In just a couple of months, the California Spring Trials will be held again, from March 28 - April 1. Breeders will present their newest varieties and are currently doing their utmost best to have them flowering on time. This year, there again will be some changes. We already heard that Proven Winners will not participate at the CAST this year and that Grolink will not be a host location anymore, resulting in 11 companies finding a new site.
So, what to expect from this year's edition? Below, we listed important points one has to take into account when touring the west coast of the USA and the main differences compared to last year.
Like last year, most locations are open 8 am - 5 pm, but if you are interested in visiting any of the locations, it is recommended (and sometimes required) that you make a reservation.
So, let's take a closer look to the changes for 2020 so far:
- Seaside Gardens in Carpinteria is a new CAST site and will host signature exhibitors Suntory, PlantHaven International, Vivero Internacional. Platinum rooting stations exhibitors at this location will be: Aris Green Leaf Plants, Skagit Horticulture, Pacific Plug and Liner, and Heritage Greenhouse Products. Premium program exhibitors at this site will be: Southern Living Program and Sunset Program.
- Just like Suntory and Vivero, other companies that exhibited their products at Grolink last year, also found a new site. ABZ Seeds will join Beekenkamp and Monrovia at Floricultura. Schoneveld will join Westhoff/PAC and packaging supplier TO Plastics and new supplier One Floral at Green Fuse Botanicals in Santa Paula. Growing media company Berger will be at Pacific Plug & Liner in Watsonville and the new merger HilverdaFlorist will be at Takii in Salinas.
- Varinova will no longer be at Danziger in Gilroy as Syngenta acquired them last year, so their cyclamen will be at their location, also in the town Gilroy.
- Last but not least, Dümmen Orange will present their products not at the winery anymore, but at a nearby location (near Pismo) at the beach.
The California Spring Trials is a week-long event, held at 14 locations throughout California (Click here to see the entire list of locations) It is a launching ground for some of the newest plant varieties, signage and packaging products, and merchandising programs and concepts. In addition, many locations include PGR experiments, outdoor trialing, and technical information and help.
Never been to the CAST? Here is an impression; our photo report of 2019.
Is your company also participating in the California Spring Trials and would you like to put one of your products in the spotlight? Feel free to send us an email.
There is no fee to participate, but the trials are not open to the general public (only for businesses and their employees associated with the horticulture industry) and transportation and logistics are the responsibility of the attendee.