From Planning to Petals: Board Visits Vancouver

At the end of August, the AFE Board of Trustees gathered in Vancouver for a productive two-day event bursting with planning, insights, and inspiration.

Day One: Governance and Growth

The first day was all about thoughtful planning. Our committees rolled up their sleeves, debating strategies, reviewing initiatives, and setting priorities for our programs. Then the full board convened, bringing energy, purpose, and a shared commitment to advancing our industry through AFE.

Day Two: Inspiration from the Auction Floor to the Greenhouse

On day two, the board swapped the boardroom for boots on the ground, touring three standout operations that exemplify British Columbia’s thriving floriculture industry.

United Flower Growers Auction

At the United Flower Growers (UFG) auction, a cooperative of more than 80 Canadian floriculture growers, we witnessed an efficient flower auction system that connects growers directly with wholesalers and retailers. This is the largest Dutch-style flower auction in North America. On the day we were there, the auction was sharing products from over 80 growers with over 170 customers, which is not even peak numbers for them. It’s the kind of setup that keeps fresh, vibrant blooms flowing from the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, and beyond to markets from Manitoba down to California, with full accreditation through the GCP program.

At any given time, the auction employs 80 part-time staff, from students to retirees, engaging people of all ages in the joy of flowers.

With sustainability in mind, we also got to see their bucket and wagon systems, both reusable. They process thousands of their recyclable buckets daily, which can last up to 15 years of reuse. And, their leasable wagon system sets the standard for North America – UFG maintains and upkeeps the wagons. All of these tools ensure a seamless process from greenhouse to auction floor and beyond.

Burnaby Lake Greenhouses

Next, we visited Burnaby Lake Greenhouses in Surrey, a multi-generation, family-rooted enterprise that’s grown into Western Canada’s largest supplier of live plants and cut flowers. Behind every display of lush gerbera daisies, exotic tropicals, and seasonal potted collections is a proud 70+ year legacy of care, innovation, and dedication. We saw firsthand how local roots and over half a century of experience can yield both quality and growth. Specializing in a very wide diversity of houseplants, their greenhouses were truly a one-stop shop for all plant and flower needs. Roughly 15-20% of their sales reach all the way here to the US.

Always innovating and adapting, they shared how they use copper rods in their water recirculation tanks to help prevent Fusarium, which, in addition to reducing their use of chemical fungicides, has also led to Pythium and Phytophthora control. Further being mindful of the environment, they also noted their use of biocontrols where they can.

Smit Nursery

Our final stop was Smit Nursery in West Abbotsford, known for their quality cut flowers and bare-root divisions. Here, we heard about their passion for growing and mindset that beauty requires careful cultivation. Originally started with bulbs, the business has continued to grow and expand.

Smit specializes in their ability to grow flowers even off-season through their rolling greenhouses, which are placed on tracks and able to move along their fields. Producing over 3.5 million cuts per year, they handle about 60% of their sales through the flower auction and the remaining 40% through greenhouses and garden centers. They provide the local market in Vancouver with cut flowers such as peonies, viburnum, sedum, and lysimachia.

By day’s end, the tour had done more than show us greenhouses and auctions — it had connected us with the people, the passion, and the purpose behind the petals. We left feeling inspired by the local growers’ craftsmanship, innovation, and resilience.

These tours also reinforced the role AFE plays in supporting such vibrant enterprises. Whether through research, education, or service, we’re in this together, nurturing not just the flowers, but the future of floriculture.