This year's Green Industry and Equipment Expo featured, among other things, a 19-acre outdoor demonstration area and over 55 companies participating in the New Product Showcase.

In a joint press conference conducted by The Professional Landcare Network and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute last week at the Green Industry Expo, it was announced that numbers were up across the board for the show.

Glenn Jacobsen, the president of PLANET, stated that the organization's Green Industry Conference tallied over 1,200 attendees.

"That's a 20 percent increase over the recessionary years," he said.

Jacobsen went on to remark that their CEO Forum was up 10 percent, and proudly informed those in attendance that 50 percent of the speakers for the organization's learning sessions were new from last year.

Jacobsen also announced that PLANET's alliance with OSHA was re-upped another five years.

On the Expo side, Kris Kiser, OPEI's president, revealed that attendance grew in all categories. This included 6 percent more dealers, 16 percent more lawncare and landscape professionals, and 5 percent more exhibitors. All told, it amounted to a 12 percent increase over last year.

Looking forward to 2014, Kiser said that one of the plans was to try to incorporate more of the utility terrain vehicle (UTV) sector.

"We're going to do some things next year to attract additional (UTV participation)," he stated.