Sale Of Plants Research Articles

Invasive Plant Species: Results of a Consumer Awareness, Knowledge, and Expectations Survey Conducted in Pennsylvania

Abstract Consumers were surveyed at the 2004 Philadelphia Flower Show in Philadelphia, PA, from March 8–10, to quantify their attitudes and behaviors towards invasive plant species and potential problems associated with purchasing and planting them. A majority of the 341 participants (81.5%) was aware that non-native plants were used in the landscape and that these plants may be invasive in natural areas. Less than half (40.1%) acknowledged owning plants considered invasive while one third (33.5%) did not know if these plants were growing in their landscapes. Less than half (41.3%) believed that laws should be passed to prevent the sale of non-native plants while 27.8% believed that laws should be passed to allow sale of only native plants in their area. Three distinct consumer segments were identified using Cluster Analysis: ‘Invasive savvy,’ participants knowledgeable about invasives and interested in alternative species; ‘Invasive neutral,’ participants neutral in their decision to purchase alternatives to invasive plants and price sensitive about paying more for plants tested for invasiveness; and ‘Invasive inactive,’ participants were not price sensitive to paying more for plants tested for invasiveness, however, they appeared to oppose the purchase of plants previously listed as invasive which would be available as seedless through breeding and natural selection or other forms of genetic modification. Survey results indicated that media sources (e.g., television and print media) would be effective for educating consumers about potential problems associated with invasive species in the landscape.

The Market for Medicinal Plants in Sapa and Hanoi, Vietnam

This article describes the market for medicinal plants sold in the Vietnamese town of Sapa as well as in nine different markets in the Vietnamese capital city, Hanoi. A total of 44 medicinal plants were identified botanically, 27 of which are on sale in Sapa and 28 in Hanoi. Most buyers of medicinal plants in Sapa are members of the Vietnamese middle classes who go to Sapa on holidays. Medicinal plants are gathered or cultivated predominantly by members of ethnic minority groups (Hmong and Dao) who live in small hamlets, some located several hours from the town of Sapa. Sapa is one of the poorest districts in Vietnam with a GDP per household of only U.S. $322 in 2005, so the cash that people are able to earn from the sale of medicinal plants is very important. The article argues that the social roles of the weekend market in Sapa are equally important, as the market helps ethnic minorities to fulfil their needs for a social life beyond the village.

Invasive Plant Species: Consumer Awareness, Knowledge, and Expectations

Consumers were surveyed at the 2004 Philadelphia Flower Show in Philadelphia, Pa. from 8–10 Mar., to quantify their attitudes and behaviors towards invasive plant species and the potential problems associated with purchasing and planting invasives in the landscape. A majority of the 341 participants (81.5%) was aware that non-native exotic plants were used in the landscape and that these plants may be invasive in natural areas. Less than half (40.1%) acknowledged owning plants that were considered invasive, while one-third (33.5%) did not know. Less than half (41.3%) believed that laws should be passed to prevent sale of non-native exotic plants, while 27.8% believed that laws should be passed to allow sale of only native plants in their area. Three distinct consumer segments were identified using cluster analysis: “Invasive savvy,” participants knowledgeable about invasives and interested in alternative species; “Invasive neutral,” participants neutral in their decision to purchasing alternatives to invasive plants and price sensitive in regard to paying more for plants tested for invasiveness; and “Invasive inactive,” participants opposed to purchasing genetically modified plants or those bred to be seedless. Survey results indicated that media sources (e.g., television and newspapers/magazines/books) would be effective for educating consumers about potential problems associated with invasive species in the landscape.

SUSTAINING THE HARVEST: CHALLENGES IN MAP PRODUCTION AND MARKETS

SUSTAINING THE HARVEST: CHALLENGES IN MAP PRODUCTION AND MARKETS

ANÁLISE CONTRATUAL SOB A ÓTICA DA ECONOMIA DOS CUSTOS DE TRANSAÇÃO: A RELAÇÃO ENTRE UMA COOPERATIVA HORTÍCOLA E UMA REDE DE SUPERMERCADOS NO ESTADO DE PERNAMBUCO

RESUMO Este artigo analisou o tipo de acordo contratual existente entre a Cooperativa dos Horticultores de Pernambuco (Horticope), localizada na Central de Abastecimento Geral de Pernambuco (Ceagepe), e seu único cliente, a rede de supermercados Bompreço. Os fundamentos teóricos deste estudo foram os conceitos básicos da economia dos custos de transação (ECT) para estudo de contratos. Descreveram-se as táticas da empresa para assegurar a venda de hortaliças e plantas medicinais para um cliente considerado top de linha.

Movement of invasive aquatic plants into Minnesota (USA) through horticultural trade

The extent to which invasive aquatic plants move via accidental inclusion in aquatic plant orders or sale of prohibited species is unknown. Forty orders were placed to 34 aquatic plant vendors across the US between May and September 2001 to determine the prevalence of movement into Minnesota via horticultural trade. Federal noxious weeds or Minnesota prohibited exotic species were acquired 92% of the time they were ordered and included Alternanthera sessilis, Butomus umbellata, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, Potamogeton crispus, and Lythrum salicaria. Ninety three percent of orders received from aquatic plant vendors contained a plant or animal species not specifically requested; 10% of these purchases contained federal noxious weeds or Minnesota exotic species. Lemna minor was the most common incidental receipt found per taxa and per purchase, although Hydrilla verticillata, Lythrum salicaria, Salvinia molesta, and Potamogeton crispus (all prohibited taxa) were also found. Misidentified plants were found in 18% of the orders; unordered seeds in 43%. The sale and transport of prohibited aquatic plants likely presents the greatest risk associated with the aquatic plant trade. Other important factors include misidentification leading to the unintentional sale of invasive plants and the incidental inclusion of species during translocation.

A Web-Based System for Real-Time Decision Making at Qatar Petroleum

Abstract A Web-based real-time decision support system, connecting nine plants to a central information server, was implemented at a large oil and gas facility information centre in the Middle East. The case study presented shows how a real-time decision support system improved profitability. The implementation included a full well accounting package, allowing operators, engineers, petroleum engineers, and accountants to direct production and well properties, access test separator results, and reconcile production with the individual well settings. Qatar Petroleum chose Matrikon's ProcessNet as their Web-based decision support system, as it allowed them to retain their existing and proven business processes while enabling these processes through open connectivity, accessibility, and easy usability. By sharing and distributing information between the business processes and providing this information in single views, efficiency was greatly improved. Introduction Decisions at any corporation are made at a level which is usually applicable, but sometimes not pertinent, to the problem at hand. This situation comes about when all the information is not available to the key decision makers. An example is that of an operator, who might adjust process parameters beyond normal operation limits to address an issue caused upstream by changed feed-stock properties. This might put the product off-spec, whereas the feed-stock was purposely changed elsewhere to improve product quality. This illustrates the need for access to applicable information at every level in the plant. The operator should be able to view the feed-stock properties in the control room, and production staff should be able to analyse process conditions based on feed-stock properties to prevent future upsets. Whether made at the correct level or not, both long-term and short-term decisions are based on available information "processed" through experience or by analysis. Decisions based on experience are in danger of being biased or conservative, while decisions made by analysis could be misguided due to bad quality of data. An objective, fast, and reliable decision-making process requires timely and quality data, distributed to the correct levels in the corporation. The core technology implemented for the needed decision support system should allow the corporation to keep existing information- gathering infrastructure (i.e., process data in various forms, real-time and historian-based) and the long-time proven business processes (i.e., accounting data), while providing access to this information to the entire corporation, if desired. The barrier need no longer exist between plant process data, sales, supply chain, accounting, and management data. The project included configuration of many different and consolidated views, often comprised of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) specific to the user's needs and job functions. Enabled with secured Web access, engineers can review the plant's performance while away from the site. At the same time, this engineer can query the maintenance database to check the last time a compressor was serviced, and correlate that to the current run-time of the compressor and its current power consumption. Discussion The following is a brief discussion of the base technology, followed by the details of the specific deployment at Qatar Petroleum, and how the project improved the decision-making processes on site.

Consumer Purchases of Campanula carpatica Jacq. 'Blue Clips' in Selected Supermarket Floral Departments as an Indoor Flowering Potted Plant

Four-inch (10.2-cm) potted floweringCampanula carpatica Jacq. 'Blue Clips' (campanula) traditional herbaceous perennials, were sold in floral departments of three retail supermarket chain stores from 5 May through 20 May and 16 June through 1 July 2000. The intent was to determine whether repositioning campanula as a “new” indoor flowering potted plant would add to total floral department sales or detract from sales of more traditional flowering potted plants. Unit sales for all 4- and 4.5-inch (10.2- and 11.3-cm) flowering potted plants stocked in three supermarket floral departments were recorded weekly and compared with unit sales from three stores where campanula were not sold (control). Unit sales for campanula were similar to those of traditional indoor flowering potted plants frequently stocked in floral departments. Statistical analysis showed that mean unit sales of traditional potted flowering plants for stores that did and did not stock campanula were similar. Therefore, adding campanula to the flowering potted plant mix did not detract from or jeopardize sales of similar indoor flowering potted plants.

Novel phenylanthraquinones, isofuranonaphthoquinones, homoisoflavonoids, and biflavonoids from African plants in the genera Bulbine, Scilla, Ledebouria, and Rhus

The sale of non-cultivated plants poses a real threat to the survival of a large number of plant species. On the other hand, the fact that a given plant has become a traded item is an important lead in the effort to investigate plants for the purpose of discovering novel secondary metabolites that may have marketable properties. This report is largely based on the investigations of plants collected from vendors of medicinal plants. The identification is based on botanical specimens derived from the purchased plant parts either by growing them in a garden or through micropropagation using tissue culture techniques. Bulbine species yielded novel phenyl anthraquinones and isofuranonaphthoquinones, which were found to exhibit antiparasitic and antioxidant properties. Scilla nervosa subsp. rigidifolia and Ledebouria graminifolia yielded twenty homoisoflavonoids and two xanthones. Bulbs derived from tissue culture based specimens of L. graminifolia contained all the compounds isolated from the marketed samples. Some of the homoisoflavonoids were found to possess activity against colon and breast cancer cell lines. Rhus pyroides furnished six novel bichalcones some of which exhibited insect antifeedant, cytotoxic and antiproliferative activities. Structures of the compounds described in this report were elucidated by spectroscopic means including HRMS and 1D-, and 2D-NMR experiments. Interconversion of some of the phenyl anthraquinones was accomplished as part of their structure proof. The total synthesis of three of the biflavonoids was achieved using a synthetic route which involves a microwave irradiation promoted Ulmann synthesis.

The Market for Corporate Assets: Who Engages in Mergers and Asset Sales and Are There Efficiency Gains?

ABSTRACTWe analyze the market for corporate assets. There is an active market for corporate assets, with close to seven percent of plants changing ownership annually through mergers, acquisitions, and asset sales in peak expansion years. The probability of asset sales and whole‐firm transactions is related to firm organization and ex ante efficiency of buyers and sellers. The timing of sales and the pattern of efficiency gains suggests that the transactions that occur, especially through asset sales of plants and divisions, tend to improve the allocation of resources and are consistent with a simple neoclassical model of profit maximizing by firms.

Forecasting UK construction plant sales

To sustain competitiveness, construction plant manufacturers must be able to accurately forecast market sales and moreover, their anticipated percentage of those sales. This paper addresses the former of these forecasts through the development of a multivariate time series model. Specifically, an autoregressive moving average (ARMA) time series model (otherwise known as the Box‐Jenkins approach) is constructed using economic data relating to a 15‐year period (1985–99). It is identified that population (millions); housing completions total (millions), total building repair and maintenance (billions Euro at 1998 prices, where 1 Euro = £0.6776) and gross domestic product (millions at market prices) are able to accurately predict plant sales. The performance statistics show the derived time series model to be very accurate in modelling the dependent variable [mean absolute deviation (MAD) = −87.04 and root mean square error (RMSE) = 1404.05]. By observing economic interactions and influences on sales, it is envisaged that the manufacturer can adjust their production output to match demand. Based upon the model produced, a forecast of machine sales for year 2000 is made and indicates that sales numbers look set to reduce to 15 482 units. The paper concludes with direction for future research work that will aim to model machine park, the influence of grey machines and individual plant items.

Forecasting UK construction plant sales

To sustain competitiveness, construction plant manufacturers must be able to accurately forecast market sales and moreover, their anticipated percentage of those sales. This paper addresses the former of these forecasts through the development of a multivariate time series model. Specifically, an autoregressive moving average (ARMA) time series model (otherwise known as the Box‐Jenkins approach) is constructed using economic data relating to a 15‐year period (1985–99). It is identified that population (millions); housing completions total (millions), total building repair and maintenance (billions Euro at 1998 prices, where 1 Euro = £0.6776) and gross domestic product (millions at market prices) are able to accurately predict plant sales. The performance statistics show the derived time series model to be very accurate in modelling the dependent variable [mean absolute deviation (MAD) = −87.04 and root mean square error (RMSE) = 1404.05]. By observing economic interactions and influences on sales, it is envisaged that the manufacturer can adjust their production output to match demand. Based upon the model produced, a forecast of machine sales for year 2000 is made and indicates that sales numbers look set to reduce to 15 482 units. The paper concludes with direction for future research work that will aim to model machine park, the influence of grey machines and individual plant items.

Texas Superstar and the Coordinated Educational and Marketing Assistance Program (CEMAP): How We Operate

The Coordinated Educational and Marketing Assistance Program identifies outstanding landscape plants for Texas and provides support for the nursery industry, thereby making superior plants available to Texans. CEMAP funding comes directly from industry and from consumers through the sale of plant tags bearing the Texas Superstar logo. Additionally, the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association and Texas Department of Agriculture is conducting a Texas Superstar publicity campaign. An estimated $10 million in new plant sales have been generated during the first 10 years of this program. Because plants are chosen based on their performance under minimal input conditions, Texas SuperStars greatly reduce their impact on the urban environment.

Economic Impact of Florida's Environmental Horticulture Industry

Abstract The economic impact of Florida's environmental horticulture industry in 1997 was estimated based on a telephone survey of wholesale plant nurseries, horticultural retailers, and landscape service firms. Sales of ornamental plants and related horticultural goods and services by the production, retail, and service sectors were estimated at $1.46 billion (B), $1.75B, and $2.70B, respectively. Domestic and international exports of horticultural products and services from Florida amounted to $659 million (M). Economic multiplier effects of commercial activity associated with purchased inputs from other industries and personal consumption expenditures by employees were estimated with an input-output model. Regional impacts of the wholesale nursery sector were also estimated separately for seven areas of the state. Economic impacts of Florida's environmental horticulture industry included total value added of $5.42B and employment of 187,000 people. These impacts are greater than for any other sector of agriculture and associated manufacturing in Florida, including the large fruit and vegetable industry.

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF FLORIDA'S ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE INDUSTRY

Abstract The economic impact of Florida's environmental horticulture industry in 1997 was estimated based on a telephone survey of wholesale plant nurseries, horticultural retailers, and landscape service firms. Sales of ornamental plants and related horticultural goods and services by the production, retail, and service sectors were estimated at $1.46 billion (B), $1.75B, and $2.70B, respectively. Domestic and international exports of horticultural products and services from Florida amounted to $659 million (M). Economic multiplier effects of commercial activity associated with purchased inputs from other industries and personal consumption expenditures by employees were estimated with an input-output model. Regional impacts of the wholesale nursery sector were also estimated separately for seven areas of the state. Economic impacts of Florida's environmental horticulture industry included total value added of $5.42B and employment of 187,000 people. These impacts are greater than for any other sector of...

Medicinal Plant Cultivation and Sustainable Development

The Nanda Devi Bio sphere Reserve (NDBR) in the western Himalaya has a high level of biological and cultural diversity. The Bhotiya community, whose livelihood is highly dependent on local natural resources, inhabits the buffer zone of NDBR. Bhotiya practice seasonal and altitudinal migration and stay inside the buffer zone of NDBR for only 6 months (May-October). A survey was conducted in 1996 in 5 villages in Pithoragarh District of the buffer zone, where Bhotiya cultivate medicinal plants on their agriculture fields. The aim of the survey was to understand the socioeconomics of medicinal plant cultivation and evaluate the future prospects of this practice in promoting sustainable development among the local community. Of a total of 71 families, 90% cultivated medicinal plants on 78% of the total reported cultivated area (15.29 ha). At the time of the survey, a total of 12 species of medicinal plants were under cultivation, of which 6 were being marketed while the remaining 6 were still under nursery plantation for future propagation. On average, a family earns about Rs.2423 ± 376.95 per season from the sale of medicinal plants (Rs.38 = US$1 in 1996). Based on the average productivity (kg/ha/y), we estimated that an average family could earn between Rs.4362 and Rs.86,500 from the sale of medicinal herbs. Encouragement of medicinal plant cultivation at high altitudes in the Himalayas would help to generate better monetary returns as well as conserve these herbs in the wild and preserve traditional ethnomedicinal knowledge among local people.

The Market for Corporate Assets: Who Engages in Mergers and Asset Sales and are there Efficiency Gains?

We analyze the market for firms, divisions and plants of manufacturing firms using a large sample of plant-level data for the period 1974-92. There is an active market for corporate assets, with close to 7 percent of plants changing ownership annually through mergers,acquisitions and asset sales in peak expansion years in the economy. Partial firm sales account for more than half of these transactions. The probability of asset sales and whole-firm transactions is related to firm organization and ex ante efficiency of buyers and sellers. We find that efficiency gains of assets sold are significantly higher the more efficient the buying firm relative to the selling firm. This timing of sales and the pattern of efficiency gains suggests that the transactions that occur, especially through asset sales of plants and divisions, tend to improve the allocation of resources and are consistent with a simple neoclassical model of profit maximizing by firms.

Seed Germination for Transplants

Seed germination is a critical step to achieve economic success in a transplant operation. Total germination of a seed lot dictates total plant sales by the producer, while uniformity of germination dictates the quality of the transplant crop. Using high vigor seed will help to achieve uniform stands, as well as maximize stands, in the transplant house or field. In order to maintain the highest seed quality, transplant producers should store unused seeds at recommended temperature and relative humidity for the crop species. Methods to promote uniformity and optimum stands under a wide range of conditions include the use of seed priming, film coating with fungicides, and pelleting for ease of planting.

Retail Garden Outlets: Business Characteristics and Factors Affecting Industry Performance

Abstract A survey was conducted of retail garden outlets in Georgia which consisted primarily of traditional garden centers, feed and seed stores, and hardware stores. Plant material, for all types of retail outlets, represented the largest portion of retail sales followed by chemicals and fertilizers. The average annual retail store sales for all products was $344K, with plant material representing $111K. The survey population represented about $47M in retail plant sales and did not include mass merchants or chain garden centers. Individual consumers (87%) were the primary customers as compared to landscapers or other types of customers. Most plant material was sourced in-state (67%) and only about 3% was produced by retailers. The primary factors identified as having a potential negative impact on plant material sales were adverse weather (26%), competition from mass merchants (23%) and a slowing economy (22%). Most garden centers are open year round (74.5%) as compared to feed and seed (7.1%) or hardware (16.7%) stores. The most common consumer complaints regarding plant quality were identified. Retailer experience with the Georgia Gold Medal new plant program suggests that these programs can create pull-through sales.

Two Nandina domestica Cultivars Perform Well as Interior Foliage Plants in Market Evaluations

Tissue-cultured plugs of Nandina domestica Thunb. `Hat-hour Dwarf' and `San Gabriel' were grown in 1.5-liter pots under 30%, 47%, or 62% shade. After 20 weeks, plants were moved to a simulated consumer environment (SCE) maintained at 21C, ≈60% relative humidity, and a 12-hour photoperiod with an irradiance of 7 μmol·m -2·s-1. Final quality ratings (after 35 weeks in the SCE) for both cultivars were good, but the plant quality of `San Gabriel' declined more quickly than that of `Harbour Dwarf'. Final quality rating of `Harbour Dwarf' grown under the highest percentage of shade was higher than that of plants grown under 30% or 47% shade; production shade percentages had no influence on the final quality rating of `San Gabriel'. Plants (of both cultivars) grown in 0.6-liter (11-cm-diameter) pots were test-marketed through six supermarket floral departments and captured 16% of total 10- to 11-cm-size foliage plant sales. Sixty percent of consumers indicated the plant's “newness” as the primary consideration for its purchase. These two N. domestica cultivars could be marketed successfully as interior foliage plants.