New Fund Honors the Legacy of Yoshimi and Grace Shibata

AFE announced the establishment of the Yoshimi and Grace Shibata Family Fund, honoring the late flower grower and wholesale florist Yoshimi “Shimi” Shibata and his wife Grace. Shimi passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 31 surrounded by family. The floral industry pioneer was 100 years old.Founded by a generous contribution from the Shibata family, this new named fund honors the lifetime legacy of Shimi and Grace and their accomplishments in the floral industry.“Shimi and the entire Shibata family have always been great champions of the industry,” said Executive Director Debi Aker. “We are honored that the family chose to establish this new fund honoring Shimi and the Shibata family through AFE.”Shimi was a past president of the Mt. Eden…

2015 AFE Bulletin Issue Four Available Now

Christopher Currey Joins AFE’s Vic & Margaret Ball Committee

Christopher Currey, Ph.D. has been appointed as the newest member of AFE’s Vic & Margaret Ball Committee.Currey is an assistant professor at Iowa State University and works in the school’s horticulture department.As a member of the Ball Committee, Currey will be working with several AFE Trustees and other faculty members to review student applications for the Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship and provide counsel to help promote the program to students.Currey obtained his Ph.D. from Purdue University and his master’s degree in science from the University of Minnesota. He has already received several awards throughout his career, including the Excellence in Teaching Award in 2012 from Purdue University’s Committee for the Education of Teaching Assistants (CETA). He is also…

New Research Aims to Protect Gerbera From Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is the most common and damaging disease for gerbera crops. Growers often have to apply fungicides to control powdery mildew, which leads to significant increases in production costs.The lack of disease-resistant gerbera plants has been a major limiting factor for crop production.Severe powdery mildewAFE’s latest research report, Powdery Mildew Resistance in Transgenic Gerbera Plants, focused on increasing the plants’ resistance to powdery mildew through gene transference.Researchers Dr. Zhanao Deng, Zhonglin Mou and Natalia A. Peres of the University of Florida have concluded through this research that powdery mildew sensitivity can be overcome by transferring defense-related genes from non-crop plants to crop plants.Results have shown that genes from other plants can be transferred into gerbera crops to increase their…

Nearly $40,000 Awarded in 2015 Scholarships

AFE awarded seventeen students in 2015 with scholarships totaling more than $37,000.“The quality of the applicants this year was outstanding, and we only wish we could help even more young people as they begin their rewarding careers. These deserving students show great promise and will be strong assets to the industry,” AFE Chairman-Elect and Education Committee Chairman Dwight Larimer said.More than 75 applications were received for this scholarship cycle, down just a few from last year.AFE awards scholarships annually, and applications are due by May 1 of each year. American Florists’ Exchange Scholarship – $2,400Recipient: Erin Hsu, University of California-DavisHsu is a junior studying environmental horticulture with a focus on floriculture, and wants to become a floral designer and possibly a…

Altman, Ecke MS/Ph.D. Scholarships in Floriculture Available

AFE is now accepting applications for the new Altman Family Scholarship, and the Paul Ecke, Jr. Scholarship, for graduate students who have the skills and passion to become leading floricultural scientists and educators.The application deadline is Feb. 1.Deena and Ken AltmanThe Altman Family Scholarship was created in 2015 by Ken and Deena Altman – owners of Altman Plants – who support numerous efforts to improve education and research for the industry.The Altmans are highly appreciative of the field of horticulture and enjoy giving back. They established the Center for Applied Horticultural Research as an effort to help the industry. Ken Altman has also been actively involved in AFE’s Education and Scholarship Committees for a decade.“We’re privileged to have Ken on our…

AFE Announces New Trustees and Appointments

AFE Chairman Gabriel Becerra of Golden Flowers announced the appointments of two new trustees and three new officers during AFE’s 2015 Fundraising Dinner, which was held on September 10.David Garcia of The Pete Garcia Company in Atlanta, Ga., and Greg Royer of Royer’s Flowers & Gifts in Lebanon, Pa., will both serve three-year terms on the AFE Board, with the option of a second term.Gabriel BecerraBecerra also announced the appointments of new AFE Executive Committee members Dwight Larimer of DESIGN MASTER color tool, inc., elected to Chairman-Elect; Kristi Huffman of The John Henry Company in Lansing, Mich., appointed as Treasurer/Secretary; and Laura Shinall of Syndicate Sales, Inc. in Kokomo, Ind., appointed as AFE’s Public Relations and Development Committee Chair.The remaining Executive Committee members…

Supporters Rally to Raise Floriculture Funding at 2015 AFE Dinner

AFE’s biggest fundraising event of the year, the 2015 Annual Fundraising Dinner, was a record-breaking occasion, with more than 270 supporters in attendance.New scholarships, educational programs and donors reaching new giving levels were announced at the dinner, which was held on September 10 at The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island in Amelia Island, Fla. in conjunction with the Society of American Florists’ (SAF’s) Annual Convention.Among the many highlights, four new named funds totaling more than $850,000 were announced, and they will join the 12 other named funds created since 2011. Establishing a named fund is a great way to show your support and leave a lasting tribute to the floral industry for years to come.Thank You!2015 Dinner SponsorsReception Sponsor – $4,500TelefloraEntertainment –…

AFE Trustees Get a Taste of the Rockies

AFE Trustees met in Aurora, Colo. in late July for their annual board and committee meetings to plan the Endowment’s programs and goals for the year.The AFE Board had a very successful trip, visiting several industry supporters including Welby Gardens and Tagawa Greenhouses.For their first visit, CEO of Welby Gardens Al Gerace and his son (and Production Manager) Dan were among the few who led the trustees on a behind-the-scenes tour of one of the company’s two growing facilities.Ashley Brinegar at Welby GardensThe Colorado greenhouse, which is also home of the Hardy Boy Plants, specializes in perennials, annuals, herbs, organic vegetables and ornamental grasses. Gerace explained that the small, family-owned business is always expanding, and works closely with other growing…

Memorial Tribute Established for Peggy and Michael Leider

Past AFE Trustee Ken Tagawa has established a new memorial tribute in memory of lifelong floral industry members Margaret Lynch “Peggy” Leider and her son Michael J. Leider Jr. Past AFE Chairman Jim Leider suffered the losses of his wife and son this year, first with the death of Peggy who passed away on March 23, and two months later with the death of his and Peggy’s oldest son Michael, who died on May 24. Peggy succumbed to a long battle with cancer at age 76, and Michael, age 54, also passed away after a brief but painful battle with cancer. “Both Peggy and Michael have given a tremendous amount of support to the industry, side by side with Jim Leider.…