Art Van Wingerden Appointed AFE Chairman-Elect

The American Floral Endowment’s (AFE) Board of Trustees has appointed Art Van Wingerden, COO of Metrolina Greenhouses, as AFE’s Chairman-Elect. Art will begin his two-year term as Chairman in September 2026, succeeding current Chairman David Garcia of Pete Garcia Company/Garcia Group. Following his term as Chairman, David will continue his service to the organization for an additional two years as Past Chairman. Art’s appointment comes during a milestone year as AFE celebrates its 65th anniversary, an important reminder of the industry’s long-standing commitment to investing in research, education, and scholarships that strengthen floriculture for the future. As COO of Metrolina Greenhouses in Huntersville, North Carolina, Art helps guide one of the largest and most innovative greenhouse operations in the country.…

Discount Available: 2026 Greenhouse Training Online Courses

New for 2026! Plant Growth Regulators, and Cuttings & Stock Plants, and a New Elite Grower training program New courses include Plant Growth Regulators by Dr. Garrett Owen (The Ohio State University), and Cuttings and Stock Plant Management by Dr. Jim Faust (Clemson University) and Dr. John Dole (North Carolina State University). “Greenhouse and Nursery 101” has new material on container nursery production with Dr. Jeb Fields from UF/IFAS. This popular course is now offered twice a year (in May-Jun 2026 and Jan-Feb 2027). A new Elite Grower Program bundles five courses from Greenhouse and Nursery 101, Climate Management, Costing & Profitability, Cuttings & Stock Plant Management, Plant Growth Regulators, Success with your Latino Workforce, and Greenhouse and Horticultural Lighting.…

2026 Grow Pro Webinar Lineup

Our Grow Pro Webinar Series returns in 2026 for its sixth year, continuing to deliver timely, research-based education to growers across the floral and horticulture industry. What began as a targeted training opportunity has grown into one of AFE’s most widely attended educational programs, reaching hundreds of professionals each month and supporting growers at every stage of production. The upcoming year features an especially strong and diverse lineup, with sessions addressing critical production challenges and emerging innovations. Topics range from pest and disease management, substrates, water use, and PGRs to technology integration, temperature management, and sustainable production strategies.  “The Grow Pro Webinar Series has become a vital connection point between research and practice,” said Laura Barth, AFE Research Coordinator. “These webinars allow us to deliver…

A New Era for Giving: Why Industry Support Matters More Than Ever

New Tax Rules & Industry Needs Make Giving More Important Than Ever As the floral industry continues to face rising research costs, persistent labor shortages, and increasing competition for young talent, one thing is clear: we can no longer rely on uncertain federal funding or outdated support systems to fuel growth and innovation. Now more than ever, the industry must take responsibility for investing in its future, and that begins with supporting nonprofit charitable organizations like the American Floral Endowment (AFE). For over 60 years, AFE has been the floral industry’s trusted source for funding groundbreaking research, offering scholarships and internships to develop the next generation, and supporting industry-wide education. These programs don’t just happen – they depend on contributions…

AFE-Sponsored Events at Cultivate’25!

Catch up with AFE at Cultivate'25! Held from July 15-18 in Columbus, Ohio, Cultivate is one of the industry’s leading horticulture events. AFE-funded research will be featured in an educational session that will equip you with valuable insights and strategies for effective pest management. Additionally, we are holding a sustainability roundtable (invite-only) to collaborate with industry members from all segments and collect feedback on key topics of sustainability. We will also be hosting our annual Young Professionals Council meetup during Cultivate! If you haven’t already, register for Cultivate here. Managing Thrips Parvispinus: Strategies for Prevention and Control Date: Sunday, July 13 from 11:15-12:15pm ESTLocation: Room C170Speaker: Dr. Rose Buitenhuis, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre Thrips parvispinus, a tropical thrips originating…

Spring Hiring Made Easy – 25% Off!

The AFE Career Center provides valuable online career tools, resources, and industry guides tailored to both individuals seeking opportunities in the floral industry and employers looking to expand their staff. The Center provides the most up-to-date job listings, real-time job alerts, networking opportunities, and free tools to help both candidates and employers during the job search. Since its launch in 2020 by AFE, engagement has more than doubled in both job views and active applications.  Calling All Employers! The AFE Career Center is a comprehensive platform to help streamline your spring hiring process. Connect with eligible employees, review resumes, and post job openings. As part of the Spring Hiring Campaign, take advantage of a special deal: Receive 25% off your job posting by using…

Looking Ahead: Resources, Opportunities, and Innovations from AFE

Happy 2025, floral industry! We hope your year is off to a great start. AFE’s team is excited to kick off another incredible year filled with free educational programming, expanded funding opportunities, and new resources tailored for every segment of the floral industry. Here’s a glimpse of what you can be looking ahead to in 2025: Tailored Resources for Every Segment of the Industry We recognize that the range of jobs in the floral industry is diverse, with unique challenges and opportunities across different segments. That’s why we’ve developed landing pages specifically tailored to your needs - on our homepage, you can access a customized library of programs, research results, and latest news for your profession! Check it out here.…

2025 Grow Pro Webinar Series Lineup

We are thrilled to announce the 5th year of free educational training and programming through our Grow Pro Webinar Series!  Designed for growers, this series has become a cornerstone resource for navigating the industry's evolving challenges. In the past year, monthly registration numbers have continued to climb, with many sessions attracting over 500 registrants.  Nationally recognized researchers and industry experts present timely, practical insights based on AFE-funded and other cutting-edge research each month. The 2025 lineup of webinars will address key industry challenges and advancements, including webinars on pest management, automation, sustainability, postharvest handling, and innovative solutions for improving profitability. Each webinar also includes a live Q&A session, allowing participants to speak directly to industry experts. “The Grow Pro Webinars…

An Interview with Lindsay and Tater from Bloom Beat

I’m sure many of you reading this newsletter have heard of Ball Publishing’s Bloom Beat, written by co-editors Lindsay Daschner and her four-legged companion Tater. Lindsay and Tater are the owners of Forget Me Not Farms in Ottawa Lake, Michigan, a wholesale flower operation catering exclusively to florists and event planners.  Lindsay’s journey with Tater is a reminder of the passion, spirit, and creativity it takes to succeed in the floral industry. At the American Floral Endowment, we’re dedicated to supporting growers like Lindsay by providing research, resources, and educational opportunities tailored to the unique challenges of flower farming. Whether it’s funding groundbreaking studies on crop production, offering webinars and other resources to help optimize production systems, or connecting growers…

Empowering Growers with Research-Driven Strategies and Solutions

The increase in challenges growers face is never-ending. From the new thrips invasion, to disease management, to water and nutrition of crops, AFE is here to help!If you haven’t yet had a chance to participate in the American Floral Endowment (AFE)'s Grow Pro Webinar series, you and your team are missing out. Monthly educational webinars featuring nationally recognized researchers and speakers provide the latest research-driven strategies, solutions, and practical advice to help navigate through these ever-changing challenges.Webinars are presented on a Tuesday each month and are 30-40 minutes in length, plus a 15-minute question-and-answer period with the researchers. This is a unique opportunity for the audience to ask questions directly to the expert about issues they may be experiencing around the topic. “AFE is a leader…

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