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Donor Spotlight: Greg Royer

Greg Royer is an owner and Chairman of Royer’s Flowers and Gifts in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. From its humble beginning in the late 1930s, when Greg’s grandmother, Hannah, grew violets on her windowsill and sold them to neighbors to make extra money for the family — to today, serving central Pennsylvania with 17 stores along with three stores in Columbus, Ohio, the company has had quite a transformation. One might say Greg has been in the flower business since birth, as it was a family effort to run the business.  Greg first learned of AFE when his father, Ken, was on the board. Supporting AFE has been a long-term effort for the Royers, and Greg is proud to continue the effort.  …

Enhancing Cut Flower Quality & Vase Life with Beneficial Microorganisms

In the ever-evolving world of cut flower production, sustainability and quality remain top priorities for both growers and consumers. Recent research at The Ohio State University funded by AFE focuses on the use of biostimulants—microorganisms and humic substances—to improve the growth, quality, time-to-harvest, and vase life of cut flowers while reducing the need for conventional fertilizers. These promising results may provide growers with effective alternatives to traditional chemical inputs that still support high-quality crops. Learn more from their recent research update below! By Laura Chapin, Juan Quijia Pillajo and Michelle Jones, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University, Wooster Background Cut flowers are cultivated in various environments, ranging from open fields to greenhouses, hoop houses, high tunnels,…

A Glimpse Into Our Vic & Margaret Ball Internship

This year, nine eager undergraduates  are participating in our Vic & Margaret Ball and Mosmiller Internship Programs. These students have been hard at work learning first-hand from industry professionals and applying their classroom knowledge at their internship sites across the nation!  A key part of our Vic & Margaret Ball Internship Program, which places students at commercial production greenhouses or nurseries, is allowing faculty advisors to travel to visit students at their internship site – covered by AFE. This gives advisors a chance to see their students in action and students an opportunity to check in with their advisor, show them around their site, and talk about what they’ve learned so far.  Dr. Kimberly Williams is a Professor in Greenhouse…

AFE Chairman David Garcia’s Commitment to the Future of Floriculture

I am excited and honored to serve as Chairman of The American Floral Endowment. For more than 40 years, AFE has been an important way of giving back to our industry to both my family and our company. My uncle Ramon (Board of Trustees from 2009 to 2015), as well as my father Pete (Trustee from 1989-1993 to Chairman 1993-1995), instilled in me the importance of the Endowment and its work. As I look forward to my term as Chairman, I am confident where we are and optimistic about how we will move forward. In 2021, the Board intensely reworked our Strategic Plan to align with our industry's needs. Since then, we’ve also set aggressive goals in Budgeting and Fundraising…

Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund’s 2024 Research and Educational Funding

The Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund of the American Floral Endowment has announced new projects for funding. Under the new partnership announced earlier this year, the Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation has joined with the American Floral Endowment (AFE) as a named fund to continue the mission and legacy of the Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation. Since its inception in 1960, the Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation contributed over $7.4 million to support floriculture research initiatives. The new Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund (FCGFRF) committee, formed from the Foundation Board members will continue this legacy through AFE, awarding grants for research and educational projects in floriculture and related fields at universities, colleges, and Federal research institutions in the United States. Grants…

A Letter from AFE’s Outgoing Chairman, Ken Young

Dear AFE Supporters and Friends, It has been a true honor to serve as the Endowment’s Chairman over the past two years. AFE has remained focused on our mission and continued to provide critical funding to support our industry. The past two years have been filled with many accomplishments resulting from the work of AFE’s incredible Staff and Trustees, along with unwavering support from the industry. The Endowment reached a significant milestone in 2023, surpassing $20,000,000 in funding for research, education, scholarships, and internships to benefit our industry. Here are just a few of the many things we have accomplished… Launched the Thrips & Botrytis Library, providing new valuable resources to growers which was the result of $1,500,000 in new…

The Fight Against Petal Blight

Researchers at Clemson University are looking into new ways to control Asteraceae petal blight, a fungal disease that causes specks and streaks to appear on the petals of certain flowers, making them unsellable. Their project seeks to minimize petal blight by finding the most common causal organisms, identifying them, and discovering the most effective strategies to combat them. One year into their project, they give an update on their work, and their plans for the next year! By Dr. Julia L. Kerrigan, Clemson University Our project was created in response to growers in the cut flower industry, particularly those in the Bogota, Colombia area, who face economic losses due to the occurrence of petal blight. Frequently, specks and streaks appear…

Celebrating & Providing for the Rising Stars of Floriculture

We love the chance to uplift young professionals in our industry! AFE has been active at a few industry events lately networking, promoting opportunities, and sharing educational programs with the best and brightest of the next generation. We firmly believe that today’s young professionals are tomorrow’s leaders - and we want to support them in every way we can!  Cultivate’24 in Columbus, Ohio AFE’s annual Board meeting coincided with Cultivate’24 in Columbus, Ohio, this year. We took advantage of this great opportunity to host a networking dinner with AFE’s Board, comprised of industry leaders across all segments, and invite members of our Young Professionals Council (YPC), program recipients, and other floral community supporters of the Endowment. We shared updates on…

$67,000+ Awarded to 24 Students through Scholarships

Over the last six decades, the American Floral Endowment (AFE) has invested more than $20 million into the industry through internships, scholarships, education, and research to help support the next generation of floriculture leaders.  With a staunch commitment to education, AFE provides more academic scholarships in floriculture than any other organization, helping to alleviate the financial burden of higher learning and proactively strengthening the industry well into the future. This year, through the generosity of our donors, we provided $67,600 in scholarships – nearly $10,000 more than the year before. In 2024, 24 students from universities in the United States and Canada were awarded scholarships. This year, we received 106 applications reviewed and scored by 60 industry member volunteers.  Please…

New Officers & Trustees Appointed

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) is pleased to announce the new Chairman of the Board, Officers, and Trustees appointments effective September 1, 2024. AFE Officers and Trustees play a crucial role in setting the long-term strategic direction of the Endowment’s research and educational programs and resources, offering their unique knowledge to assist in carrying out our mission.  Trustees volunteer their time and experience, participate in all AFE events and meetings, and travel at their own expense. They are elected by the Board’s Nominating Committee and serve a three-year term with the option of an additional three-year term. Additionally, a new Young Professionals Council Advisor to the Board has been named. New Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee Appointments David…

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