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Altman, Ecke MS/Ph.D. Scholarships in Floriculture Available

AFE is now accepting applications for the new Altman Family Scholarship, and the Paul Ecke, Jr. Scholarship, for graduate students who have the skills and passion to become leading floricultural scientists and educators.The application deadline is Feb. 1.Deena and Ken AltmanThe Altman Family Scholarship was created in 2015 by Ken and Deena Altman – owners of Altman Plants – who support numerous efforts to improve education and research for the industry.The Altmans are highly appreciative of the field of horticulture and enjoy giving back. They established the Center for Applied Horticultural Research as an effort to help the industry. Ken Altman has also been actively involved in AFE’s Education and Scholarship Committees for a decade.“We’re privileged to have Ken on our…

AFE Announces New Trustees and Appointments

AFE Chairman Gabriel Becerra of Golden Flowers announced the appointments of two new trustees and three new officers during AFE’s 2015 Fundraising Dinner, which was held on September 10.David Garcia of The Pete Garcia Company in Atlanta, Ga., and Greg Royer of Royer’s Flowers & Gifts in Lebanon, Pa., will both serve three-year terms on the AFE Board, with the option of a second term.Gabriel BecerraBecerra also announced the appointments of new AFE Executive Committee members Dwight Larimer of DESIGN MASTER color tool, inc., elected to Chairman-Elect; Kristi Huffman of The John Henry Company in Lansing, Mich., appointed as Treasurer/Secretary; and Laura Shinall of Syndicate Sales, Inc. in Kokomo, Ind., appointed as AFE’s Public Relations and Development Committee Chair.The remaining Executive Committee members…

Supporters Rally to Raise Floriculture Funding at 2015 AFE Dinner

AFE’s biggest fundraising event of the year, the 2015 Annual Fundraising Dinner, was a record-breaking occasion, with more than 270 supporters in attendance.New scholarships, educational programs and donors reaching new giving levels were announced at the dinner, which was held on September 10 at The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island in Amelia Island, Fla. in conjunction with the Society of American Florists’ (SAF’s) Annual Convention.Among the many highlights, four new named funds totaling more than $850,000 were announced, and they will join the 12 other named funds created since 2011. Establishing a named fund is a great way to show your support and leave a lasting tribute to the floral industry for years to come.Thank You!2015 Dinner SponsorsReception Sponsor – $4,500TelefloraEntertainment –…

AFE Trustees Get a Taste of the Rockies

AFE Trustees met in Aurora, Colo. in late July for their annual board and committee meetings to plan the Endowment’s programs and goals for the year.The AFE Board had a very successful trip, visiting several industry supporters including Welby Gardens and Tagawa Greenhouses.For their first visit, CEO of Welby Gardens Al Gerace and his son (and Production Manager) Dan were among the few who led the trustees on a behind-the-scenes tour of one of the company’s two growing facilities.Ashley Brinegar at Welby GardensThe Colorado greenhouse, which is also home of the Hardy Boy Plants, specializes in perennials, annuals, herbs, organic vegetables and ornamental grasses. Gerace explained that the small, family-owned business is always expanding, and works closely with other growing…

Memorial Tribute Established for Peggy and Michael Leider

Past AFE Trustee Ken Tagawa has established a new memorial tribute in memory of lifelong floral industry members Margaret Lynch “Peggy” Leider and her son Michael J. Leider Jr. Past AFE Chairman Jim Leider suffered the losses of his wife and son this year, first with the death of Peggy who passed away on March 23, and two months later with the death of his and Peggy’s oldest son Michael, who died on May 24. Peggy succumbed to a long battle with cancer at age 76, and Michael, age 54, also passed away after a brief but painful battle with cancer. “Both Peggy and Michael have given a tremendous amount of support to the industry, side by side with Jim Leider.…

AFE Launches Young Professionals Council

AFE has established the Young Professionals Council (YPC), which consists of a vibrant group of 21- to 35-year-old students and professionals in the floral industry.YPC members will use their skills and strengths to help reach other young professionals interested in becoming leaders in the floral industry, provide guidance and feedback on AFE’s programs, and get involved in leadership and learning opportunities through AFE’s programs.“There are crucial industry challenges that need to be addressed, and the YPC is a significant program that I believe will help benefit the industry. I look forward to working with the driven young members of this group to help spread awareness of AFE and build a stronger future,” said AFE Trustee and YPC Board Liaison Dwight…

SAF, AFE Join in ‘Million Pollinator Garden Challenge’

The Society of American Florists (SAF) and the American Floral Endowment (AFE) have joined the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge, a nationwide effort launched on June 3, challenging the U.S. to reach the goal of 1 million new pollinator gardens by the end of 2016.The Challenge is an effort of the National Pollinator Garden Network, in which SAF and AFE are also partnering, and is part of the response to President Obama’s National Pollinator Health Strategy. [For details, see the May 22 SAF Week in Review and the May 21 AFE press release]. First Lady Michelle Obama spoke to schoolchildren at a White House garden event on June 3 about the importance of pollinators.The National Pollinator Garden Network will work to…

SAF, AFE Release Statement on National Pollinator Health Strategy

The following is a joint statement released by the Society of American Florists, American Floral Endowment, AmericanHort and Horticultural Research Institute regarding the National Pollinator Health Strategy:“We join together to welcome and embrace key aspects of the federal government’s recently-announced National Strategy for the Protection of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators. The long-awaited strategy has three major goals: reducing honey bee colony losses, increasing Monarch butterfly populations, and restoring or enhancing millions of acres of land as pollinator habitat, through public and private action. As is the list of threats to bee and pollinator health, the national strategy itself is long and complex. We are studying the details, but the overall approach appears balanced and mostly sensible.“The national strategy’s overarching goals dovetail well…

AFE Announces More Than $310,000 in Research Funding

AFE has approved more than $310,000 in scientific research project funding for 2015-2016 to support six continuing projects and five new projects.“These projects will directly benefit the entire industry by providing information on production of insect and disease free plants and details of Botrytis infection on floral crops,” said Terril Nell, Ph.D., Research Coordinator for AFE.The goal of all AFE research is to provide knowledge that helps the industry grow stronger.PLANT BREEDING AND GENETIC ENGINEERINGDevelopment of Petunia with Enhanced Stress Tolerance: Dr. Nicole Waterland, West Virginia University, $22,065 (year two of two)Making Better Plant Products by Understanding Dynamic Facets of Metabolism: Dr. Thomas A. Colquhoun, University of Florida, $33,000 (year one of three)DISEASE MANAGEMENTManaging Pythium Species in Floriculture Irrigation Water:…

Laser-Focused on the Floriculture Industry’s Research Needs

The floriculture industry faces complex issues that research funded by AFE helps address.AFE’s Research Coordinator Terril Nell, Ph.D. (pictured), has written an article detailing what the current research is telling us about pest management, postharvest handling and more.The article, which was featured in the January 2015 issue of Greenhouse Grower, can be viewed here.

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