USDA Floriculture Crops Summary Gives Us a Look at Where We’re Growing

As we step into a new season, I’m excited to welcome you back to another year of Growing Further. Whether you’re gearing up for spring planting, reflecting on last year’s lessons, or already deep into production, this time of year always carries a sense of renewed energy and opportunity. Since our last issue, there’s been no shortage of momentum across the floriculture industry.  Like many of you, I’ve been enjoying the reporting on the latest USDA Floriculture Crops Summary and what it tells us about the state of our industry. You can read more insights from our friends at Ball Publishing here, and the full report here. Overall, the report points to a sense of stability, with total floriculture sales…

Air, Electricity, and Insects: A New Recipe for Plant Nutrition?

By Pamela Andrade, University of California, Davis Greenhouse and nursery producers operate under constant pressure to deliver uniform, high-quality plants on predictable production schedules. Whether producing bedding plants, ornamentals, or vegetable transplants, growers depend on reliable inputs, especially growing media and nitrogen fertilizers, to maintain crop performance. However, in recent years, both of these foundational inputs have come under increasing scrutiny due to environmental concerns, rising costs, and supply chain vulnerability. Nitrogen remains the primary driver of plant productivity across horticultural systems. Adequate nitrogen supports vegetative growth, canopy development, and overall plant quality. Yet the global nitrogen fertilizer system is both energy-intensive and vulnerable to disruption. Most synthetic nitrogen fertilizers are produced through the Haber–Bosch process, which converts atmospheric nitrogen…

Growing Knowledge: YPC Members Share Their UF Greenhouse Training Experience

What happens when young professionals in floriculture get the chance to deepen their technical knowledge and immediately apply it in their work? For three members of our Young Professionals Council (YPC), that opportunity came through the University of Florida’s Greenhouse Training Online courses. Through AFE’s educational grant program, we sponsor these 4-week, award-winning certificate courses from UF/IFAS Extension. As a special opportunity provided to the YPC, Maleah Wellmann of Bell Nursery, Mike Wijesinghe of Bell Nursery, and Danielle DelConte of Ball FloraPlant each completed a course designed to strengthen greenhouse production knowledge. From plant disease diagnostics to irrigation management and climate control, the lessons they learned are already helping them think differently about challenges in the greenhouse and bring new…

Advancing Powdery Mildew Resistance in Gerbera Through CRISPR Gene Editing

Powdery mildew is one of the most persistent and economically damaging diseases affecting gerbera production. While some cultivars show partial resistance, most commercial varieties rely heavily on fungicide applications to maintain quality and marketability. Traditional breeding for resistance is time-intensive and difficult to apply to established cultivars, and transgenic approaches can face significant regulatory hurdles. A recent project, led by Dr. Dayton Wilde and his team at the University of Georgia and supported by AFE, explored a promising alternative: using CRISPR gene editing to develop powdery mildew-resistant gerbera more efficiently. Building a Gene Editing Platform for Gerbera Before targeting disease resistance, researchers first needed to establish reliable tissue culture and transformation systems for gerbera. Optimized protocols were successfully developed for…

Art Van Wingerden Appointed AFE Chairman-Elect

The American Floral Endowment’s (AFE) Board of Trustees has appointed Art Van Wingerden, COO of Metrolina Greenhouses, as AFE’s Chairman-Elect. Art will begin his two-year term as Chairman in September 2026, succeeding current Chairman David Garcia of Pete Garcia Company/Garcia Group. Following his term as Chairman, David will continue his service to the organization for an additional two years as Past Chairman. Art’s appointment comes during a milestone year as AFE celebrates its 65th anniversary, an important reminder of the industry’s long-standing commitment to investing in research, education, and scholarships that strengthen floriculture for the future. As COO of Metrolina Greenhouses in Huntersville, North Carolina, Art helps guide one of the largest and most innovative greenhouse operations in the country.…

Ken and Deena Altman Recognized with AFE Ambassador Award

Ken and Deena Altman of Altman Plants have been named the recipients of the American Floral Endowment’s Ambassador Award, a recognition that celebrates their longstanding leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the floral industry. Their outstanding commitment to advancing AFE’s mission was formally recognized last week during the Endowment’s  Board of Trustees Meeting in Sacramento, CA. Established in 2023, the AFE Ambassador Award honors individuals and organizations in the floral industry who exemplify exceptional leadership, advocacy, and service to the Endowment’s mission. For Ken and Deena Altman, that mission has been a shared priority throughout their careers, reflected in both their professional success and their consistent and generous support of floriculture research, education, and innovation. About Ken and Deena Altman Ken…

Discount Available: 2026 Greenhouse Training Online Courses

New for 2026! Plant Growth Regulators, and Cuttings & Stock Plants, and a New Elite Grower training program New courses include Plant Growth Regulators by Dr. Garrett Owen (The Ohio State University), and Cuttings and Stock Plant Management by Dr. Jim Faust (Clemson University) and Dr. John Dole (North Carolina State University). “Greenhouse and Nursery 101” has new material on container nursery production with Dr. Jeb Fields from UF/IFAS. This popular course is now offered twice a year (in May-Jun 2026 and Jan-Feb 2027). A new Elite Grower Program bundles five courses from Greenhouse and Nursery 101, Climate Management, Costing & Profitability, Cuttings & Stock Plant Management, Plant Growth Regulators, Success with your Latino Workforce, and Greenhouse and Horticultural Lighting.…

2026 Grow Pro Webinar Lineup

Our Grow Pro Webinar Series returns in 2026 for its sixth year, continuing to deliver timely, research-based education to growers across the floral and horticulture industry. What began as a targeted training opportunity has grown into one of AFE’s most widely attended educational programs, reaching hundreds of professionals each month and supporting growers at every stage of production. The upcoming year features an especially strong and diverse lineup, with sessions addressing critical production challenges and emerging innovations. Topics range from pest and disease management, substrates, water use, and PGRs to technology integration, temperature management, and sustainable production strategies.  “The Grow Pro Webinar Series has become a vital connection point between research and practice,” said Laura Barth, AFE Research Coordinator. “These webinars allow us to deliver…

Extending the Life of Valentine’s Blooms: The Science of Love

As Valentine’s Day approaches, florists across the country are gearing up for one of the busiest weeks of the year. A time when flowers aren’t just gifts, but powerful symbols of love, joy, and connection. Yet, behind every rose and carnation lies a challenge familiar to anyone in the floral industry: how to keep blooms fresher, longer. With research funding from AFE, Dr. Rasika Dias and his research team at the University of Texas at Arlington are working to tackle this exact issue. Their project focuses on counteracting ethylene, a naturally occurring plant hormone that accelerates aging and causes petals to wilt, buds to drop, and flowers to fade prematurely.  Why Ethylene Matters  Ethylene plays a vital role in plant…

Global Collaboration in Bloom at Proflora 2025

Staff and representatives from AFE and Ceniflores stopped for a photo among some of the entries from the Outstanding Varieties Competition. This month, I had the privilege of representing AFE at Proflora 2025 in Bogotá, Colombia—a leading international floral trade show hosted by Asocolflores. Alongside AFE Past Chairman Ken Young, and AFE-funded researchers Dr. Rose Buitenhuis (Vineland Research and Innovation Centre) and Dr. John Dole (NC State University), we joined thousands of growers, breeders, suppliers, and floral professionals from across the globe. I arrived ahead of the show to serve as a judge for the Outstanding Varieties Competition, an honor that connected me with industry leaders from Colombia, the United States, and the Netherlands. We were tasked with evaluating more…

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