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Memorial Tribute Established Honoring Katie Kennicott

Pioneer and Goodwill Ambassador A Memorial Tribute has been established through the American Floral Endowment (AFE) honoring Kathleen “Katie” Kennicott, who passed away on October 13, 2023, at the age of 86.Many in the floral industry knew Katie Kennicott best as the sunny, astute and engaging wife (64 years) of Harrison “Red” Kennicott, of the Chicago-based wholesale distributor Kennicott Brothers Company; however, Katie also played a direct role in the company’s success. Over more than 60 years of active involvement in the floral industry, she showed a special talent for making strong connections with customers, suppliers, and others—connections that have helped to change the face of the industry.Katie met Red when both were students at Michigan State University; they married the…

Donor Spotlight: David Garcia

David Garcia, President of Pete Garcia Company/Garcia Group, is a highly experienced leader in the floral industry. After graduating from the University of Georgia in 1983, he joined his family business, founded by his father, Pete Garcia, in 1965, which has since evolved into a well-respected supplier of floral hard goods to North America. David has adeptly managed various areas throughout his tenure, showcasing his versatility and deep industry knowledge.David’s connection to AFE is deeply rooted in his family’s legacy, with his father and uncle having served as AFE trustees. Since 1976, The Pete Garcia Company/Garcia Group has consistently contributed to the floral industry through annual support to AFE, marking nearly five decades of dedicated partnership in providing essential resources…

A Launchpad for an Exciting Career in Floriculture: AFE’s Vic & Margaret Ball Internship Program

Learning from experienced professionals, completing hands-on training, and making connections that could lead to your dream job—that’s just some of what the American Floral Endowment’s Vic and Margaret Ball Internship Program provides for students!Through the Vic and Margaret Ball Internship Program, interns are placed at top production greenhouses across the United States, where they work alongside experienced professionals to learn about all aspects of the industry, from growing and harvesting flowers, to shipping, and conducting research and testing. One of the highlights of the Program is the opportunity for students’ advisors to visit them on-site. During the visit, advisors have the chance to check in with the interns, tour the site, and meet the student’s coworkers and supervisors. After each visit…

Optimizing the Efficacy of Beneficial Bacteria Against Botrytis Blight in Greenhouse Crops

Botrytis cinerea is the causal agent of botrytis blight or gray mold, the most common and economically devasting disease for greenhouse crops. Fungicides are routinely used to control Botrytis; however, some Botrytis strains are developing resistance to those chemicals. Beneficial bacteria have been used successfully as biological control agents for disease control. The Jones laboratory at Ohio State University has screened a collection of beneficial bacteria to identify strains that can control Botrytis blight in petunia. These experiments have identified some strains of Pseudomonas bacteria that are effective microbial biocontrol agents (MBCAs). We have characterized these bacteria to identify potential modes of action by which they inhibit the severity of Botrytis blight. This research was made possible by a research…

Meinders Fund Helps Florists Grow their Skills & Elevate Their Businesses

This year, two Mississippi State University Extension students were able to attend the MSU Extension Professional Florist Certificate Program thanks to support from the Meinders Retail Florist Education Fund. The MSU program consists of four floral design levels with multiple courses per level. This year’s recipients, Saylor Wiley and Wanda Norton, participated in the Level III workshop with support from AFE’s Meinders Retail Florist Education Grant Fund. Established through generous contributions from longtime industry members and AFE supporters, Herman and LaDonna Meinders, the Meinders fund supports reduced or free registration fees to floral industry events or educational programs for retail florists by providing grants or scholarships to nonprofit floral industry organizations for this purpose. Other funding recipients this year include the American…

AFE Spotlight at Proflora 2023: Two Informative Presentations and an Award of Recognition

Proflora, Colombia’s premier horticultural trade show, marked a significant milestone as it celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. After a four-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the event returned in-person with a bang, drawing over 300 exhibitors from 18 different countries. Organized by Asocolflores, one of the key sponsors of the American Floral Endowment’s Thrips and Botrytis Campaign, Proflora 2023 was a resounding success. AFE’s Research Director Dr. Terril Nell, Executive Committee Chairman Ken Young, and researchers Dr. Melissa Muñoz and Ashley Summerfield attended, representing the Endowment and sharing our important work. AFE seized this opportunity to connect with industry members from across the world and delivered two informative presentations that highlighted the latest research on Thrips and Botrytis management..Dr. Melissa…

Partnering to Cultivate Sustainability Across the Global Floral Industry

The American Floral Endowment Becomes Newest Member of the Floriculture Sustainability InitiativeThe American Floral Endowment (AFE) has become the newest Associate Member of the Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI). This partnership unites AFE, a prominent US-based floriculture funding nonprofit, with FSI, an esteemed international nonprofit with a focus on sustainability.Through AFE’s membership with FSI, this new partnership will strengthen the floriculture industry through collaboration, sharing experiences, and broadened perspectives. “Sustainability is hugely impactful and affects floriculture globally. By joining forces, we are expanding the impact and effectiveness of both of our initiatives and programs,” stated AFE’s Executive Director Debi Chedester, CAE.AFE is an autonomous organization with a clear vision supporting a strong, unified floriculture community fostering industry innovation and growth to…

A Spotlight on Thrips and Botrytis Management at Cultivate 2023

An incredible 188 people attended AFE’s educational session “Effective Management of Thrips and Botrytis” at Cultivate ’23 this July. It was one of the highest attended sessions in the history of the event.   This session was part of the American Floral Endowment’s Thrips and Botrytis Campaign, an initiative aimed at reducing the impact of these pests on the floriculture industry. Dr. Rose Buitenhuis from Vineland Research and Innovation Centre shared insights into the components of a successful thrips IPM program, including identification of different thrips species and biological control. Dr. Jim Faust from Clemson University focused on the recommended techniques for reducing botrytis from the greenhouse to the postharvest environment. The session provided participants with practical information that could…

Longer-Lasting Cut Flowers: The Subzero Solution

Discover how cutting-edge research can help flower growers store flowers for longer durations, ensuring blooms remain fresh and vibrant for extended periods. Hear the direct findings from AFE-funded research along with accessing the full research report. Average vase life visual representation of stored rose ‘Freedom Red’ flowers compared to non-stored control flowers after 4- and 8-week storage durations held at 31°F (-0.6°C) or 39 °F (4°C).Cold storage of cut flowers is often a necessity. On most farms, it is impossible to harvest enough flowers to satisfy the immediate needs of all customers and markets. Storing cut flowers at cold temperatures of 35-39°F reduces respiration and transpiration, allowing them to remain fresh and have a longer vase life.  The duration that flowers…

Helping the Next Generation Succeed at ASHS

Warm weather, beautiful summer blooms, and a vibrant student presence were the backdrop for this year’s American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida from July 31-August 4th, which was attended by nearly 1100 people. AFE was proud to support ASHS’s efforts to engage young professionals by sponsoring the Education and Career Day, the Undergraduate Poster Competition, and the Floriculture Professional Interest Group’s Oral Presentation Competition for Graduate students. AFE’s Research Coordinator Laura Barth attended to present the AFE-sponsored awards and connect with AFE Young Professionals Council (YPC) members and scholarship winners who were in attendance. Events like ASHS are crucial in the development of budding researchers, growers, educators, and leaders, and AFE is dedicated to fostering…

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