What began as a passionate belief that greenhouse growers deserved better software has evolved into something much bigger. We started Silver Fern in coffee shops and home offices, driven by firsthand experience with the operational challenges facing our industry.

Our early years were marked by rapid learning—onboarding our first customers, writing code, and discovering that creating value and scaling value require very different approaches.

Over the years we experienced several inflection points:

• Signing up for Strategic Coach shifted our thinking from tactical to strategic

• Implementing Agile Scrum brought discipline to our development process

• Scaling Up aligned our entire operation around clear priorities

• Expanding use of AI is fundamentally changing how we run our operations 

The biggest inflection point came with our merger with Advanced Grower Solutions in February. This partnership combined decades of industry experience with our next-generation platform, creating something neither company could achieve alone.

Through it all, we've maintained our core belief: grower technology should make complex work easier, not add yet another layer of complexity.

This year's Cultivate feels different. Not just because we're coming as Silver Fern & Advanced Grower Solutions—a more comprehensive, capable organization—but because the conversations happening in our industry have fundamentally shifted.

Growers are no longer asking if they need better technology. They're asking when and how. The demands are clear:

• Mobile apps that actually work in greenhouse environments

• Deeper analytical capabilities that drive real decisions

• More automation without losing operational control

• Simpler workflows that can be mastered quickly

• Better, more flexible reporting that tells the story behind the numbers

• Solutions that deliver ease of use AND scalability

The standard is higher; much higher. And frankly, it should be. The stakes are higher—tighter margins, labor challenges, supply chain complexity, and customer expectations that continue to evolve. The growers who thrive in the next decade will be those who embrace technology as a competitive advantage. 

That's why we envision a future where:

Complex Problems Meet Clarifying Solutions

• Greenhouse managers can see their entire operation's health on their phone

• Production schedules adapt dynamically to supply chain changes and market demands

• New employees contribute meaningfully from day one because processes are documented and tools are intuitive

Technology Serves, Not Complicates

• Tools just work for growers and the intricacies of their workflows

• Updates consistently improve your technology stack without disruption

• AI-native tooling automates entire workflows and provides callouts you can trust

• Integrations happen seamlessly

Experience Scales

• Grower expertise is preserved and shared, not lost when key people retire

• Best practices are codified into workflows that anyone can follow

Many of these capabilities exist today, and we're seeing them transform operations across North America.

Over the next few weeks, we'll share more specifics about our products:

• How PRODUCE™ is turning seasonal chaos into organized confidence

• Why FORECAST™ creates sales forecasts that automatically map to production plans

• Real stories from growers who transformed their operations

What matters most is that everything we're bringing to Columbus started with a conversation with a grower facing a real challenge. Every feature, every workflow, every innovation has been shaped by the people who use it.

We believe the next decade will bring an incredible new wave of technology for growers. Whether you're running a fifth-generation family operation or managing a multi-location enterprise, the next wave will unlock capabilities that seemed impossible just five years ago.

Whether you're looking to solve a specific pain point now or reimagine your entire approach to greenhouse management in the coming years, we want to have that conversation with you.

Join us as we build the future of grower technology. 

Visit us at booth 1909 at Cultivate 2025 in Columbus, Ohio, July 12-15.

Ready to explore now? Reach out anytime at [email protected].

Stay tuned for our deep dive into PRODUCE™ next week, followed by insights into FORECAST™ and stories from growers who are already experiencing the future of greenhouse technology.