To LED or Not to LED

By Erik RunkleLight-emitting diodes (LEDs) have captured the interest of a lot of greenhouse growers as well as academics. One of the best ways to exploit this lighting technology is to grow young plants indoors. Here, we have full control of the growing environment. While LEDs have rapidly advanced, especially in the last five years, we still have more questions than answers. With support from American Floral Endowment, we have expanded our understanding of how different light wavebands (or colors) regulate growth. This includes plant architecture, leaf color, and flowering time across a range of floriculture species.Growing Indoor PlantsEarlier this year, we wrote a five-part series in GrowerTalks magazine, in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Florida. In the…

2020 National Floriculture Forum

The American Floral Endowment had the opportunity to partner with the 2020 National Floriculture Forum held in Charlotte, NC from February 28th through March 1st. This weekend was filled with an incredible depth of knowledge shared amongst peers and the industry. The National Floriculture Forum (NFF) is an annual educational meeting of stakeholders from academic institutions, governmental agencies, and the greenhouse industry. The timing of the NFF overlapped with AFE’s Board Meetings to create an impactful and engaging weekend for our industry. The weekend consisted of a number of meetings and presentations that included topics on the impact of hemp on the floriculture industry, how to develop effective collaborations, effective outreach to the floriculture industry, and other topics. The forum discussed how we…

Dollar-for-Dollar Gift-Match Opportunity!

Friends of the floral industry, double your impact!We are happy to announce that Smithers-Oasis/ FLORALIFE® is partnering with us for the third year in a row of gift-matching. The challenge supports AFE’s vital work that gives so much to the cut-flower industry.Today, you have the opportunity to support the Endowment, even MORE, thanks to the Gift-Matching AFE Challenge issued by Smithers-Oasis/FLORALIFE®.Now through December 31, 2019, Smithers-Oasis/FLORALIFE® will match your donations to AFE, dollar-for-dollar, up to $20,000. In other words, when you give your support to AFE, you’re not only investing in the future of the floral industry – you are DOUBLING your contribution!For nearly 60 years, AFE has been leading the charge to identify solutions to tough industry challenges. Since 1961, it…

Getting Back to the Basics: Cooling, Cleanliness and Care

Back to Basics: Floral customers want beautiful flowers that last. The biological mechanisms governing flower life and quality are complex, but the flower care practices recommended for growers, wholesalers, and retail florists are really quite simple. Get back to basics with the three c’s. AFE-supported research confirms that there are three keys to quality: cold, cleanliness and careful processing. Keep Flowers COLD (33 – 36° F)Temperature is the major factor governing flower life. Cold temperatures conserve the sugars stored in the leaves and stems needed for flowers to open and remain viable. Supplemental sugars provided by flower foods serve as a critical back-up to stored sugars. Cold temperatures also make flowers less sensitive to their archenemy – ethylene. Keeping flowers…

New Poster Gives Tips for Flower Care!

AFE’s Fundraising Dinner Celebrates Industry Success

The AFE 43rd Annual Fundraising and Recognition Dinner was held during the SAF Annual Convention in Amelia Island, Florida on Thursday, September 19, 2019.The evening was full of excitement as AFE reported on program and research success stories. Two new named funds (The Retail Florist’s Continued Education Fund Sponsored by Bob and Carol Sharpe and The Garcia Family Fund) were announced and donors reaching new giving-levels were recognized.During the evening, AFE reported on meeting the $1.5 million goal for The Thrips and Botrytis Research Campaign and also on the new consumer marketing studies funded by the Floral Marketing Research Fund (FMRF.)The highlight of the evening was AFE’s “Fill the Vase” campaign. This campaign was created on the concept of individual flowers coming together to make a beautiful, full vase; individual…

AFE Appoints New Trustees

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) appointed Dr. Megan Bowman of Ball Horticultural Company and Gustavo Gilchrist of Kennicott Brothers Company to join the AFE Board of Trustees. Both will serve a three-year term starting in September 2019. AFE Trustees are industry leaders who volunteer their time and talent to help guide Endowment activities and programs benefitting the industry. Both will also serve on an AFE committee related to education, public relations and development, research, or the Floral Marketing Research Fund. Megan Bowman, Ph. D. joins the Board with a robust research background, specifically bioinformatics, molecular plant breeding, and molecular biology. Currently, she is Bioinformatics and Data Analysis Lead at Ball Horticultural Company in Chicago, Illinois.Megan joined the floral industry recently, in 2018, but has many years…

AFE’s Fill the Vase Fundraiser!

The American Floral Endowment, the national organization that funds floral research, scholarships, grants, and internships, kicked off its 2019 fall fundraiser, “Fill the Vase,” at their 43rd Annual Fundraising and Recognition Dinner on September 19.Nearing their 60th year, the Endowment provides practical solutions to tough industry challenges through research and programs that bring top talent to the floral industry. AFE-funded programs are the result of industry members coming together to provide for a stronger industry.“That’s the concept behind AFE’s ‘Fill the Vase’ campaign,” said AFE Public Relations and Development Chairman, Ken Young of Phoenix Flower Shops. “Everyone loves to see an arrangement of beautiful flowers — seeing each flower come together to make something beautiful. Without individual flowers, there can’t be…

Two New Named Funds

Two new named funds were announced at AFE’s 43rd Annual Fundraising and Recognition Dinner on September 19.The first new named fund is The Retail Florist’s Continued Education Fund. This fund was established by Bob and Carol Sharpe from Frederick, Maryland. Bob and Carol are third-generation florists who closed their shop, Sharpe’s Flowers, five years ago when they retired. Sharpe’s Flowers was considered a Frederick landmark since 1930 and was in business for 84 years.Like many retailers, Bob and Carol struggled with finding the time to get out of the shop to attend industry events or continue their education. In an industry where businesses are handed down from generation to generation, continued education is vital for success. Bob and Carol want to help floral…

AFE Board of Trustees Meeting: Education, Research, Service

By Ashley AlexanderPurdue University’s motto is “Education, Research, Service.” During AFE’s August Board Meetings last month, the Trustees witnessed the school taking pride in living up to this motto. While in West Lafayette, IN., the Board had a chance to experience all three of these crucial facets to the university.The trustees started their day with a bit of education themselves: a Board Orientation. They had the privilege of having Bob Harris, a man who has his fair share in the association and nonprofit world. He informed both new and returning board members about their roles and responsibilities of being on the AFE Board of Trustees.Afterward, the group visited Purdue’s campus. They started with Armstrong Hall, where they were able to…