Spring: A Record-Breaking … 6.9?

Chris Beytes

That’s this spring’s final score, according to the Fourth Annual GrowerTalks/Acres Online Weekend Sales Survey, which I conducted from March 1 through June 23, tabulating your scores of 1 to 10 across the U.S. and Canada.

Sounds mediocre, doesn’t it? On a scale of 1 to 100, that would be 69. In school, a D+ or, if the teacher is kind, a C-. Nothing to write home about, that’s for sure. And some extra homework is in order.

Canada was even worse, at 6.6. Too much hockey and beer up there, guys and gals. Time to buckle down!

I jest, of course, because by all accounts, many of you had record-breaking seasons, or at least many record-breaking weekends or individual sales days. Especially north of the border.

The records started with the first scores of May, when in Acres Online (where I report the weekly results), I wrote, “Was May 2-3 the best weekend ever in the history of American floriculture? Who can say? But I can say this: it was the best weekend in the four-year history of the GrowerTalks/Acres Online Weekend Sales Survey. I recorded 153 scores, of which 79 (52%) were perfect 10s. Seven states with multiple responses scored perfect 10s. Based on that, the U.S. scored a survey record 9.1.

Then came Mother’s Day. You called it “killer,” “manic,” “brilliant,” “marvellous,” “robust,” “stellar” and “the craziest I can remember.” Exactly how good was it? Out of 176 scores, 102 (58%) were perfect 10s. Nine states scored perfect 10s. Nineteen states scored nothing but 9 or better. Killer is right!

The weekend of May 16-17 wasn’t quite as strong—after all, it was the weekend after a major holiday—but it WAS a major three-day holiday weekend in Canada, which really came alive after a good showing the weekend before. Ontario as a province scored 9.8 with nothing but 9s, 9.5s and 10s. British Columbia also scored 9.8, with three 10s and a 9. One Canadian wrote, “Definitely a 10 [or] even a 12 [in Ontario]. We had the best long weekend ever.”

The next weekend was Memorial Day and many of you continued setting records.

“A great May capped off by another great weekend.
Perfect weather in all markets on Friday/Saturday/Sunday and only some spotty rain in some markets on Monday in our Midwest areas. This is beginning to feel like the ONE on the East Coast, especially the more north you go.”

“Yet another 10! Perfect weather here in northeast Ohio. Sun plus 70F weather made for a very, very busy weekend!”

“Record-setting sounds so inadequate. Busiest we have had in 33 years.”

Canada remained strong, too. Ontario and British Columbia both averaged 9.3—really great considering their previous holiday three-day weekend scores of 9.8 each.

“Saturday morning the ground was white with a heavy frost. By midmorning, the greenhouse was jammed. Our best day for sales for this year so far.”

“Calling this weekend a record! I’m giving it a 32 ... because we are up 32% over our previous best year to date … and it’s looking like this week is going to be just as busy! Bring it on, baby!!!!!”

So with all the records and exclamation points, what’s with the 6.9 and 6.6 scores? Well, that’s my fault. My rating system weighs March, April, May and June equally, even though we all know the money gets made in a few peak weeks. March and April were terrible most everywhere and the season petered out in June across much of the country.

Thankfully, those few stellar weekends in May were enough for many of you to have a great spring. In fact, when I asked you in late June to rate the entire season on a scale of 1 to 10, the results averaged out to 7.7 in the U.S. and 8.9 in Canada—well above the “real” number. In fact, 11 of you (five in Canada) rate the season a full 10!

But in the end, who cares? The only number that matters has a “$” at the front. GT