Jen Calhoun

Greenhouse Management: As someone working for a breeder who will be showcasing new varieties at CAST, is it significant that the event is moving back to spring after being in the summer last year?

Jen Calhoun: I think it is important to have it in the spring. Moving back is very welcome to us. I don’t know if it’s critical. Early [spring trials] — and this year is an earlier trial date — are hard because it’s hard to get everything in bloom at that time. But that’s the grower’s challenge, too, so it’s good for the growers if some varieties can finish early because that’s what they need. Having it in the summer, in my opinion, was past the time when a grower would normally grow plants for their market. Their selling time is over. I understand that was the point, to have it when people aren’t so busy. But I don’t think it yielded as much useful information. People got out what they could from it. But I think they were missing out on a lot of information.

GM: What are you most excited to showcase at CAST this year?

JC: One thing is our BeGreen seeds. It’s a seed coating process and its free of chemicals and microplastics. It’s very ecologically friendly. It also improves the germination; it improves the percentage of germination as well as the speed of it. You can have a fuller tray that germinates faster and goes to market faster. It’s a win-win for everyone. Not all our seeds are available in that yet, but we are working towards that.

GM: Is there a part of the event being back in its “normal” that you are most excited about?

JC: Yes — seeing everybody. It was great to see the people that came last year, but we spread it out over the whole summer. We had people coming the whole time and mostly during the trial time. But we did have people come all season. So, it split everything up. I really love having everyone come and the big buses of people and the carloads of folks and talking to everyone and understanding what growing challenges they’ve had for the year. That’s going to be exciting to see everybody and just be back. ... It all definitely seems more normal.