Deadline for AFE Scholarships Fast Approaching

Internships are the best way for students to gain valuable hands-on experience to help their studies and future career. The American Floral Endowment (AFE) funds internships for floriculture and environmental horticulture students each year, and the deadline is fast approaching!AFE is now accepting applications for the Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program and the Mosmiller Intern Scholarship program. The deadline for online applications is March 1. Click here for internship information.The Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program was made possible through a generous gift from Vic & Margaret Ball and provides students with an opportunity to gain experience in commercial production. The Ball Intern Scholarship Program offers paid internships in three, four or six month durations and provides scholarships…

AFE Appoints Two New Board Members

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) is pleased to announce Cynthia “Cindy” Hanauer and William “Billy” Hardin, Jr. as new members of its board of trustees. Both will serve a three-year term with the option for a second term. Cynthia “Cindy” HanauerHanauer is founder and CEO of Grand Central Floral, LLC in Jacksonville, Florida. She has worked in the floral industry for 45 years and held senior positions at the Kroger Company, Winn-Dixie Stores and 1-800-Flowers. Hanauer’s areas of expertise include inventory management, visual merchandising and quality assurance. She is chairman of the floral advisory board for the United Fresh Industry Trade Association, a member of the Society of American Florists (SAF) and the Network of Executive Women, and is actively involved…

Pollinator Work Continued Last Week

SAF and AmericanHort participated in two important meetings last week focused on the continuing debate about pollinator health.IR-4, the USDA-funded organization which helps provide EPA with data supporting registration of chemicals for horticulture and other specialty crops, worked with the chemical industry to host a conference on research needs.  Attended by several leading horticultural scientists, along with SAF and AmericanHort, the meeting generated productive dialogue around research needed to answer important questions about our industry’s impact on pollinators and how we can be part of the solution.A second, day-long meeting was held in Washington with the industry task force guiding the Bee and Pollinator Stewardship Initiative, launched by SAF, AmericanHort, the Horticultural Research Initiative (HRI) and the American Floral Endowment…

Memorial Tribute Established in Memory of Ken Benjamin

He later served as chairman of Cenflo which produced nine different publications: Flower News, Grower’s Digest, Floral Mass Marketing, The Flower Book, Flora, Nursery News, The Nursery Book, Food Market News and the Deli Merchandiser. A fixture at most floral industry events, he also served as an AFE trustee for many years. “Ken has always been a good friend of our family and of the industry for many years,” said Jack Van Namen. “Ken never forgot a name or date. He was an icon and a unique individual whom all of us will remember.” or send a check to:American Floral Endowmentc/o Ken Benjamin Memorial Tribute610 Madison St, Ste 101, PMB 803Alexandria, VA 22314 The family is always notified of donations and contributions can be made in…

AFE to Participate in #GivingTuesday December 2

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) announced its participation in #GivingTuesday, a national movement to encourage charitable giving.Following the chaos of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday (Dec. 2) is a unique opportunity to harness the generous spirit of the holiday season and support the floral industry by making a tax-deductible year-end donation to AFE.“No gift is too small,” AFE Executive Director Debi Aker said. “We are tremendously grateful to all our donors for their support over the years.”Each donation bolsters AFE’s efforts to fund research for critical industry issues, provide scholarships, internships and grants for horticulture students across the nation, and conduct groundbreaking consumer and scientific studies with findings available free of charge to industry members. AFE will reach out to the…

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AFE Now Accepting Applications for $10,000 2015 Ecke Scholarship

Paul Ecke Jr.Are you a current or future graduate student with the skills and passion to become the next notable floriculture researcher or educator? If so, apply for the Paul Ecke Jr. M.S./Ph.D. Scholarship Program now through Feb. 1, 2015. Applications are available online.The scholarship honors the late Paul Ecke Jr. of Encinitas, Calif., who made significant contributions to the floriculture industry and believed strongly in research and education. Ecke was concerned about the future of floriculture and recognized that innovative researchers and educators are necessary for the continued success of the industry.Joshua CraverPurdue University2014 Ecke RecipientApplicants must be in the process of successfully completing either a B.S. or M.S. degree in horticulture or a related field, (e.g., agricultural engineering,…

Third Award Bestowed to AFE’s “Murder, Sex and Greed” Video

The “Murder, Sex and Greed” video’s three awards.Three for three! The “Murder, Sex and Greed” animated awareness video produced by AFE in September 2013 has won its third communications award, a Thoth Award bestowed by the National Capital Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. The video was developed to educate the floriculture industry about the positive impacts AFE makes on critical industry concerns.AFE took home the highest award in the internal video category at the 46th Annual Thoth Awards Gala, which celebrates the best public relations campaigns from the Greater Washington, D.C. area. The Thoth Awards is the longest running public relations awards program in the D.C. area. Named for the Egyptian god of communication, the Thoth Awards recognizes…

AFE Partners With National Funeral Directors Association on New Study

AFE, through the Floral Marketing Research Fund (FMRF), is conducting a study with the National Funeral Directors Association to provide insight about how to improve the working relationship between florists and funeral directors and promote the many benefits of flowers and plants.This study aims to: Provide insight as to how retail florists and funeral directors can better work together Determine how funeral directors feel about flowers/plants in the bereavement process Improve or establish a mutually beneficial working relationship between funeral directors and florists Promote the benefits that flowers and plants bring, not only to grieving families but also to the givers who send flowers to memorialize the deceased “AFE and the FMRF are very happy to fund this project that…

New Genetic Engineering Research Aims to Increase Postharvest Life of Cut Flowers

Roses overexpressing MTD. Symptoms are 4 days after spraying Botrytis spores on flowers of a low MTD expressing plant (2-), medium expressing plant (10+), and a high expressing plant (32+).New genetic engineering research from AFE funded researchers at North Carolina State University provides information about how to manage fungal diseases in eco-friendly ways, potentially increasing the postharvest life of cut flowers.Although fungal pathogens, such as Botrytis, cause economically devastating diseases in nursery, field and greenhouse production of important floriculture crops, few genes have been found that are suitable for targeted breeding or engineering specific resistance.This research is focused on expression of a naturally occurring plant resistance gene to produce plants with reduced production costs as well as lower maintenance requirements…