Who is Primera?
Primera is a member-owned cooperative committed to growth-oriented distributors and best-in-class supplier partners collaborating to exceed the market and stay ahead of the competition
Member Spotlight: Central Turf & Irrigation Supply
A History of Remarkable Growth: Founded in 1990 with a humble presence of just two locations in Connecticut, Central Turf and Irrigation established the roots to grow into a prominent player in the landscape supply industry. Through a strategic purchase in 1995, Bernardo Luciano assumed ownership of Central and, with the unwavering dedication of his devoted family and employees, propelled it to become the largest family-owned and operated landscape supply company in North America. With 60+ locations in the US and Canada today, Central Turf and Irrigation has become a trusted partner for landscape professionals, transcending its role as a traditional landscape supplier. It now offers comprehensive training, on-site job support, and unfettered access to a wealth of resources.
Central‘s resounding success is epitomized by the robust partnerships it has fostered with its customers. This achievement stands as a testament to the exceptional team’s tireless dedication, unwavering professionalism, and profound industry knowledge. Central proudly operates as a company “For the Contractor, By the Contractor,” ingrained with an intrinsic understanding of its customer’s unique needs and challenges. The core mission remains steadfast: aiding customers in expanding their businesses by providing indispensable resources, including large-scale design services, comprehensive training programs, innovative marketing strategies, and a plethora of other solutions. Central Turf and Irrigation’s remarkable journey from its modest inception in 1990 to its current stature as a premier landscape industry partner is a story of growth, dedication, and unwavering support for landscape professionals across North America.
Family Values and Community Impact: At Central, we’re proud to share the news that we’ve been nominated as one of Inc. Magazine’s Best Places to Work. The single word that resonates most with our employees when describing Central is “family.” This recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering a supportive culture, investing in training and development, and creating an engaging work environment. Our dedicated team wholeheartedly embraces these values, contributing to the nurturing of our distinctive family culture. They are not just employees; they are passionate professionals who are always eager to learn and grow. What sets Centralapart as an employer is our belief in nurturing their drive and passion, empowering them to innovate and thrive within our organization. Central takes pride in giving back to the community, and over the past five years, our team has collectively volunteered over 3,500 hours. Through our “Profits with a Purpose” program, we actively engage in various initiatives throughout the year, including an annual company-wide Toys for Tots campaign, charity team-building events, annual fundraising drives, and smaller charitable programs like our Pick’Ems with a Purpose League. In the past year alone, we raised over $35,000, distributed thousands of toys to children, and dedicated thousands of hours to support various charitable causes. At Central, we don’t just work together; we make a meaningful impact together.
Supplier Spotlight: Albaugh Specialty Products
Anyone who has managed a newly seeded turf site or an overseeded lawn area knows that crabgrass and broadleaf weeds are a problem at seeding. Grassy and broadleaf weeds can spread aggressively, outcompeting the desired turfgrass seed. Mesotrione is typically the answer for at-seeding crabgrass control, but what about situations where you want to control broadleaf weeds as well? Dicamba and triclopyr are typical solutions for broadleaf weed control, but turf managers are often reluctant to use root-inhibiting herbicides at seeding.
Now you have a solution to both problems. Sublime™ herbicide from Albaugh Specialty Products eliminates the worry and gives you all-in-one crabgrass and broadleaf control with added application flexibility and minimal impact on turf emergence and establishment.
In a trial to compare the benefits of Sublime vs. mesotrione alone Virginia Tech researchers evaluated Sublime @24 fl oz/A and 32 fl oz/A compared to mesotrione @4 fl oz/A and 8 fl oz/A. Applications were made one week prior to seeding, at-seeding, and one-week post-seeding on tall fescue, perennial rye, and Kentucky bluegrass turf. The data suggests that Sublime, applied at 24 or 32 fl oz/A provides improved turf safety over mesotrione and may be safely applied to these turf types at one-week prior to seeding and at seeding with minimal impact on emergence and turf establishment. It is important to note, however, that applications made one-week post-seeding may result in turfgrass injury. Learn More
Primera Featured Supply Partner Sponsors
Learn more about Primera
Our History
Since the company’s inception in 2001, a large number of the industry’s leading distributors and suppliers have joined Primera in an effort to exceed the market in terms of growth while enhancing their efficiency and profitability. In our 21 years as a cooperative, we have continued to evolve in order to better meet the needs of our members. Beginning in the early 2000s, Primera set out to establish the company’s reputation in the industry. In order to accommodate the growing number of new Member-Owners and Suppliers joining the co-op, Primera implemented a customer-service business strategy for our membership during the ensuing decade. In 2020, we took steps and made a commitment to become the industry’s foremost strategic partner for both our Member-Owner Companies and our Supplier Partners.
Our Values
Integrity – Conduct business following the highest ethical standards. Stay true to yourself while cultivating trustworthy relationships. Always act openly and honestly with good intentions. Keep your word and take responsibility for the outcomes.
Mindset – An uncompromising commitment to achieving one’s full potential. Consider and implement innovative concepts. Drive cutting-edge data solutions. Encourage innovation in order to achieve exponential growth.
Performance & Accountability – Simplify in order to speed up the achievement of our goals. Prepare for, respond effectively to, and drive change. Keep your attention on the things that matter, and act. Perform in ways that are above and above what is expected of you.
Collaboration & Teamwork – Respect and thrive on each facet of diversity. Consider all relevant factors before making decisions. Work together to increase the value provided to customers. Communicate effectively in order to get meaningful results.
At Primera, we are motivated by a quest for excellence that is embodied in our vision, mission, and values. In order to achieve our goals, we institute stringent membership requirements and form strategic partnerships with best-in-class suppliers that provide products and services of the highest quality.
Join Us Now
Learn more about becoming a Primera Distributor or Supply Member