Exploring Academic Careers for Young Professionals

An In-Depth Examination by YPC Member, Michael Wijesinghe Academic Survey Results Academic roles in horticulture and floriculture are vital to the future of our industry. They ensure that the next generation has opportunities to learn about and enter our industry. The American Floral Endowment’s Young Professionals Council surveyed 22 academic professionals who work in floriculture and horticulture —a great response from AFE’s faculty network. With various backgrounds, experiences, and years in their positions, these survey respondents provided both guidance and reasonable expectations for young adults considering or preparing for a career in academia within our industry. The good news is that the results show several institutions plan to hire within their floriculture/horticulture departments in the next 1-3 years – more…

Press Release: Giving Back at Year End

Support Floral Industry Programs Through AFEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAlexandria, Virginia, December 13, 2021 –The American Floral Endowment (AFE) is asking the floral community to consider a year-end gift to the industry this holiday season. By making a donation to AFE, you are supporting the continued success of our industry through programs and resources aimed at solving challenges and promoting opportunities in floriculture.What Does Your Contribution Support?For 60 years, and only through industry support, AFE has provided vital research, programs, and resources to advance the floral industry. Much of the way flowers are grown and processed today are direct results of AFE-funded research. Cold chain management, care and handling, shipping practices, and pest & disease protocols are key to the success of our…

Support the Future of Floral Before Year End

Support the Future of Floral by Making a Donation and Sharing Our Year-End Ads!Consider a year-end gift to the floral industry this holiday season. By making a donation to AFE, you are supporting the continued success of our industry through programs and resources aimed at solving challenges and promoting opportunities in floriculture.For 60 years, and only through industry support, AFE has provided vital research, programs, and resources to advance the floral industry. Much of the way flowers are grown and processed today are direct results of AFE-funded research. Cold chain management, care and handling, shipping practices, and pest & disease protocols are key to the success of our industry. Industry contributions support:Research to produce healthier, longer-lasting flowers and plants to boost…

Upcoming Webinar Releasing Consumer Houseplant Study Results

The Floral Marketing Fund (FMF) will host a webinar on December 9th at 1 PM Eastern to present results from a consumer preferences study about houseplants conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study’s researchers, Dr. Melinda Knuth, NC State University, Dr. Hayk Khachatryan, Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, UF/IFAS, and Dr. Charlie Hall, Texas A&M University, will reveal the data, address trends in houseplant purchasing, and discuss how the industry can capitalize on them. Register for the webinar at: https://bit.ly/Consumer20.To better understand the rising popularity of houseplants over the last decade, this study addresses the gaps in information that speak to the main drivers of consumer usage. Most recently, due in part to COVID-19, sales have seen further growth because…

Special 60th Anniversary Edition of the AFE Bulletin

Past, Present,and Future As AFE’s 60th year comes to a close, we hope you’ll enjoy our 60th Anniversary Special Edition Bulletin highlighting AFE’s programs, accomplishments, and impact on the industry. Special thanks to our 60th Anniversary Campaign sponsors who are recognized throughout the issue.Take a walk down memory lane with us in this special publication, where we will not only share our history and successes but also recognize the many organizations and individuals who have supported AFE’s growth. This extended issue shows the past, present, and future of AFE including our research, scholarships, internships, and grants.

Career Insights for Young Professionals

Survey Results and Webinar RecordingThis fall, the Endowment created two informal surveys for professionals in the industry and academia about their experiences and advice to help young professionals interested in pursuing a career in floriculture/horticulture. The surveys include insights on the job market, career development, application advice, background on how professionals attained their current roles, and more. The surveys were released to AFE’s community of faculty, donors, and industry members.With the help of our Young Professionals Council (YPC) through member Michael Wijesinghe, AFE analyzed the data and compiled the results into two executive summaries, one for the Industry Survey and one for the Academic Survey. We are pleased to release these resources for young professionals interested in careers in our…

AFE’s Research Achievements

The challenges facing the flower industry have changed throughout the last 60 years, and with these changes, AFE has redirected research efforts adapting to the needs of the community that we serve. As opportunities developed from these challenges, AFE supported research to enhance product quality, share best practices, and improve profits leading to a more successful floral industry. Many projects have been funded at universities and colleges across the U.S. through the years. Results from these projects have led to new production practices, postharvest & shipping procedures, reduced losses from pests & diseases, and improved longer lasting flowers. AFE funded research has transformed the floral industry as we know it today and resulted in improved quality of flowers reaching consumers.Let’s take…

Announcing Industry-Wide Recruitment Resources

We have announced new customizable recruitment resources developed to help every industry segment’s local and national recruiting efforts. When used with the AFE Career Center, these templates provide floral industry members with everything they need to promote open positions and recruit broadly. This library of ready-to-use documents includes job descriptions, job advertisements, checklists, guides for internship programs, career fair materials, and more… to support a faster avenue for connecting with, interviewing, and hiring local talent. “With labor being one of the more pressing challenges facing the floriculture industry, AFE understands the time and effort industry members must expend when looking for additional team members,” says AFE Chairman Laura Shinall, Co-Owner of FreshPath Marketing. “These comprehensive resources align with the AFE Career Center and allow businesses of any size…

Floral Design Grants Offer Scholarships to Floral Design Students

James and Helen Phillip Scholarship Fund Awards $33,000 We have awarded $33,000 in block grants to five colleges and universities through the James and Helen Phillip Floral Design Scholarship Fund for the 2021-22 academic year.James and Helen PhillipEstablished to honor James and Helen Phillip by their daughter Lee Phillip Bell, the Grant provides scholarship assistance to students enrolled in floral design programs.  Initially funded in 2008, the program leaves a legacy honoring The Phillips that supports the education of students and intends to create a pool of trained workers to fill positions in retail flower shops. The James and Helen Phillip Floral Design Scholarship Fund prioritizes funding for colleges and universities in the Great Lakes region; however, these grants are also…

Increasing Demand and Satisfaction in the Floral Industry

New Study Results Explores Purchasing, Preferences, and Targeted Messaging The Floral Marketing Fund (FMF) released the results from the first of three consumer preferences studies being completed in 2021, Increasing Demand and Satisfaction in the Floral Industry. The results come from two separate surveys conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (one in July of 2020 and one in June of 2021) by researchers Dr. Benjamin L. Campbell, Dr. Julie H. Campbell, and Dr. Jessica A. Holt at the University of Georgia. The study was funded by the FMF, whose mission is to develop, support, and promote collaborative fundraising, research, and marketing efforts to increase flower sales. As businesses look to serve new and existing customers, they must ensure they are not only driving…

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