I think the government see's folks selling products of the same container name but yet clearly a different size.

Ack I'll rephrase. You certainly have seen containers of different sizes being called a "gallon" haven't you?

Should the feds be involved? No. Can we as nursery owners regulate ourselves? Yes. Do we? No. (None that I know of)

I see no difference in this and buying a "gallon" of milk.

Maybe we should just stop labeling our container sizes and start labeling things like "1st year perennial" or "4th year" shrub.
But then again I'm sure we would soon have to show records of how old that shrub really is.

I see a HUGE difference between this issue and buying a gallon of milk. When you purchase a gallon of milk, you are getting a known quantity of fully homogenized milk. You never worry that perhaps the milk was not homogenized or that it was only "halfway" homogenized. It's a finished product.

When you buy a gallon perennial, you might get a plant that's not fully rooted through the pot. You might get only one eye of a hosta, or you might get ten. Theoretically, a gallon pot should contain a larger, more mature root system than a quart pot, but reality is that the volume of media in a container has almost nothing to do with determining whether or not you've gotten a fair sized, developed plant for your money.

I have to agree with George (oh George, you don't know how hard it is for me to say that as my brother's name is George and we never agreed!) that the container size isn't the driving issue that the feds think it is. I don't care how much info the government says should be on the label describing the container size; I will still tip the container and check the roots before I buy!

V.

Ver
I don't think you get the point and you prove my point at the same time. The feds are talking about the size of the container not the finished product. I donÂt think you example of root development works here. The feds are saying a gallon is a gallon. I'm sure you have seen examples of two different containers of different size both labeled (or decsribed to you) as gallons.

Your example is like buying a "gallon" of milk in a quart jar. A quart of SeagramÂs seven is not the same quality as a quart of VO. But the label must still say quart.

Thanks for inadvertently agreeing with me :)

I just drop the gal. and use #1,#2,#3 ect. container.

Hey, anyone ever worked with a committee as a client? I just completed a job today for a neighborhood association and was appalled by the lack of communication. One woman was supposed to be the liason, but two other women got into the mix today in the middle of the installation. They obviously didn't get all the info I gave to the liason, made some baaaaad assumptions and tried to stick me with a bill for extra materials they purchased on their own (along with insulting my integrity and professionalism). Is there a better way to work with a large group like this so that I don't go insane or walk off the job?

TXJenny, you really should make this a new post, new subject. Then I will have an answer for you.

ilima

LOL!! this is a hoot.

We don't have the problem with milk because there is a set gallon size, quart size, unlike the "gallon" pots that are many sizes depending on who has manufactured the container.

There will always be the crooks that pot up to a bigger size before the plant is ready to get the extra bucks.

I think some of you are missing the point, it all boils down to that the customer and you and I have the right to compare 'apples to apples' and not 'apples to oranges'. Like posted above you need to know you are getting that gallon of milk. It is up to the customer to decide whoÂs gallon of milk they want to buy.

I have been in the thick of all this, as the company I work for sat on the advisory board for this as the laws were cleared up. First thing is, this law has been there for a long time, just not enforced. The second thing is, the growers have created this problem as they all try to cheat the system to lower cost rather than just raise their prices like every other industry. You are to worried about what 'Joe Blow' is doing rather than just growing a good quality crop and getting paid a fair dollar for it. I see it everyday, (I sell grower supplies for a living). I get asked multiple time a day 'How much is Joe Blow selling his points for?' Just grow the best crop you can grow and if you are a good grower your customers will come back.

Back to the issue at hand, as for labeling you products for weights and measures, it is very simple for the wholesale grower meet the requirements. PUT ALL THE INFO NEEDED ON YOU WHOLESALE INVOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and be sure to have on the invoice 'We have provided all the requirements to meet the conditions of the weights and measures, it is the responsibility of the customer to use this information for retail signage properly.'

I could go on and on about this, but I find folks just want to complain more than anything else. And for those of you that are going to call pots #1, #2 ......... you will be the first to be fined when they do get around enforcing this. I will add one last thing, I am sure that the first folks to get fined will not be because of a retail customer complaint, I am sure it will ABC garden center calling the weights and measures on XYZ garden center out of competition. We will do ourselves in, rather than just helping each other.

I don't mean to come across in a negative way, but we need to grow up as an industry and take responsibility and all play by the same rules if we want to survive.

As stated the law has been around since 2000 & it only applies to the retail outlet..... Wholesale dealers are NOT required to obey the law. lets take another look at the law if you are selling a market pack with 4 cells you MUST state that each cell is 0.75 oz (21CC) each 3 oz(84cc) for the pack also name of plant (common or scientific) & a statement that the plant was grown by _____ or FOR ...your companies name, The size of the PLANT is not important onlt the size of the container...... I purchase a PLANT NOT THE CONTAINER & SOIL THEREIN.............

Jbkd:
"I don't mean to come across in a negative way, but we need to grow up as an industry and take responsibility and all play by the same rules if we want to survive."

Although I do agree with your statements I also would think that container manufactures should also take some responsibility in this mater. When we order our #1 container that's what we get. I'm sure with rising oil prices ect. some will start to make the container just a tad bit shorter, smaller, whatever to save on plastic.

Should the rules apply to them also? If I order a one gallon container shouldn't I get it? None of the cell packs and containers I purchased for next year state the weighted size. I would think they should. But I'll look again.

Jbkd:
The second thing is, the growers have created this problem as they all try to cheat the system to lower cost rather than just raise their prices like every other industry.

This doesn't sound like any nursery that I have ever work for, people that do that don't stay in business very long.

I have a small back yard nursery that is doing very well. I grow all of my own plants and use a lot of recycled containers brought to me from homeowners and landscapers. I'm lucky to get five hours sleep a day during the growing season. How am I suppose to label each individual container when I use at least six or seven different size containers just in one gallons alone?

I have yet to have a customer complain about the size of a container. When I shift a plant up to a larger container I always tell the customer that there will be some loose soil in the container and let them decide if they still want the plant.

Check with the Dept. of Ag here in Missouri. So far this has not come to law yet. So until then I won't worry too much about it....

BTW what two state are enforcing this?