There is only so much on-the-job training a greenhouse grower can have, but an MSU program provides the informational aspect that is also needed.
The Floriculture College of Knowledge Greenhouse Grower Career Development Certificate Program kicked off its third year at the Lansing Center, 333 E. Michigan Ave., on Wednesday.
The program is the only certified program of its kind in the nation.
Program coordinator Sandy Allen said the program benefits not only greenhouse employees, but employers also.
“This program is for anyone, no matter what their educational background is,” she said. “This is for people who want to learn more about greenhouse growing.”
Twelve courses, which are taught by MSU faculty and members of MSU Extension programs, are offered for three types of greenhouse employees - beginning students, intermediate students and those ready to be certified.
The program is held twice a year, in November and January. In January, the first graduates will be certified by Western Michigan Greenhouse Association and Metropolitan Detroit Flower Grower’s Association.
William Carlson, a professor of horticulture, said the Floriculture College of Knowledge gives employees the technical skills to further their careers, and it’s only a couple of days a week each year.
He said 40 students will graduate from the English-speaking program and 25 from the Spanish-speaking program this year. Participants come from many places across the nation including Oklahoma and South Carolina.
Debbie Mullinax, of York, S.C., is in the third track of courses and said she’s interested in coming back if more courses are developed.
“These courses have been very helpful,” the Stacy’s Inc. employee said. “We’re picking up a lot of good information that you can’t get from on-the-job training. I would highly recommend it to anyone in the business.”
Matt Early, a Grand Rapids resident, is participating in his first session of the courses and said it’s already paying off.
Early, a graduate of Grand Valley State University, works for West Michigan Integrated Pest Management, Inc. He said his boss suggested he take the courses.
“At the Greenhouse Disease Management sessions this morning, I saw some of the same diseases that I’ve seen while scouting greenhouses,” he said. “Now I can give some feedback to those greenhouse growers.”
Besides helping to further educate participants, the program also helps build up the industry and the university, Carlson said.
“When I came here in 1966, the industry was worth $6 million, and now it’s more than $350 million,” Carlson said.
He added the program is an outreach for the university, and the support from the greenhouse agencies is needed to keep the program running.
“Without the support, we’d be selling hot dogs at a football game,” Carlson said.
