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Remembering Jacob Van Namen, Floral Industry Pioneer

Jacob Van Namen, founder of Vans Floral Products and former AFE Trustee, died March 31, 2013, in Chicago. He was 90.A successful businessman from Holland, Mr. Van Namen immigrated to the United States in 1955 with his wife Rita and two sons, Jack and John. The family settled in Chicago where Mr. Van Namen worked a variety of jobs until being hired by DeBoer Wholesale Florist.By 1960, he was a partner in the business and soon assumed ownership of the company, which became known as Van’s Wholesale Florists. “Van” grew the company from a single location in the Chicago area to 12 distribution centers in six states by the 1990s. As his family grew, his sons and daughter followed in…

Using Multiple Pesticides: Ensuring Positive Effects

Using multiple pesticides together to prevent a broader spectrum of pests is common in the floriculture industry, but it can be difficult confirming those pesticide mixtures are beneficial and safe for plants. Researchers A.L. Willmott, R.A. Cloyd and K.Y. Zhu from Kansas State University aim to better inform the industry about pesticide mixtures in a research report recently released by AFE.“This research will help keep growers from using mixtures that are a waste of time and money and will result in crop damage,” Cloyd said. “This will help them determine which combinations to use, and they may not have to make as many applications.”Cloyd said that pesticides were once broad and “killed just about everything,” but pesticides produced since the 2000s…

New Research Inspires Profitability and Sustainability

A research report released by AFE addresses how the floriculture industry can use efficient irrigation practices to increase profitability and sustainability in a time when concerns about water scarcity, runoff regulations and the high cost of fertilizer are commonplace. Researchers Alem Peter, Paul Thomas and Marc van Iersel from the University of Georgia and Stephanie Burnett from the University of Maine examined how fertilizer and water levels affect growth. While the research focuses on petunias, it is translatable to almost any greenhouse plant.“By implementing more efficient irrigation practices, growers can reduce the amount of fertilizer they need to apply, and that is going to help their bottom line as well as the environment,” van Iersel, the lead researcher, said. He…

New AFE Research Report: Enhancing the Quality of Fresh Cut Flowers

AFE has released a new research report: Innovative Packaging Technologies to Enhance the Quality of Fresh Cut Flowers, Research Report #452.This research—conducted by Thomas J. Gianfagna, Kit L. Yam and George J. Wulster from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey—demonstrates ways to optimize storage conditions for fresh cut flowers, like roses and snapdragons, and examines systems to prevent disease development. These improvements in post-harvest longevity could increase customer satisfaction and lower shipping costs without decreasing flower quality. Improvements in the distribution and packaging of fresh cut flowers would benefit everyone in the post-production chain.This website contains more than 150 additional free research reports covering other topics about fresh cut flowers and more:Disease ManagementInsect ManagementBreeding & GeneticsPost ProductionProduction TechnologySpecialty Research Consumer…

2011-2012 Annual Report Highlights What’s Bloomed at the Endowment

AFE has released its 2011-2012 Annual Report.“AFE has advocated for all segments of the floriculture and environmental horticulture industries for more than 50 years, and this report recounts the recent ways AFE has achieved that,” AFE Chairman Paul Bachman of Bachman’s, Inc. said. “Without donors who recognize AFE’s expansive work, none of the accomplishments featured in this annual report would be possible.” 2011-2012 annual report highlights include: Program allocations for research, educational grants, internships and scholarships Three new AFE scholarships Social Media Guide for Floral Retailers and Wholesalers Undesignated named funds established Audited financial statement Friends of the Endowment recognition Past annual reports dating back to 1988 and other AFE programs and services are available online.

2013 Edition 1 AFE Bulletin

The 2013 Edition 1 AFE Bulletin is hot off the press!2013 Edition 1 highlights include:AFE Announces Three New Scholarships!Memorial Tribute Established for Bill BeldenFantastic News for Cut Flower AdvancementsThe Relevance of Social Media in the Floral IndustryAFE Trustees Visit the Golden StateAFE Welcomes New Communications Specialist!De Hertogh Honored as Industry LeaderAFE Salutes Industry and Peer ReviewersThe AFE bulletin is a quarterly publication that features the latest floriculture and horticulture industry news. To subscribe to future bulletin updates, send AFE your email address here.

Bill Belden Memorial Tribute Established

Belden, originally from Xenia, Ohio, spent the majority of his life in the floral industry. He got his start at the Oscar G. Carlstedt Company as a truck driver but left to serve in the U.S. Air Force. He returned to the company after his military service and was assigned to locations in West Palm Beach and Miami, and he was later appointed manager of the Ft. Lauderdale store. In 1965, he was named president. Bill was dedicated to his family, company, friends, suppliers and the entire floral industry. He served with local, state and national organizations, including: the Florida State Florists Association and various committees at the Society of American Florists (SAF). He was president of the Wholesale Florist…

Suzanna McCloskey Hired as AFE’s New Communications Specialist

AFE is pleased to announce Suzanna McCloskey as its new communications specialist. McCloskey, a native Tennessean, recently graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Electronic Media and a minor in English.Before coming to AFE, she worked in public relations and marketing for the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority and previously to that was a writer for the Knoxville News Sentinel, the city’s daily newspaper. Additionally, she was managing editor for the University of Tennessee’s student-produced news website and a board member for the East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists.“I am enthusiastic to have the opportunity to help others better understand the work of the American Floral Endowment,” McCloskey said. “I am pleased to be…

AFE Announces Three New Scholarships for Floriculture Students

AFE is announcing three new scholarships that will begin in 2013: The American Florists’ Exchange Scholarship, The Julio and Sarah Armellini Scholarship and the Richard T. Meister Scholarship!With more than 20 different scholarships now available through AFE, floriculture and horticulture students are sure to find a scholarship that fits their area of study. Scholarships range from $500-$5,000 and are awarded annually. Applications must be submitted online and are due, along with supporting materials, no later than May 1 each year.“AFE is extremely excited to have the opportunity to help more students become future floriculture leaders with these three new scholarships,” Dwight Larimer, the chair of AFE’s Education Committee, said. “These generous scholarships will be influential in helping aspiring industry members…

Markham-Colegrave International Markham-Colegrave Scholarship Recipient Wins European Horticultural Experience

Brooke Gasteyer, a senior studying horticulture at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, was awarded the 2013 Markham-Colegrave International Scholarship through AFE and the David Colegrave Foundation to study horticulture in Germany.From late February through July, Gasteyer will intern at Gärtnerei Umbach, a wholesale nursery in Heilbronn, Germany that sells potted plants, potted perennial shrubs, tree ferns and goji berries. During her time at the nursery, Gasteyer hopes to learn more about all aspects of the horticulture business and gain skills she can use in her future career.“I had wanted to go to Europe for a very long time, and in the back of my mind I wanted to do a horticulture experience in Europe, but I never thought it was…

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