" In festivity of our 60th day of remembrance , we have invited the floral biotic community to share their # AFEandMe story with us . From foresightful - sentence supporter to manufacture expert and bookman , many industry members have participated by sharing how AFE has impacted them personally and professionally , " American Floral Endowment announces .
put up resource and chance for bookman and young professional in the industriousness is an significant focus for AFE funding . Many student , like Melissa Munoz from Clemson University , have gained worthful experience through AFE Programs . Melissa has been call for with AFE since 2016 through AFE - funded research projects and scholarship . She deal how these program have opened up unexampled doors for her and her career course .
“ I started my master ’s level at Clemson University in August 2016 with a research project funded by AFE . Thanks to that projection I have gained experience in floriculture , met a lot of wonderful hoi polloi , interacted directly with thinned flower growers , and I like it so much that now I ’m doing my Ph.D. with another project fund by AFE ! AFE has substantiate not only the enquiry that I act with but has also been a great support for me as a bookman . In 2018/2019 I received the Paul Ecke Jr. Scholarship from AFE that helped to plow my expenses and allowed me to travel to different conference that have been crucial for my professional evolution . ”
develop strong relationships with cultivator , retail merchant , and organizations not only extends our range within the industry but helps AFE provide impactful opportunities and internships . Ann Pennington from Neal Mast Greenhouses shares her experience and notes the grandness of Neal Mast ’s partnership with AFE .
“ Maintaining a stiff relationship with the American Floral Endowment , as well as college and university that have well - known gardening programs , is fundamental to the achiever of the Neal Mast Greenhouses internship syllabus , ” noted Pennington . “ The interns we have hosted through our partnership with AFE have a passion for plant life and have been very successful at our facilities . Their enthusiasm and dedication pep up our team , reminding us all of why we are in this industry … NMG is very much looking forward to hosting more interne in 2021 – give thanks you AFE ! ”
association such as these are life-sustaining to manufacture progress , as is relevant research . Pursuing new projection helps drive a successful flower gardening and horticulture business enterprise . AFE supply uninterrupted , relevant enquiry to address diligence challenges and build a stronger future tense . Sten Crissey , former AFE Trustee and retired retailer , expresses how our investment in inquiry helps the industry upgrade retailers and why he continues to support the Endowment .
“ With the current focus on vaccines to fight COVID-19 , I compare AFE to a vaccine that fights the innumerable threat that could harm my retail business . flower that were once seasonal are now useable year - round . Flowers that could only be transported locally at one time now come routinely from all parts of the world . Drip irrigation prevents wasted piss and , in so doing , lowers the cost of production creating savings I can pass on to my customers . Of course , drip irrigation has not only been beneficial to our industry , but it has also been critical to such diverse industries as hospitality , e.g. hotel lobbies , and wine . And where would my business have been if our plants and heyday were diseased , misshapen , curtly - lived , pest damaged , and simply unacceptable to the world ? These examples and more have come from AFE enquiry benefiting retailers right away or indirectly . surely , a vaccinum comes with an uncomfortable poke in the arm but we do it because we cognize it is in our sound interest . Likewise , the gifts we make to AFE may – and should – cause a modicum of fiscal soreness but any retailer who want to hold a healthy line will generously corroborate AFE . ”
Since 1961 , AFE has impact the lives of many growers , wholesalers , retailer , bookman , ally industriousness establishment , and more . We desire to continue growing our resource for the floral industry to provide impactful support now and into the futurity .
AFE would wish to give thanks all those who have deal their stories with us . Your continued support and generosity secure a better floral future tense for the diligence and its penis . We could not do it without you !
