{"id":25430,"date":"2026-08-19T18:30:25","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T18:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/endowment.org\/?post_type=news&#038;p=25430"},"modified":"2026-08-19T18:30:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T18:30:26","slug":"a-letter-from-afes-outgoing-chairman-david-garcia","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/endowment.org\/es\/news\/a-letter-from-afes-outgoing-chairman-david-garcia","title":{"rendered":"Una carta del presidente saliente de AFE, David Garcia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Estimados simpatizantes y amigos de AFE:,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It has been a tremendous honor to serve as Chairman of the American Floral Endowment over the past two years. When I began my term, I shared my confidence in AFE and optimism for where we were headed. Today, as my term comes to a close and AFE celebrates 65 years of serving the floral industry, I am even more confident in the important role this organization will play in our industry\u2019s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AFE was built on the idea that our industry is stronger when we invest in our future together. I have seen that idea in action through the dedication of our Trustees and staff, the generosity of our donors, and collaboration throughout the floral community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Together, we have accomplished a great deal:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Expanded AFE\u2019s investment in innovative research addressing pressing industry challenges, from pest and disease management to production, postharvest, sustainability, and emerging technologies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Distributed more than $1.5 million in research, scholarship, and grant funding during the<a href=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/es\/noticias\/afe-annual-report-2024-2025\/\"> 2024-2025 fiscal year<\/a> alone.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Launched a new<a href=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/es\/noticias\/comunidad-floral\/\"> explainer video<\/a> and our website\u2019s AI chatbot, Professor Petal, to raise awareness and make AFE\u2019s resources easier to access.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expanded<a href=\"http:\/\/sustainabloom.org\/\"> Sustainabloom<\/a> as a free, research-based sustainability resource for the entire floral supply chain. In 2026, the program received<a href=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/es\/noticias\/premio-destacado-sustainabloom-2026\/\"> Greenhouse Grower\u2019s Spotlight Award<\/a> for its industry impact.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Continued investing in our next generation through scholarships, internships, the Young Professionals Council, and the new<a href=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/es\/recursos\/ypc\/\"> Professional Development &amp; Leadership Webinar Series<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strengthened AFE\u2019s long-term foundation through<a href=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/es\/donar\/fondos-nominativos\/\"> Fondos nominativos<\/a>, including six new funds established this year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Launched a redesigned<a href=\"https:\/\/floralmarketingfund.org\/\"> Fondo de Marketing Floral<\/a> website, making important consumer research and marketing resources easier to access.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reached our 65th anniversary with more than $23 million invested back into the floral industry since AFE\u2019s founding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div\n\tid=\"block_54f09e14dd552a746f702380dbed148e\"\n\tclass=\"nmc-block nmc-block--list-columns aligntrue  list-columns   aligntrue\">\n\t    <div class=\"list-columns\">\n    \n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our industry continues to evolve, bringing new challenges and opportunities. Research is becoming more complex and costly, developing the next generation requires continued investment, and businesses need reliable resources to adapt. At the same time, outside funding sources are becoming less certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>That makes AFE\u2019s role more important than ever.<\/strong> For more than six decades, the Endowment has provided a way for the floral industry to invest in itself, creating a lasting foundation of resources, opportunities, and solutions for generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">None of what we have accomplished would have been possible without AFE\u2019s dedicated staff, Board of Trustees, donors, volunteers, researchers, educators, industry partners, and supporters. Thank you for your commitment and confidence in AFE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As my term concludes, I look forward to serving as Immediate Past Chairman and supporting our incoming Chairman, Art Van Wingerden of<a href=\"https:\/\/www.metrolinagreenhouses.com\/\"> Metrolina Greenhouses<\/a>. I am confident AFE will continue building on the strong foundation so many have helped create.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I leave you with the same invitation I shared when my term began: get involved. The future of floriculture belongs to all of us. Whether through<a href=\"http:\/\/endowment.org\/es\/donar\/\"> a contribution<\/a>, volunteering your expertise, hosting an intern, sharing our resources, or helping others understand AFE\u2019s impact, there is a role for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"970\" height=\"968\" src=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/David-Garcia-Headshot.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25434\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.0020740981739802;width:282px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/David-Garcia-Headshot.png 970w, https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/David-Garcia-Headshot-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/David-Garcia-Headshot-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/David-Garcia-Headshot-768x766.png 768w, https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/David-Garcia-Headshot-12x12.png 12w, https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/David-Garcia-Headshot-540x539.png 540w, https:\/\/endowment.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/David-Garcia-Headshot-900x898.png 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 970px) 100vw, 970px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thank you for the opportunity to serve as Chairman. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and excited to see what the next 65 years will bring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Atentamente,<br><strong>David Garc\u00eda<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Pete Garcia Company\/Garcia Group<br>Presidente, American Floral Endowment<\/p>","protected":false},"template":"","news-categories":[],"class_list":["post-25430","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A Letter from AFE\u2019s Outgoing Chairman, David Garcia - American Floral Endowment<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/endowment.org\/es\/noticias\/a-letter-from-afes-outgoing-chairman-david-garcia\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_ES\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Letter from AFE\u2019s Outgoing Chairman, David Garcia - American Floral Endowment\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Dear AFE Supporters and Friends, It has been a tremendous honor to serve as Chairman of the American Floral Endowment over the past two years. 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