Page 6 - Griffin Expo Invite 2024
P. 6
KEYNOTE
SPEAKER
Dr. Charles R. (Charlie) Hall
Professor & Ellison Chair in International Floriculture
Texas A&M University
NAVIGATING THE EVOLVING LANDSCAPE OF HORTICULTURE
Trends for Growers, Retailers, and Manufacturers
Are the good times really over? Merle Haggard popularized a song by this title in 1981, at a time
when interest rates were reaching their peak at 21%. Fast forward 43 years and folks are starting to
ask me the very same question today. With fears of economic stagnation on everyone’s mind, it’s
important to remember that this is not the first time that Americans have taken a hard look at our
country and wondered whether our best days were behind us (and it won’t be the last time either).
In this presentation, Charlie will address the main drivers of our current green industry situation, how
our economy has been as resilient as it has, why in spite of increased wages and economic growth
consumers still perceive the opposite, and what has to happen for folks to feel like times are good
again. Finally, what does all of this mean for the future green industry sales?
