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AFE and Seed Your Future Thank New Bloom Solutions and Sponsors for Providing for the Next Generation

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) and Seed Your Future (SYF) extend their heartfelt gratitude to New Bloom Solutions and all the sponsor collaborators whose generous contributions will help inspire and educate more students about the rewarding career opportunities within floriculture. Their support ensures that young people nationwide are introduced to the diverse and dynamic world of flowers and plants, fostering the next generation of horticulture professionals. In addition to supporting student education, these contributions will further AFE's efforts in funding vital research, scholarships, and educational resources to strengthen the floral industry. This marks the third year that Seed Your Future has received funds from this event, allowing the organization to expand its reach and impact. Through these contributions, Seed Your Future has also established new…

On the Road to Educate: Bringing Our Programs to the Industry

Spring is kicking off as a busy season for the AFE team! From Board Meetings, to industry events, our team has been hard at work spreading the message about AFE and our latest programs, like Sustainabloom, with the industry. Meeting with professionals from across the nation also helps us to hear about current challenges, needs, and areas where AFE programs can help. Pre-Valentine’s Day Miami Experience First up, Michelle Van Norden, Manager of Development and Donor Engagement, took a trip to Miami with Rob Shibata, President of Mt. Eden Floral, ahead of Valentine's Day to see the flower operations during the busy holiday rush. Rob, with his many years of experience in the industry, invited Michelle, who is relatively new…

Cultivating Future Leaders: Graduate Students Shine at 2025 NFF

AFE programs strive to continuously empower young professionals in our industry, and provide them with educational and networking opportunities to grow their experiences and careers in floral. Recently, 10 floriculture graduate students from across the nation were provided the opportunity to attend the 2025 National Floriculture Forum (NFF) with grants from the Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund! The NFF is an annual event that brings together researchers, industry leaders, scientists, and faculty to promote communication, advancement and unity in the floriculture community. AFE sponsors this event each year with an educational grant. The Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund, which supported the students’ attendance this year, awards grants for research and educational projects in floriculture and related fields at…

New Demaree Family Floriculture Advancement Fund Established to Support Industry Innovation

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) is proud to announce the establishment of the Demaree Family Floriculture Advancement Fund, designed to support special projects or programs that address critical and timely challenges facing the floral industry. This new annual grant program will provide funding to projects that are creating innovative resources, education, and advancements. This new fund builds on the legacy of the Del Demaree Family Fund, originally established in 2014 by Del Demaree, Jr., to support the Business Internship program. To better meet the immediate needs of the industry, the Demaree family has repurposed this funding to allow for greater flexibility and responsiveness. AFE continues to offer two paid internship programs, the Mosmiller and Vic and Margaret Ball intern scholar…

Tim and Nancy Galea: A Series of Transitions Builds Success in Floral Industry

From an eager delivery boy to the retired owner of one of the most notable flower shop companies in Michigan, Tim Galea has built a flourishing career in the floriculture industry navigating transitions.  He was just 14 years old when he would hop in the car with his father who would deliver flowers on holidays for some extra money. His father would drive, and Tim would head for the door, greeting the recipient and getting his first lessons in customer service. By the time Tim could drive at age 16, he got himself a job at the same florist and set out on his own, earning money and learning more about the industry. He spent the next 15 years at…

Marigold Magic: A Natural Solution for Thrips Management

Managing thrips populations can be a persistent challenge for greenhouse growers, but an innovative guardian plant strategy using marigolds offers a simple, cost-effective solution. AFE-funded research from our Thrips and Botrytis Campaign has shown that yellow marigolds are highly attractive to western flower thrips, often drawing them out of crops two weeks earlier than traditional monitoring methods like sticky cards. By integrating marigolds into pest management programs, growers can lure thrips away from their crops and even further target them with other biocontrols before they become a serious problem.  A slow-release sachet containing predatory mites (Neoseiulus cucumeris) is attached to the marigold to attack thrips adults and immatures on the foliage. All of this information and more is available online…

Spring Hiring Made Easy – 25% Off!

The AFE Career Center provides valuable online career tools, resources, and industry guides tailored to both individuals seeking opportunities in the floral industry and employers looking to expand their staff. The Center provides the most up-to-date job listings, real-time job alerts, networking opportunities, and free tools to help both candidates and employers during the job search. Since its launch in 2020 by AFE, engagement has more than doubled in both job views and active applications.  Calling All Employers! The AFE Career Center is a comprehensive platform to help streamline your spring hiring process. Connect with eligible employees, review resumes, and post job openings. As part of the Spring Hiring Campaign, take advantage of a special deal: Receive 25% off your job posting by using…

Call for Research Proposals: Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund 

The Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund (FCGFRF) of the American Floral Endowment (AFE) is now accepting grant proposals for research and educational projects in floriculture. The submission deadline is April 1, 2025.Eligible proposals include those addressing critical topics in floriculture related to plant pathology, plant breeding, agricultural economics, agricultural engineering, entomology, and plant physiology. Applications are open to universities, colleges, and federal research institutions across the United States.Since its inception in 1960, the Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation has awarded $7.5 million to support innovative floriculture research. In 2024, the FCGFRF awarded over $134,000 in grants focused on disease resistance, sustainable growing practices, and technological advancements for the industry.Applications must be submitted electronically as a PDF document to AFE Research Coordinator Laura Barth (lbarth@afeendowment.org) by April 1,…

Looking Ahead: Resources, Opportunities, and Innovations from AFE

Happy 2025, floral industry! We hope your year is off to a great start. AFE’s team is excited to kick off another incredible year filled with free educational programming, expanded funding opportunities, and new resources tailored for every segment of the floral industry. Here’s a glimpse of what you can be looking ahead to in 2025: Tailored Resources for Every Segment of the Industry We recognize that the range of jobs in the floral industry is diverse, with unique challenges and opportunities across different segments. That’s why we’ve developed landing pages specifically tailored to your needs - on our homepage, you can access a customized library of programs, research results, and latest news for your profession! Check it out here.…

TAMU Professor Recounts AFE’s Impact on Her Career

While pursuing her Master of Science in Horticulture at Texas A&M University (TAMU), Dr. Xuan (Jade) Wu, AIFD, CFD, EMC, CEJ, had the opportunity to serve as a lab instructor for a floral design course. This experience sparked her passion for the field and introduced her to the American Floral Endowment (AFE). It was a moment in her educational path that fused her future ambitions with an organization that was well-equipped to help her achieve them.  “AFE significantly impacted my whole professional development journey,” she said. After completing her undergraduate studies at Beijing Forestry University in China, Wu traveled to the United States to work toward her master’s degree with a concentration in rose breeding and genetics. She set her…

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