Growing trees faster isn’t the only area where Forrest Keeling excels. The legendary Missouri nursery has fully branched into international markets. The family business has patents pending in more than 50 countries for their RPM-production technology and has plans to expand its global footprint fully within the next three years.
“We are excited to take Forrest Keeling’s RPM-production technology to conservation and environmental applications around the world,” shared Kim Young, FKN vice-president and general manager. “Governor Nixon’s ‘Missouri Works’ initiative is important to our family business and will not only help us expand our markets, but help grow other Missouri businesses as well.”
Governor Nixon paid tribute to the Elsberry nursery and its owners during his State of the State address in Jefferson City on January 17.
“Because of companies like (Forrest Keeling), Missouri exports were up by $1.2 billion in the first three quarters of 2011. And that was on top of our outstanding 35 percent growth in 2010,” said Governor Nixon.
“As part of ‘Missouri Works’, we're going to keep this momentum building by creating a one-stop shop to help Missouri businesses and farms find more customers in new international markets.”
Last fall, Nixon led a delegation of more than 60 Missouri business and agricultural leaders including Kim Young to China, where agreements to sell $4.6 billion worth of Missouri products were signed.
“For our customers in the U.S. or abroad,” Young commented, “the bottom line is success. They want a planting to survive, create an effective application and, ultimately, be a solid investment. Our RPM-production technology makes any landscape application go smoother and more profitably than comparable methods. Wherever Forrest Keeling goes, its RPM-technology speaks success, and that needs no translation.”
For a full transcript of Governor Nixon's State of the State address, please go to:
http://www.connectmidmissouri.com/news/story.aspx?id=708653#.Txb2lGOLtnI
