibiting at the 2024 Farwest Show.

At the 2023 show, 59 impressive new plant varieties were on display, including annuals, grasses, perennials, shrubs and trees. At that show, Eclipse Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Eclipse’ PP35544, CPBRAF) was voted by Farwest Show attendees as the People’s Choice winner, and Variegated Frydek Elephant Ear (Alocasia micholitziana ‘Frydek Variegata’) was chosen by professional judges as the Best in Show winner.

Click here to view the online form to submit entries.

For questions, contact New Varieties Showcase coordinator Jamie Moore at jmoore@oan.org or 503-582-2010.