R.I.S.E. to Support Floral Between May 15-June 30! Donate Now

Celebrating A United Industry – AFE’s R.I.S.E. to Support Campaign Exceeds Goal

We celebrate and thank the many industry supporters, sponsors, and friends who contributed to this year’s annual fundraiser, R.I.S.E. to Support. Over $135,000 was raised in support of the floral industry through the Endowment’s 2023 Campaign. The success of the campaign shows how committed and united our industry is to ongoing progress, supporting future generations, education, and research.From May 15th through June 30th, 2023, AFE’s Board of Trustees and Staff connected with the floral industry through a virtual fundraising campaign to increase annual support for the Endowment’s vital industry programs, which were noted in this year’s theme of R.I.S.E.: Research, Internships, Scholarships, and Education for all sectors. The joint fundraising goal was set at $100,000. Over the month and a half,…

AFE at AIFD: A Whirlwind Floral Experience

AFE Communications Coordinator Gracie Alvarez had the chance to travel to Chicago for the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) Symposium over the Fourth of July weekend! While there, she visited the “Bringing FFA to AIFD” group, viewed main stage showcases from world-renowned designers, and participated in the PFDE test.  Renee’ Potter, Arizona Retail Florist Travel Grant Recipient Renee’ Potter, our 2023 Arizona Retail Florist Travel Grant Recipient, used her grant funding to attend this year’s Symposium. Renee’ Potter is the owner of Fred’s Flowers in Tempe, AZ. Renee’ was able to stay for the full Symposium and had this to say about her experience: “The AIFD Symposium was great as always! I was inspired by the mainstage design programs. There…

Ensuring Tomorrow’s Leaders Have Access to Floral Education Today

The Phillip Family left a profound impact on floral design through the James and Helen Phillip Floral Design Grant, and today, their legacy is carried forward through the work of inspired floral design students at six institutions across the country.This grant directly supports floral design programs, ensuring a robust learning environment and making floral design programs more attractive to students. Bringing more students into floral design helps to both educate them on the wide range of career possibilities in our industry, and to cultivate a pool of skilled workers who can fill positions in retail flower shops or start their own businesses after graduation. AFE educational grants like these strive to educate, uplift and provide resources for the next generation…

New Salary Data Showcases the Promise of Horticulture Careers

Seed Your Future (SYF), in collaboration with theAmerican Floral Endowment (AFE) and North Carolina State University, is excited to announce the results of its comprehensive horticultural salary survey. The survey, conducted in Fall 2022, aimed to provide valuable insights into the salaries and benefits offered across various positions within the horticultural industry. AFE is releasing an additional, condensed version of the report focusing on positions within the floriculture industry. “We are thrilled to possess data that allows us to compare the salaries and benefits in floriculture with those in broader sectors of agriculture. Our objective is to share this information in order to attract a wider range of individuals to our industry, encompassing various roles from cultivation to accounting.” — Debi Chedester,…

New Breakthroughs in Thrips and Botrytis Management: A Special Presentation at Cultivate ‘23

This summer marks an exciting milestone in our Thrips and Botrytis Campaign as we unveil our extensive results and insights to the industry.As part of this release, we cordially invite you to join us at Cultivate on Monday, July 17, from 10:30 – 11:30 am for a special presentation of some of our findings. Titled “Effective Management of Thrips and Botrytis,” this session will feature practical takeaways from leading researchers, Dr. Jim Faust of Clemson University and Dr. Rose Buitenhuis of Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. You’ll be introduced to cutting-edge discoveries and optimal strategies for managing and controlling thrips and botrytis in your operation. We’ll also delve into the essential topics of fungicide resistance and the use of biological…

Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation – A Sustainable Disease Management Technique for the Control of Soilborne Pathogens in Specialty Cut Flowers

Within the U.S. floriculture industry, cut flowers account for over $382 million in annual national sales (NASS 2019). Although imported cut flowers make up the majority of purchases, locally grown specialty cut flowers are facing a tremendous increase in popularity. This phenomenon is well reflected in the number of members of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG), which has increased by more than 100% in the last five years (J. Laushman). Specialty cut flower production systems are diverse and include the use of soilless, soil-based, or a combination of these substrates, which can be reused over multiple seasons. Along with substrate reuse, the use of soil can introduce the risk of soilborne diseases caused by fungi and oomycete…

Donor Spotlight: David Boulton

David Boulton, owner of Flowers By George, Inc. in Arlington, WA, and second-generation florist, has a deep-rooted love for the floral industry. David grew up spending many hours working alongside his father in their family-owned florist shop learning the industry and the importance of all industry segments working together synergistically.David was introduced to AFE through his mentor, former AFE board member Sten Crissey of Crissey Flowers, Inc. Mr. Crissey recruited David to participate in a phone-athon to raise funding for AFE-supported programs. Having seen how all segments of the industry came together for this fun, yet vital event, David wanted to stay involved.With over 40 years of experience in the floral industry, David has served on many boards and is…

AFE-Funded Programs Featured at Cultivate

Join AFE at Cultivate! Held from July 15-18 in Columbus, Ohio, Cultivate is one of the industry’s leading horticulture events. AFE-funded research will be featured in two exciting educational sessions that will equip you with valuable insights and strategies for effective pest management and sustainable practices in the floral industry. If you haven’t already, register for Cultivate here.We will also be hosting a meet-up for our Young Professionals Council (YPC). Our YPC offers leadership and networking opportunities for young industry professionals 18-25 years old, while also offering them a wide range of volunteer opportunities within the industry. This is a great chance to get involved in the YPC and connect with other members! Learn more and join the YPC today…

Keeping Flowers Fresh: New AFE-Funded Research Exploring Alternatives to Ethylene Inhibitors

Everyone loves receiving a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers, but making sure they stay vibrant on their way to your vase is a challenging task. A major cause for the deterioration of cut flowers is a gaseous molecule called ethylene, a plant hormone that causes flowers to wilt and fade and accelerates the drop of buds, petals, and leaves (Figure 1). In the floriculture industry, ethylene’s effects can significantly reduce the quality and longevity of cut flowers during storage and transport. AFE-funded researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington have been hard at work trying to find a way to inhibit ethylene’s adverse effects, and recent discoveries may offer promising alternatives to the methods currently in use.  Current Solutions…

Advancement and Growth Through Sound Research

Growth and advancement are the keys to success in an ever-changing world. The American Floral Endowment (AFE) aims to aid our industry in these areas by supporting impactful research which addresses current challenges, provides new advances, and shares best practices. Each year, the Endowment funds new and innovative projects targeting current needs based directly on feedback from industry leaders.In 2023-2024, AFE will support 12 research projects in total, including five new research projects and seven continuing projects with $550,000 in funding from the Endowment’s Research Funds.“Research is hugely impactful to our industry, ensuring that the highest quality flowers and plants make it from seed or cuttings to the consumer’s home. These projects will help the industry increase profitability, streamline processes,…

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