A note from Chris Hagedorn

A lot has changed in the months since last fall’s State of Lighting report. As I write this, 61% of U.S. adults have received at least one vaccine dose for COVID-19, according to the CDC. I’m in awe of the scientists and researchers who worked tirelessly to develop a novel vaccine in less time than “coronavirus” had been a household name.

But in some ways, things aren’t all that different from last November. Countries like India are still in the throes of this global pandemic. Here at home, we’re grappling with imagining a post-pandemic world. It’s a reminder the fight isn’t over.

It’s also why I’m so proud to be part of this ferocious industry. Through it all, cultivators persevered, navigating lockdowns, case spikes and ever-changing working conditions to continually deliver the fresh food, beautiful plants and a sense of normalcy the world needed most.

At the same time, scrutiny on carbon emissions grows louder and our commitment to supporting you has never felt more critical. We are answering the call with powerfully efficient innovations, backed by data, research and support. And it’s not just about LED. Although this year’s report shows adoption continues to soar.

We believe that to truly serve cultivators, we must evolve for all the ways you grow. At Gavita, we continue to optimize HPS to propel yields with less environmental impact. As a company, we’re driven by our responsibility to help cultivators feed the world’s needs today, while prioritizing sustainability for a brighter tomorrow.

That means designing fixtures that reduce electric draw from day 1 and pay for themselves in energy savings well within their warranty period. It also means forging partnerships with energy rebate experts like Seinergy to help growers offset the cost of LED adoption. Regulations, grant applications and utility approvals are time-consuming and confusing. Our exclusive partnership provides analysts to manage the process for you. These are only the first in our many efforts to be the best partners to you.

As I look back on the past few months, I am inspired by the tenacity our industry has shown. I’m also not surprised. But I am excited to see where — together — we go next.

Chris Hagedorn, General Manager, Hawthorne Gardening Company

Learn more about Hawthorne Gardening Company and

how you can get a free lighting layout at hawthorne-gardening.com.