AFE Partners With National Funeral Directors Association on New Study

AFE, through the Floral Marketing Research Fund (FMRF), is conducting a study with the National Funeral Directors Association to provide insight about how to improve the working relationship between florists and funeral directors and promote the many benefits of flowers and plants.This study aims to: Provide insight as to how retail florists and funeral directors can better work together Determine how funeral directors feel about flowers/plants in the bereavement process Improve or establish a mutually beneficial working relationship between funeral directors and florists Promote the benefits that flowers and plants bring, not only to grieving families but also to the givers who send flowers to memorialize the deceased “AFE and the FMRF are very happy to fund this project that…

New Genetic Engineering Research Aims to Increase Postharvest Life of Cut Flowers

Roses overexpressing MTD. Symptoms are 4 days after spraying Botrytis spores on flowers of a low MTD expressing plant (2-), medium expressing plant (10+), and a high expressing plant (32+).New genetic engineering research from AFE funded researchers at North Carolina State University provides information about how to manage fungal diseases in eco-friendly ways, potentially increasing the postharvest life of cut flowers.Although fungal pathogens, such as Botrytis, cause economically devastating diseases in nursery, field and greenhouse production of important floriculture crops, few genes have been found that are suitable for targeted breeding or engineering specific resistance.This research is focused on expression of a naturally occurring plant resistance gene to produce plants with reduced production costs as well as lower maintenance requirements…

AFE Appoints New Research Coordinator

AFE has appointed Terril A. Nell, Ph.D., as its new research coordinator to oversee the Endowment’s research funding and provide counsel to industry researchers. Nell is professor emeritus in floriculture at the University of Florida (UF) and developed the UF postharvest program in 1983, which he credits AFE funding for making possible. “AFE-supported research has directly benefited the floral industry over the past 53 years,” Nell said. “I share the organization’s quest to provide better scientific information to growers, wholesalers and retailers, and I look forward to working with this organization’s board to advance its goals in the future.” Nell was appointed following the retirement of Gus De Hertogh, Ph.D., AFE research coordinator for the past 15 years. Nell served…

Five New AFE Named Funds Raise More Than $800,000 in Contributions

Five new named funds were announced at the AFE Annual Fundraising Dinner on Aug. 14. Establishing a named fund is a way to show your support of the industry and leave a lasting tribute to the floral industry for years to come. These funds joined with seven other named funds created since 2011.Two New Designated Named Funds (funds designated for a particular project, like a scholarship, research effort or grant):The Todd Bachman Memorial Fund – to underwrite AFE’s quarterly print and electronic news Bulletin.Todd Bachman served as chairman and CEO of Bachman’s before his untimely death in 2008. Bachman was a past chairman of AFE and was very active in many state and national industry organizations. Because of his great leadership,…

New Leaders Take the Reins at AFE

Paul Bachman, outgoing AFE chairman (right), congratulates incoming AFE chairman Gabriel Becerra.AFE announced the appointments of new leaders at the Aug. 14 annual fundraising dinner: Gabriel Becerra as AFE’s new chairman, Charles Kremp as treasurer/secretary-elect and Bill Fernandez as the newest trustee.Gabriel Becerra, president of Golden Flowers in Miami, begins his role as chairman after eight years as a trustee. In his new role, Becerra will spearhead AFE’s efforts to advance the floral industry through research, scholarships and educational grants.“Every member of the floriculture industry should be aware that the Endowment puts a big emphasis on finding ways to attract young people to our industry, as well as on promoting collaboration among different associations,” he said. “Our goal is to…

Tom Butler Family Fund Established Within AFE

Remembering an Industry Icon and AFE ChampionAFE Public Relations Chairman Charles Kremp looks on as Tom’s good friends accept recognition for The Tom Butler Family Fund on Tom’s behalf. From left to right: Jack Howard, Teleflora; Dave Gaul, DWF Wholesale Florist Company; Herman Meinders, emeritus Teleflora and Michael Martin, Teleflora.Renowned floral industry icon and AFE Development Chairman Tom Butler was recognized for establishing The Tom Butler Family Fund at AFE’s Annual Fundraising Dinner on Aug. 14 in Marco Island, Fla. Attended by more than 250 industry members, the dinner was held in conjunction with the Society of American Florists’ (SAF) Annual Convention. It was later that evening the industry learned Tom had passed away, surrounded by family after his battle…

More Than 250 Industry Members Support AFE at 2014 Fundraising Dinner

AFE’s Annual Fundraising Dinner held on Aug. 14 was blooming with excitement, including industry updates, the announcement of five new named funds, donor recognitions, the passing of the gavel and more.   The dinner, attended by more than 250 industry members, was held in conjunction with the Society of American Florists’ Annual Convention in Marco Island, Fla.Thank You!2014 Dinner SponsorsReception Sponsor – $4,500TelefloraEntertainment – $2,500FTDFloralsEquiflor/Rio RosesHosts – $2,500ASOCOLFLORESDelaware Valley Floral GroupDWF Wholesale FloristFTDHorticaThe John Henry CompanyMellano & CompanyThe Original Los Angeles Flower MarketOscar G. Carlstedt CompanyThe Pete Garcia Company/Garcia GroupProFlowersSmithers-Oasis/FloralifeSyndicate Sales, Inc.Tagawa GreenhousesTelefloraSponsors – $1,500Armellini Express Lines, Inc.Ball Horticultural CompanyBloomNetContinental FlowersGolden FlowersKennicott Brothers CompanyNorthern TrustThe Queen’s FlowersPrinting Sponsors – $1,250DESIGN MASTER color tool Inc.San Francisco Flower MarketWine Sponsors – $1,000Billy Heroman’s…

AFE Memorial Tribute Established for Jack Giles

After graduating from the University of Utah in business, he served in the Air Force and eventually retired as captain. After returning home, he married, started a family that grew to three children and purchased Huddart from his father. Mr. Giles was very involved in the industry he loved, serving as the Society of American Florists (SAF) convention chairman in 1977 and as American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) chairman in 1981-1982. Additionally, he contributed his talents to committees in the Utah Allied Florist Association and Northwest Florists’ Association for 40-plus years. Among other accomplishments, he served on the FTD Membership Committee and the FTD President’s Council on Government and Industry Affairs. His exceptional achievement in the industry earned him FTD’s…

Oct. 1 Deadline for AFE’s Paid Floriculture and Horticulture Internships

The deadline is Oct. 1 for online applications for AFE’s Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program and the Mosmiller Intern Scholarship Program.Completing one of AFE’s two floriculture and horticulture internship programs allows students to:Train at the industry’s top facilitiesDevelop critical skills, potentially improving employment opportunitiesGet diverse, hands-on paid experienceApply classroom knowledge to real and practical situationsStudents can jump start their careers with a life-changing experience in commercial floriculture production away from home with The Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program, made possible through a generous gift from Vic and Margaret Ball. This program offers paid internships for three, four or six months and provides scholarships of up to $6,000 upon completion.The Mosmiller Intern Scholarship Program honors the late…

AFE Awards Nearly $40,000 in Scholarships

Eighteen students have been awarded competitive 2014 scholarships from AFE totaling almost $40,000.“AFE scholarships provide financial assistance to students as they equip themselves with the education and experience that will help them become industry leaders” AFE Education Committee Chairman Dwight Larimer of DESIGN MASTER color tool Inc. said. “Thanks to the generosity of donors, AFE is able to distribute more than 20 scholarships a year to competitive and deserving students.”AFE awards scholarships annually, and applications are due by May 1 of each year. The online application was recently redesigned to streamline the process beginning in 2015.American Florists’ Exchange Scholarship – $2,400Recipient: Miwa Ishisaka, California State Polytechnic University-PomonaIshisaka, a sophomore studying plant science, aspires to become a plant breeder who creates…

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