Expo 2031 USA Debuted Expo Zones to leading U.S. Growers at AmericanHort's Cultivate '25

July 22, 2025

Columbus, Ohio

July 12-14, 2025

As a member of AmericanHort Expo 2031 Minnesota, USA actively participated in Cultivate '25, held from July 12–15, 2025, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.

This year, the horticulture industry's premier event attracted over 10,000 professionals and featured more than 650 exhibitors, offering a platform for networking, education, and innovation in the green industry. Including us!

Expo 2031's Connected with Green Industry Leaders at Cultivate '25

At Cultivate '25, Expo 2031 showcased its vision for the first A1 World Horticultural Exposition in the U.S., scheduled for May–October 2031 in Dakota County, Minnesota. Cultivate '25 provided a candid opportunity for Expo 2031's leadership, including co-chairs from the newly formed Global Horticulture Council, to engage with national grower suppliers and industry leaders who will lead the designing and showcase their product leadership in one of only 5 Thematic Feature Zones aligned with clustered USDA Climate categories and then matched with International Participant country climates.

Debuting our U.S. Grower-led Expo Zones at Cultivate '25

"Since we only have 5 Premier Thematic Zones, we wanted to ensure to share the opportunity to the more than 5 leading U.S. Growers who would be the perfect design and product partners for Expo 2031 USA," shared Wendy Meadley, CEO Expo 2031 USA.

The Expo 2031 USA Climate Zones include: (listed from warmest to coolest climate)

1. Tropical Zone

2. Arid Zone

3. Temperate Zone

4. Continental Zone

5. North Star Zone

Expo Zone Design Leadership

The 5 Thematic Zone Leaders will design their theme-park style zone in concert with SRF (our Expo Site Founding Partner), and aligned with the climate recommendations for floral, plants, groundcover, shrubs, trees and related hardscapes and similar.

Expo 2031 USA actually has 3 Investor Partner tiers available in addition to more geographic Expo Zones that are available for U.S. and other global growers to participate in.

Expo 2031's Global Horticulture Council

The Global Horticulture Council serves as a collaborative platform for investor partners involved in planning and designing Expo 2031. It provided the formal committee structure for Expo 2031's Investor Partner from all sectors to collaborate in a programmatic cadence ensuring Expo 2031's Design process stays on track.

Our Team's Highlights from Cultivate '25 >

Networking Opportunities

Expo 2031's presence facilitated connections with key stakeholders in the horticulture industry, fostering collaborations that align with the expo's mission.

Showcasing Innovations

Cultivate '25 allowed Expo 2031 to see the latest innovative concepts and plans relevant for our exposition, receiving positive feedback and energetic support from industry leaders we connected with.

Pictured at Cultivate '25:

Arthij van der Veer, Co-chair, Expo 2031 Global Horticulture Council

Wendy Meadley, CEO Expo 2031 Minnesota, USA

Kris Fitzpatrick, Co-chair, Expo 2031 Global Horticulture Council

A copy of our press release is below:

For Media Coverage, Contact Shelisa Demuth, Laurel / shelisa@laureldevelops.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Expo 2031 Heads to AmericanHort's Cultivate '25 to Connect with National Grower Suppliers

Minnesota, USA – July 10, 2025 – Expo 2031 Minnesota USA's (Expo 2031) Global Horticulture Council leadership is headed to Cultivate '25 to connect with the U.S. horticulture industry's leading grower suppliers this weekend in Columbus, Ohio.

The newly debuted Global Horticulture Council serves as a gateway for grower investor partners interested in influencing the future of horticulture specifically through collaboratively planning and designing the first World Horticultural Exposition in U.S. history. “The Global Horticulture Council is comprised of Investor Partners currently planning and designing Expo 2031, who will become the primary growers suppliers of Expo 2031 Minnesota USA,” said Wendy Meadley, CEO of Expo 2031. “It’s already supported by a gathering of visionary business minds across multiple sectors working together to shape a bright future for horticulture into the future.”

Distinct from traditional governance structures, the Global Horticulture Council (GHC) allows investor partner committee co-chairs to involve new voices without altering the makeup of the core GHC boards. This design enables boards to remain focused while welcoming a full spectrum of insight and leadership from horticulture experts from across the planet. By offering flexible participation, Expo 2031 ensures its tent is wide open to innovators, collaborators, and future partners from all backgrounds and expertise levels.

Our inaugural committee co-chairs are:

Arthij van der Veer / MPS 

Kris Fitzpatrick / Modern Climate

Wendy Meadley / Expo 2031

Our authoritative Global Horticulture Council, the home to key committees including Partner, Pavilion, and Supplier Committees is drawn together to design and build the Expo at a world-class standard. This rigorous partnership and advisory structure fosters connections and nurtures ideas that will power Expo 2031’s unique vision.

“As we build out our supplier network, we want the right partners in our supplier base, avoiding the limitations of a ‘standard sponsorship’ model,” Meadley noted. This approach welcomes investor partners and their defined network of contributors into expanded committee structures, ensuring the future of Expo 2031 is collaborative and accessible.

Reflecting this ethos, the Canopy Collective branding of the expanded committee structure stands as “the uppermost layer of forests and shelters that nurtures all life below,” symbolizing oversight, wisdom, and unified support across all horticulture sectors. With a tone that is unifying, the Canopy Collective is set to become a beacon for leadership, innovation, and inclusive growth.

Meanwhile, the Global Horticulture Council provides Expo 2031 with a formal international platform—one with the credibility, scale, and authority to drive global influence in horticulture, attracting partners, policymakers, and innovators to this monumental event.

Together, the Global Horticulture Council and its Canopy Collective will connect people, plants, and the planet for “a shared future grown from the ground up.”

About Expo 2031 Minnesota, USA

Expo 2031 will bring together global leaders, innovators, and community members to showcase and advance the horticulture industry on an international platform. For more information on how to get involved with Expo 2031's Global Horticulture Council, please visit www.expo2031.org  or contact Canopy Collective at contact@expo2031.org.

About the Global Horticulture Council

Expo 2031's Global Horticulture Council, an innovative and inclusive group designed to bring together global thought leaders, community supporters, and industry experts to support the development of Expo 2031 Minnesota USA.

Media Contact: Shelisa Demuth / Laurel Public Relations / shelisa@laureldevelops.com