Green Thumb Awards

What Are The Green Thumb Awards?

We invite you to enter your new products in the Direct Gardening Association Green Thumb Awards™ program, which was created by the Direct Gardening Association (DGA) to recognize outstanding garden products available directly to consumers by mail order and/or via websites.

After an initial review by DGA Green Thumb Awards committee members to verify eligibility, entries will be forwarded to a panel of garden writers and editors for judging. Up to six DGA Green Thumb Award winners will be chosen for 2020 (two in each category). 

All award‐winning products will be featured in DGA news releases distributed by the Direct Gardening Association. Award winners will also have an opportunity to give a brief (3 minute) presentation at the DGA 2020 Winter Meeting in Orlando, Florida, to visit local LLC formation services. Another benefit of winning the award is PR coverage through the DGA’s current and extensive PR database. Additionally, DGA employs a clipping service to track where the award winners are being mentioned. Recipients may also publicize their awards and are authorized to use the “Green Thumb Award” designation and logo in their ads, catalogs, websites and news releases.

2020 DGA Green Thumb Awards - Official Rules and Entry Criteria

1. Only products sold to the public via a catalog or website are eligible. Each participating company may submit two (2) product entries. Regular, Wholesale, and Allied Members (or non‐member companies that would qualify to become a Regular Member) may submit products that will be first introduced in their catalogs and/or on their websites after September 17, 2019.
2. DGA membership is not a requirement to participate. DGA Members whose product wins an Award, may choose between a one-time credit, up to $420, towards their next membership renewal in the DGA, in the applicable membership category (i.e. Allied, Wholesale, or Regular), OR a credit of $420 towards one (1) conference registration for the 2020 Winter Conference. Should a Non‐Member product win an Award, they will receive a one-time credit, up to $420, towards their first-year membership in the DGA, purchased in 2020, in the applicable membership category (i.e. Allied, Wholesale, or Regular), OR a credit of $420 towards one (1) conference registration for the 2020 Winter Conference.
3. Each entry must be submitted into one of three divisions: “Seeds, Bulbs and Plants”, “Edible Plants”, or “Gardening Tools, Accessories and Aids". All entries will be evaluated by an independent panel of judges on each entry’s uniqueness, technological advances and innovation, ability to solve a problem or provide a gardening opportunity, and overall appeal to gardeners.
4. Entry forms must contain all applicable information about the product including the reasons it should be considered for a DGA Green Thumb Award, selling price, and how consumers may order the product.
5. Four (4) identical Entry Packets for EACH PRODUCT must be submitted.  Each Entry Packet must contain an Entry Form  (photocopies are accepted) AND supporting documents (catalog pages, photographs, product sheets, etc.).
6. Please note that product samples should not be submitted with the entry packets. If the entrant would like to submit product samples, the appropriate box must be checked on the Entry Form. The DGA Green Thumb Awards contest administrator will then provide the addresses where samples may be shipped. Samples are not required and WILL NOT be returned.
7. DGA does not distinguish between organic and non‐organic products. Therefore, if you are submitting an organic product, and it is a version of a product that is already on the market, we will not accept this as a “new” product. Organic is a method of growing, and does not constitute a new product.
8. In the event that all of the DGA Green Thumb Awards rules have not been followed and the entry criteria have not been met, the DGA Green Thumb Awards committee reserves the right to disqualify an entry.
9. If submitting a product that has been entered before, the entry in question must be different in design or have a significant change to the overall make‐up. In other words, a new color for a product is not a significant enough change.

The deadline for 2020 DGA Green Thumb Awards entries is September 17, 2019.

GTA Entry Form is available here. 

The DGA Green Thumb Awards program offers an excellent opportunity to gain additional exposure for winning products - and, hence, generate additional sales. Please take advantage of this opportunity by entering your new  products.

We look forward to receiving your entries!