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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,…

Transitioning from Classroom to Industry – Students Prepare for Internships

Twelve exceptional students from colleges and universities around the U.S. are embarking on new professional development journeys as they begin their internships through AFE’s prestigious Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program and Mosmiller Intern Scholarship Program. These students are off to put their classroom knowledge to use as they gain important hands-on experience at production and retail operations.There is no doubt this will be a life-changing experience for each one of these students. Follow along with our interns on our social media accounts (listed below), where they will be sharing videos showcasing their experiences along the way! Past intern, Erin Sparks, shares her experience on how her internship impacted her:“I gained so much valuable experience working with professional growers…

Make New Sustainability Practices Your Business Reality

Sustainability isn’t just water conservation or recycling; it can be so much more, such as sustainable investing or creating culture first leadership, says Dr. Melinda Knuth, assistant professor of horticulture at North Carolina State University, speaking at the 2023 Floriexpo convention in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Dr. Knuth is co-leading the American Floral Endowment’s floriculture sustainability project with NC State’s Dr. Brian Jackson.Read more about the project here: https://endowment.org/sustainability/.“Some of these practices may be familiar or have existed for some time but have new products that are reinvigorating the category. Some practices are completely new ideas that have come about in the last year.” Dr. Knuth says.During an education session at the business-to-business floral show, Dr. Knuth shared some of the…

Become a Media Partner! R.I.S.E. Sharable Ads

Support The Floral Industry – Share Our Campaign Ads!While a sponsorship or donation goes a long way in funding more resources for floral, you can also contribute by downloading, sharing, and publishing our 2023 Campaign ads through June 30th. By sharing these ads through your esteemed publications, website, or social media platforms, you not only play a pivotal role in helping us raise vital funds, but also contribute to the continued growth and success of our industry as a whole. Select your preferred ad(s) from our website, download, and share with your network to support us as we R.I.S.E. up to support the industry together. The campaign runs until June 30th. Please be sure to tag AFE on social media and…

The Driving Forces of Sustainability

Remember when organic labels appeared before an official organic definition? We are at the same moment with sustainability.Sustainability can be thought of as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,” as defined by the 1987 United Nations Brundtland Commission, yet details in this space are certainly lacking.The semantic openness of sustainability is not something to be managed or eliminated, and it doesn’t lead to meaninglessness. Instead, this is a moving, living definition. For AFE’s floriculture sustainability project, we offer framings of pre-existing notions of sustainable development and use calls to action to transform theory into practice for stakeholders.At the same time, we have to be careful not to greenwash…

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