The PMA Fresh Summit Convention and Expo is just around the corner, Oct. 18-20. There’s a lot of buzz about this annual event, and it looks like all of us are in for some interesting workshops and opportunities for productive interaction and networking. The DG Team is putting the finishing touches on our plans and preparation for sharing our story, and we look forward to seeing those of you who plan to attend. Don’t miss Booth #736, where it’s all about California sunshine and our mission to remain Different by Design. We’ll have beautiful arrangements and all of our Design Ready and Just Add items on display, as well as the flower-filled mugs and Mason Jars that are more and more popular every day. Marco, Cindy, Jennifer and Robin are excited to see you in New Orleans and to answer any questions and discuss potential solutions for your business. Back in Vista, we continue to enjoy opening our Design Center to client visitors who want a breath of fresh air and a chance to explore what’s possible in an inspiring space. A few of you stopped in in September, and we’re grateful for your partnership and collaboration. We believe it moves all of us in the right direction. While good things were happening indoors, we did take a late-summer hit from Mother Nature. Always a formidable competitor, she followed a cool, temperate August with extreme heat in September that forced us to harvest a surplus of over 120,000 bunches of Sunflowers in September and then to leave another 40,000 bunches behind, all of which left us with precious little product for the next two weeks. Protea, Millet, Majesty, Broom Corn, and Marigolds also were affected by the swing from cool to hot. Despite the major steps we’ve taken to diversify our growing areas and minimize the effects of a “gap,” Mother Nature has a mind of her own. We worked hard to juggle orders and find acceptable substitutions for as many of you as possible, and we’ll continue to make the best of the situation until we’re back on track this week. The good news is that our Master Grower Todd Thornton is all over the issue. His expertise and commitment are second to none, and he’s a huge part of what makes Dos Gringos different. I asked Todd for a plan of attack that avoids a future gap, and he responded immediately with initiatives already in the pipeline as well as new approaches to consider. These include but are not limited to: Additional farm locations for us in Baja; Additional weather-stable areas for outdoor farming in Sept. and Oct. Sunflower trials in new areas in Florida  Increased production in Pennsylvania and Virginia

When the PMA show wraps this month, I head to China to look further into suppliers for the Pick On Us business we recently acquired. Aaron Motola and I are always interested in products and ideas that complement the fresh flowers and greens we bring to the table. In addition to plans and preparations to bring you the level of service you expect for the busy Thanksgiving holiday, November will bring a focus on strategic planning and budgeting for 2014, and that work will tie directly to our pillars of People, Freshness, and Innovation. More to come in December. I’ll close with a huge, heartfelt “Congratulations” to Team Member Extraordinaire Joan Saunders. My right and left hand and a dear friend, she was married in September to a wonderful man, Phillip Schwartze. We wish them many happy, healthy years together. It was beautiful day filled with friends, family, and – what else? – beautiful Sunflowers! Best wishes, Joan and Phillip, and my best to all DG clients.   _________________________________________ What can we do to make your job easier? I hope you’ll let me know: jason.levin@dosgringos.net. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -