Bobby Barnitz takes the helm at OFA

Bobby Barnitz is a family man. Not only is he one of five sons running a large greenhouse operation, he’s been part of the OFA family for 20-plus years. Barnitz, vice president of Bob’s Market & Greenhouses in Mason, W.Va., will become president of OFA this month.

He’s attended the OFA Short Course since the mid-’80s. He was elected to OFA’s board of directors in 2003.

“OFA has opened new opportunities for networking, which leads to potential new customers,” Barnitz said. “It allows you to strengthen relationships within the industry and start new relationships.”

Brought to you by OFA

And OFA is poised to forge new relationships with its new business strategy. OFA announced in March it will pursue opportunities to manage other organizations and events.

“With the experience of our association’s staff in producing the premier floriculture event in the U.S., it will only benefit the association as well as the other organizations we will be helping to manage,” Barnitz said. “This will in turn strengthen our position as a leader in the floriculture industry.”

OFA had been approached by another organization to manage its event, which got the board discussing the opportunities available in the industry, Barnitz said.

In May, OFA announced its first new management client -- Southeast Greenhouse Conference (SGC). OFA will begin managing that event in October.

“We are excited about this new opportunity to work with OFA,” said Terri Bates Cantwell, chair of the SGC board. “They have a proven track record of association and event management. In addition, their areas of expertise complement SGC’s mission.”

Although OFA continues to look for other shows and organizations to manage, it will continue to focus on its members.

“We’re working to come up with more benefits for members,” Barnitz said.

All in the family

Besides his OFA duties, Barnitz helps run a 17 1/2-acre greenhouse operation with his parents and four brothers. There are also five of the next generation working in the company.

Bob’s Market & Greenhouses was founded in 1970 by Robert and Corena Barnitz as a roadside market for fresh produce, garden vegetable plants and a smattering of bedding plants. By 1981, the company started shipping bedding plants to the Carolinas. Bob’s has gone gangbusters since then.

Bob’s produces plugs, spring bedding plants, fall pansies, potted plants and hanging baskets. The company also is a rooting station for Dummen USA. Bob’s expanded in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2006 adding greenhouse space to accommodate growth in the plug business and the rooting station. A Nexus dual atrium house and some Rough Bros. greenhouses are the most recent structure additions. The new facilities are more energy efficient, Barnitz said.

Plugged into the market

Plugs and liners make up 51 percent of sales at Bob’s, with wholesale at 26 percent and retail at 23 percent.

“We’ll grow up to 25 million fall pansy plugs and 90 million plugs this spring,” he said.

The demand for larger plugs is increasing, and Bob’s answered the call by adding a 144-plug tray last year. Bob’s grows 512s, 288s and 144s. All plugs are sold through Ball Seed.

All finished product is sold to rewholesalers and independent garden centers. Bob’s does not sell to big-box stores. Flat sales are decreasing while potted plant sales continue to climb. And combination planters are big sellers as consumers look for instant color, Barnitz said.

“There’s a different generation of customers now. These dual-income families may not have the time to garden, but they have the income to buy something already planted and filled out that’s ready to set out on the patio,” Barnitz said.

The 4 1/2-inch vegetative market is growing, so Bob’s product mix continues to increase.

“We’ve switched from growing as many flats, and now grow more 4 1/2-inch potted material. Things like bacopa, calibrachoa, lantana and gerbera are hot sellers,” Barnitz said.

For more: Bob’s Market & Greenhouses, (800) 447-3760; www.bobsmarket.com. OFA, (614) 487-1117; www.ofa.org.

Bob’s Market & Greenhouses Inc.

Founded: 1970 by Robert and Corena Barnitz.

Location: Mason, W.Va.

Size: 17 1/2 acres under cover.

Crops: Plugs, bedding plants, pansies, potted plants and hanging baskets.

Customer base: 51 percent plugs and liners, 26 percent wholesale, 23 percent retail.

Employees: 120 full-time and 65 seasonal.

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- Kelli Rodda