Marvin Miller: The Making of a Horticulture Economist

What happens when a kid becomes fascinated by a tiny tomato growing in the garden—and then never stops being fascinated by nature? In Part 1 of this special two-part conversation, Ellen Wells sits down with horticulture industry veteran Marvin Miller of Ball Horticultural Company to explore the roots of a career that would eventually influence everything from supermarket flower departments to consumer buying habits. Marvin shares stories of growing up in Baltimore, learning from family gardeners and neighborhood mentors, reclaiming a property known as Harmony Acres, and discovering that horticulture could become more than a hobby. He also explains how his interest in both plants and economics led to groundbreaking consumer research that helped make mixed bouquets a supermarket floral staple. In this episode, you'll hear: • Why Marvin calls himself an "extreme gardener" • The influence of immigrant family traditions and neighborhood gardening • What Harmony Acres taught him about plants and hard work • Why he chose Purdue University to study horticulture • How agricultural economics became part of his career path • The research that helped shape modern supermarket floral sales