UNITED THEY
STAND
Loxahatchee area growers have joined forces to promote their products
Purpose
The main purpose of the Loxahatchee Area Nurserymens Association (LANA), which was
chartered in March 1994, was for local nurserymen to establish relationships with each
other and the joint marketing of heir products. Since then, it has become a strong network
of growers and allieds who support each other and their area.
The Founding
A group of about five or six growers would meet and have lunch once a week and discuss
problems and try to get to know each other better. After six months of meeting, founding
father Mark Catron of Southern Landscape and Nursery decided to set up a charter with a
few of the other growers managing to get 18 charter members. In the first year, LANA went
from 18 original members to 33. Today, membership is comprised of 32 growers and 26
allieds.
Member Profiles
The majority of the members are between 5 and 10 acres, with the biggest at 25. There are
also several mom-and-pop operations. Between them, they encompass just over 200 growing
acres and manage to grow a good array of plant material, such as interior and exterior
foliage, annuals, flowering tropical foliage, containerized landscape material, trees and
citrus. (See Buyers Guide)
Here have been Allied members since the
beginning. Allieds bring a lot of product knowledge to LANA and are appreciated. Members
credit the association with allowing the smaller growers to get better service from the
Allieds. Allieds include electricians, irrigation people, insurance companies and
carpenters. They all help the association to prosper.
Competition Increases Quality
Members credit LANA with creating a great feeling of camaraderie among its members. The
small independent businessman gets lonely sometimes. Its frustrating because you are not
sure if you are doing things right. Then comes the question of is this just my problem or
does everyone else have this feeling too. When you come together with a group to discuss
your problems you feel better. They might not be immediately resolved, but at least there
is comfort in knowing that others have similar problems.
Lana has created a bit more competition
among the members. the quality of the plants has improved. With more growers connecting
has come the capability to share information about chemicals, soil and fertilizers. The
competition is good for the growers as well as being a better thing for the end-product
user because better plants are coming out of the area. Involvement has grown and that has
kept the professional standards and quality of the plants up.
Association Marketing
One of the reasons for LANA's founding was to offer marketing efforts for its members and
to draw attention to the area. A single-entity climate used to exist in the area prior to
LANA. If a grower couldn't fill an order, he couldn't fill it. The association has changed
that in just three years as members oftentimes trade material.
the association actively participates
in advertising ventures - magazines, locators and trade shows. Because of LANA,
advertising is now affordable, especially for the little nurseries. Everybody chips in,
like a co-op.
Association Activities
LANA is an active organization- it has business meetings four times a year, nursery
tours, picnics, safety classes for protection standards, chemicals and employee training,
banquets, two fishing tournaments and softball tournaments against the FNGA and PBWGA.
Membership Requirements
Growers must be state certified and live within the 10- to 15- square mile radius that
encompasses the Loxahatchee area of palm Beach County and includes Royal Palm Beach and
Wellington. Dues are $150 for growers and $100 for Allieds.
From the article that
appeared in Ornamental Outlook and LANA's 1999 Directory and Locator, January 1999 |
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