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Controlling Downy Mildew on Impatiens walleriana

Researchers, extension educators and representatives from the impatiens production industry are working together with AFE to control impatiens downy mildew.AFE has compiled downy mildew resources for growers, landscapers and retailers:Illustrations of symptoms in production and landscapeFact sheetPreventive and responsive chemical control programsImpatiens Downy Mildew in the LandscapeImpatiens Downy Mildew in the Home GardenAssessing riskTips for Protecting ImpatiensA Practical Approach for Landscaper GardenersDisease prevention scheduleImpatiens Downy Mildew landscape substitutionsImpatiens Downy Mildew presentationManaging Downy Mildew of Impatiens PowerPoint (Large File)Video from Doug Caldwell, Ph.D., University of FloridaFLORIcast podcast (May 2012)Video: What to do in 2013Replacing “Typhoid Mary” – Jennifer Polanz, Green Profit magazine, January 20142013 and Beyond – Sara Tombascio, Greenhouse Grower magazine, Aug. 16, 2013Incidence Down Significantly In 2013 – Richard…

AFE Promotes Debi Aker to Executive Director

The Board of Trustees for the American Floral Endowment (AFE) are pleased to announce the promotion of Debi Aker to Executive Director. A long time Society of American Florists (SAF) staff member, she was named manager of AFE in 2008 and has been in the industry for more than 13 years.“Since taking on the management of the Endowment four years ago, Debi Aker has put critical organizational systems into place and has developed lasting relationships with industry members, faculty members and donors,” said Peter Moran, SAF CEO. “This promotion and new title more accurately reflects the breadth of work that Debi is responsible for.”Debi will continue working closely with the AFE Board of Trustees and industry members to focus on…

AFE Trustees Take Texas By Storm!

From left to right: Charlie Hall, Ph.D., Ellison Chair, Texas A&M; AFE Board member and owner of Ellison’s Greenhouses PJ Ellison; Jim and Ellen Ellison; Mark Hussey, Vice Chancellor and Dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M; and AFE Chairman Tom Butler of Teleflora.After a yearlong drought, the AFE Board of Trustees brought some much-needed rain to Texas during its recent visit to College Station. Even with tornado warnings and delayed flights, weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the Trustees.The AFE Board convened at Texas A&M University from Jan. 25-27, 2012, at a meeting hosted by Charlie Hall, Ph.D., Ellison Chair in International Floriculture. Activities included tours of the campus buildings, faculty presentations and a reception at the Agrilife…

FMRF Social Media Guide for Retailers and Wholesalers

The Floral Marketing Research Fund (FMRF) has partnered with the Flower Promotion Organization (FPO) on a one-year project, A Social Media Guide for Floral Retailers and Wholesalers.This guide will analyze social media literature, best practices and case studies to develop a social media guide for the floriculture industry. The project will be conducted by Charles Hall, Ph.D., Texas A&M University, Bridget Behe, Ph.D., Michigan State University, and Chengyan Yue, Ph.D., University of Minnesota.“The FPO is pleased to partner with FMRF to fund this project that can help better position our industry to engage new and potential consumers of our products to increase consumption,” said Stan Pohmer, Executive Director of the Flower Promotion Organization.Many industries are successfully using social media as…

Elisabeth George Hired as Communications Specialist

Left to right: AFE Manager Debi Aker, AFE Communications Specialist Elisabeth George and AFE Chairman Tom Butler of Teleflora.AFE is pleased to announce Elisabeth George as the new communications specialist, a newly created position.Elisabeth brings over six years of nonprofit and agency experience to the position and holds a Master’s Degree in public relations from the George Washington University. Most recently Elisabeth was employed at Ogilvy Public Relations where she worked on website, social media and communications projects for government, corporate and trade association clients.“I am thrilled to be a part of the team,” she said, “and I am looking forward to the opportunity to help increase public awareness of all the valuable work AFE does for the floriculture industry.”Elisabeth…

AFE Releases Research Study on Longevity Guarantees for Flowers

Actual flowers used in the longevity study.AFE just released a comprehensive public benefits study on Longevity Guarantees for Flowers. This multi-part study examines several aspects of consumer preferences for longevity guarantees on flowers including: consumer willingness to pay for longevity guarantees, consumer preferences for longevity labels on cut flowers and consumer preferences for redeeming longevity guarantees.The study was conducted by Chengyan Yue, Ph.D., at the University of Minnesota, with support from Alicia Rihn, University of Minnesota, Bridget Behe, Ph.D., Michigan State University, and Charles Hall, Ph.D., Texas A&M University.“People are very positive about longevity guarantees,” Yue said. “I think we can develop a longevity guarantee labeling system so that people would be reassured of their purchases and go outside of…

AFE’s Vic and Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program Nears 20-Year Mark

225 Intern Scholarships Awarded Over Past Two DecadesVic and Margaret BallThe AFE Vic and Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2012.This internship experience fills a crucial need as the floriculture industry seeks to build its capacity and increase workforce development. Since its creation in 1992, the Vic and Margaret Ball Program has facilitated paid internships and provided scholarship funds to more 225 students entering the floriculture/horticulture industry. As industries and businesses nationwide face the challenge of recruiting and retaining qualified employees, opportunities such as the Ball Internship Program play a vital role in highlighting floriculture as a career.“Internships provide the hands-on experience students need to pursue a career in commercial production,” said AFE Education Chairman…

AFE Appoints Mike Duvall and Laura Shinall to Board

AFE has elected Mike Duvall of The Home Depot, and Laura Shinall of Syndicate Sales, Inc., to the Board of Trustees.Mike Duvall has been in the floriculture industry for more than 35 years. Duvall graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in horticulture, where he studied under Dr. Michael Dirr and Dr. Allen Armitage. He began his career as a store manager at Pike Nurseries in Atlanta. Since then, he has been with Home Depot for more than 20 as a store manager and most recently, as a Senior Live Goods Merchant. Duvall is also a recipient of the Ram’s Horn Horticulture Award from Farmingdale College in New York for accomplishments and contributions to the horticulture industry. He…

2011 Fundraising Dinner Garners $275,000 in Donations

Left to right: AFE Chairman Tom Butler accepts a $250,000 check from Herman and LaDonna Meinders with AFE Chairman-Elect Paul Bachman.AFE recently held its 2011 fundraising dinner on Sept. 14 in Palm Springs, Calif. More than 30 organizations in the floriculture industry helped sponsor the event, which was held during the Society of American Florists’ annual convention. The fundraising dinner paid tribute to the generous industry members and organizations that have supported AFE. 185 industry members attended the event, which was hosted by Tom Butler, Chairman of Teleflora and AFE’s Board of Trustees and Paul Bachman, of Bachman’s and AFE’s Chairman-Elect.The fundraising dinner recognized BloomNet, Altman Plants, the Stuppy Family Foundation, Syndicate Sales and Kitayama Brothers/Greenleaf Wholesale for advancing to…

Internships and Grants Awarded

Joshua CraverFor the March 1 deadline, AFE awarded the following internships and grants: six Ball internships in commercial production and one Mosmiller internship in retail/wholesale/allied trade.Joshua Craver, Mississippi State University – three month internship at Metrolina Greenhouses, in Huntersville, NCErik Edwards, University of Georgia – six month internship at Pacific Plug & Liner in Watsonville, CAJacob Kluza, University of Wisconsin-River Falls – six month internship at Skagit Gardens, Mt. Vernon, WAMartha Thomas, University of Maine – six month internship, location TBDCharlotte Vetter, South Dakota University – six month internship at Syngenta/Goldsmith Seeds, Gilroy, CASusanna Whelan, Texas A & M University – three month internship at Molbak’s, Woodinville, WACongratulations to Katherine Ashby, Eastern Oklahoma State College for being awarded an AFE…

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