Business
52
e Houseplant Boom
Entices Younger Generations
to Our Industry
By Brenda Silva
W
hen looking at consumer trends in houseplants and
flowering plants, what may appear as a new trend to
some is actually a trend that has been around for
some time, according to others. In speaking to the boom in
houseplant sales, Linda Adams, COO of the Florida Nursery,
Growers & Landscape Association (FNGLA), based in Orlando, Fla.,
points out, "Although it seems the houseplant boom is a recent
trend, it has been in the works for several years."
When it comes to getting younger people involved with plants as
a career, Adams notes that social media—typically the domain of
millennials and those younger—has had a huge impact on plant
interest, making people want to be part of the cool 'plant-people
crowd,' not only as consumers but also as workers in the
horticulture industry—in which Adams asserts there are
broad opportunities available.
"FNGLA has a newly established apprenticeship program in
which we match apprentices with employers," Adams informs.
"FNGLA has always offered scholarships for people who wish to
study horticulture, not only at the university level but also at trade
schools." ( fngla.org/professional-development/apprenticeship)
In addition, Adams cites FNGLA's horticulture professional
certification programs, which are available at the high-school
level as part of Florida's Department of Education's emphasis on
career training in conjunction with business industries. ( fngla.org/
professional-development/certifications)
"We also work on a state and national level with the National FFA
Organization (Future Farmers of America) to keep horticulture
front and center with students who have an interest in agriculture,"
Adams continues. (Check out ffa.org/participate/cdes/floriculture.)
"We are now working with Future Builders of America, a program of
the Home Builders Institute, to promote the landscape contracting
side of construction as a career for students interested in building
and contracting. FNGLA is always happy to see mutual industry
entities working together to promote horticulture as a career, such
as Seed Your Future (seedyourfuture.org/careers). ey offer terrific
promotional materials that organizations like the FNGLA can help
disseminate to our unique audiences."
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September | 2021