Looking out for its members' best interests, and endeavoring to raise funds for horticulture student scholarships, the Oregon Association of Nurseries introduced a new mobile app that will help nursery industry businesses connect with each other.

The Oregon Nursery Map app for iOS devices, and soon Android devices, is a new tech tool developed by the Oregon Association of Nurseries to help buyers, truckers and green industry professionals find wholesale nurseries in the Portland area, the Willamette Valley, and greater Oregon.

The app is the digital counterpart to the OAN's printed wholesale Nursery Map that has been used by these professionals for years. With the rise of smartphones equipped with GPS technology, OAN felt that creating a digital solution made sense on many levels.

"It's more than a map," said Scott Ekstrom, who works at Ekstrom Nursery and is president of the OAN Mt. Hood Chapter. "We believe it will be an on-the-road, time-saving device if you are a landscaper, plant buyer, or a grower reaching out to a network of suppliers and growers."

The app will help users find the most efficient routes between destinations. They'll discover information about
each grower, including what they are selling. At the press of a button, the user will be able to call nurseries and
verify availability.

"The app's functionality provides nursery contact information and links to the OAN's online Nursery Guide, which is a searchable directory of plants, products and services," Ekstrom said. "So if a contractor is on a job site, for example, and needs to quickly find more plant material, a glance at the Oregon Nursery Map app will tell them which nurseries or suppliers are nearby.

"Technology is changing how business is done," Ekstrom added. "I have seen people, young and older, working
from their phones while sitting in front of a desk or laptop computer, out in the field, or in the car or truck. The phone is the go-to device for websites, emails, directions, or to make calls. Phones and apps can do everything, except
grow the tree."

The Oregon Nursery Map app is a project of the OAN Mt. Hood Chapter to raise funds for horticulture student scholarships. Businesses will pay to be featured on the app, and users will pay a nominal amount to download it. Currently, approximately 130 OAN member nurseries and suppliers are "pinned" on the map. The goal is to build that to 400. Meanwhile, the paper map will remain available and is still appreciated by many growers.

The iOS version of the app is available in the iTunes Store now. An Android version will be available in January. Both versions are priced at $4.99.