S02:E01
Season 2 opens with Lanie Riner — greenhouse grower, farm kid turned Executive Director of the Georgia Green Industry Association, and the person who wrote the letter that helped strengthen Georgia’s Freedom to Farm protections. Lanie runs GGIA while running Thunderwood Farms in Meriwether County, and she brings both perspectives to a conversation about what it takes to advocate for an industry that, as she puts it, “puts nature back in place.”
Ping and Lanie go back to a Ginkgo biloba tree and a job interview. From there, the conversation covers GGIA’s 35-year history, the COVID-era fight to keep horticulture classified as essential, the OSHA heat rule that could reshape outdoor work, and a Capitol Day tradition where plants are the only agricultural commodity that isn’t eaten by sundown. Lanie’s advice for anyone headed to meet a legislator: bring a true story — preferably your own.
The episode also digs into the challenges growers face right now: succession planning for family operations, the two-spot cotton leafhopper and its quarantine implications, H-2A and H-2B labor programs, and the ever-shifting Waters of the U.S. definition. Lanie’s three-to-five-year vision for GGIA centers on a united industry voice and growing the next generation through programs like the Junior Certified Plant Professional.
Listen Time: 50:15
Follow Along with this Episode’s Transcript
Lanie Riner — Executive Director, Georgia Green Industry Association (GGIA); Owner, Thunderwood Farms. UGA horticulture graduate who started as a pharmacy student, found her way to Miller Plant Sciences, and built a career spanning greenhouse production and statewide industry advocacy. She personally testified before OSHA on the proposed heat rule and led the effort to secure essential-industry status for Georgia’s green industry during the 2020 shutdown.
“In our society, throughout every society, we learn through storytelling. … When you go to talk to a legislator or a regulator, whatever the point is that you are trying to make, it needs to be a true story. That’s the first thing. And it needs to — it’s even better if it’s your story.” — Lanie Riner (25:59)
“We put nature back in place. But it’s exactly what we do. Our industry is where people and nature intersect.” — Lanie Riner (19:03)
“Yours is the only industry that it is not eaten up at the end of the day.” — Chairman Robert Dickey, as recounted by Lanie Riner (29:04), on why GGIA Capitol Day stands out among agricultural commodities
“We could not advocate for our industry at all without our university partners and extension. Extension provides that unbiased scientific support. It’s not an opinion.” — Lanie Riner (39:44)
“We are stronger when we work together.” — Lanie Riner (43:27)
Blooms and Beyond explores plant history, culture, and management through the lens of science. Whether you’re a commercial grower seeking practical solutions, a student exploring careers in horticulture, or simply someone who loves plants and their stories, there’s something here for you. Hosted by Dr. Ping Yu of the University of Georgia, each episode features interviews with experts who share enchanting stories, cutting-edge research, and practical wisdom from the world of horticulture.
Your benefit: After each episode, commercial growers will have at least one useful tip for their operation, and plant enthusiasts will have an interesting fact to share. That’s how we spread plant power to more people and make our environment a little better.
Host: Dr. Ping Yu Guest: Lanie Riner, Executive Director, Georgia Green Industry Association; Owner, Thunderwood Farms Producer: Rich Braman
Episode Release Date: Sunday, May 31st, 2026 Episode Length: 50:15
“Till next time, stay healthy and go plants!” 🌱