HARRISBURG, Penn. - The 29th Annual Penn Allied Nursery Trade Show (PANTS) featured 600 exhibiting companies in 1,100 booths from July 24-26 at the Fort Washington Expo Center in Fort Washington, Penn. This year's PANTS, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association (PLNA), broke all previous attendance records with a total of 10,166 attendees, who came from 35 different states and four countries.

Besides walking the show floor and meeting with exhibitors, attendees had the opportunity to participate in the third annual PLNA Garden Tour, which featured Tyler Arboretum and The Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College. In addition, the second annual PANTS Legislative Tour gave members and staff of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and state regulatory agencies the opportunity to view the impact of the Pennsylvania horticulture industry first-hand. Among the participants in the Legislative Tour was state Department of Agriculture Secretary Sam Hayes.

PANTS represents an annual $13 million-plus economic impact to the Fort Washington area. Next year's show will be held from July 23-25 at the Fort Washington Expo Center. For more information about PANTS 2002, contact Trade Show Manager Sally O'Shea at (610) 544-5775 or e-mail sally.oshea@verizon.net.