Earlier this fall, AFE Program Manager Candice Musgrove and members of the Vic and Margaret Ball Committee visited the Benz School of Floral Design at Texas A&M University, one of the many programs supported through AFE’s James and Helen Phillip Floral Design Grant. The visit offered a firsthand look at how AFE’s educational funding is helping students strengthen their skills, pursue their passions and build meaningful futures in the floral industry.

Founded by M. Buddy Benz, the school is rooted in a legacy of excellence in floral design education. Its curriculum emphasizes both artistry and

1-800-FLOWERS.COM Inc. announced the appointment of Alex Zelikovsky as chief information officer, a move aimed at advancing the company’s digital transformation strategy under CEO Adolfo Villagomez.

As CIO, Zelikovsky will lead the company’s enterprise technology strategy, overseeing IT applications and platforms, data architecture and management, cybersecurity and business intelligence. He will also support artificial intelligence initiatives and business optimization efforts designed to enhance customer experiences and drive omnichannel growth. Zelikovsky will report directly to Villagomez.

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PanAmerican Seed continued its support of charitable causes in 2025 through its Beacon Impatiens Beacon Shines the Light program, which raises awareness and provides assistance to selected nonprofit organizations each year.

For the 2025 season, Beacon Impatiens presented two charitable donations — one to esp Inc. in the United States and another to Greenfingers Charity in the United Kingdom.

Since launching in 2019, the Beacon Shines the Light program has supported more than 10 charitable organizations across multiple countries, helping build awareness and provide funding for initiatives focused

Alexandra Farms displayed its garden rose collection earlier this month at IFTF 2025, highlighting its largest exhibit to date.

The company’s booth featured 75 garden rose varieties, along with an expanded selection of diversified products. The exhibit reflected Alexandra Farms’ continued growth and commitment to offering a broad range of colors, textures and varieties to the floral industry.

Alexandra Farms thanked attendees who visited the booth and acknowledged collaborator Alina Neacsa and her design team, who transformed the space into an indoor garden that reflected the company’s aesthetic

A coalition of leading floral and fresh produce trade associations in the United States and internationally has joined forces to support the That Flower Feeling Foundation, signaling an unprecedented industrywide commitment to national consumer marketing. The collaboration includes trade memberships, in-kind promotional support and financial contributions, reinforcing the foundation’s role as a unified voice promoting everyday flower consumption.

The effort includes significant financial backing from Asocolflores and CalFlowers, along with membership and promotional support from key

Hall 5 at IPM ESSEN 2026 will serve as a hub for floristry, design and forward-looking ideas in the green market. In addition to the IPM Flower Stage, featuring daily live shows by international floral designers, the hall will host BLOOM’s Trend Show and the IPM Discovery Center. Exhibitors offering floristry supplies and the IPM Concept Store will also be located in the hall, creating a space where creativity, market inspiration and sustainable solutions converge.

BLOOM’s Trend Show 2026

BLOOM’s Trend Show 2026 will provide guidance for retailers and designers by highlighting styles expected to