A revisit to the questions asked in a 2001 survey of the horticulture industry will shed some light on the industry’s advancement and future growth potential, says Ken Nentwig of Ridgetown College, who has again undertaken the responsibility of conducting and compiling the survey and its results.

     Nentwig’s team will be at Congress 2002 (January 8-10, Toronto Congress Centre) to administer the three-minute, one-on-one survey, and will have an official presence at the show with a trade show booth.

     Nentwig, with cooperation from Landscape Ontario, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Ridgetown College, University of Guelph, will work with the Farm Safety Association to reach a broader spectrum of the industry and gather a wide range of information on the industry and its members.

     Questions on the survey include: the number of business operations of various types, the gross business activity for each type, comparison of gross revenues to 2000 business activity, the projected estimate of business activity for 2002, geographic distribution, personnel information, and awareness of the Farm Safety Association, its activities and services. All information given in this survey is strictly confidential. Business cards will be collected on-site and will be used only for those participants to receive a mailed copy of the published survey results. Survey participants will be entered into a draw to win valuable prizes.

     Highlights of the 2000 survey were published in the April 2001 issue of Landscape Trades, and is also available through the JJ Neilson Arboretum. For more information, contact Ken Nentwig, Researcher, JJ Neilson Arboretum, Ridgetown College, University of Guelph, Ridgetown, ON N0P 2C0, Tel: 519-674-1628, Fax: 519-674-1600.