The 2016 National Floriculture Forum (NFF) is going to the Netherlands and the International Trade Fair for Plants (IPM) in Essen, Germany from January 24-29, 2016.
The theme for the 2016 NFF program is International Floriculture, and the venue will be totally different from recent years. This horticulture trip will be an intense five days (plus two days of travel). The NFF will spend the first three days in the Netherlands visiting greenhouse operations, the flower auction and other horticultural sites.
The NFF is an annual educational meeting for greenhouse growers, industry leaders, university faculty, graduate students and government scientists from academic institutions, governmental agencies and the greenhouse industry. This group of floriculturists has been meeting since 1999. The NFF brings together diverse floricultural communities with the objectives of addressing issues of importance to the floriculture industry, forming collaborative relationships and improving communication within the American floriculture industry to share and disseminate information. This meeting is one of a kind and continues to bring members of the floriculture community together each year.
The NFF group will begin its touring of the Netherlands on January 24 after checking into the NH Barbizon Palace. Tours of greenhouse operations and growers in the Netherlands will continue on January 25 and 26. The exact locations that will be visited in Holland have yet to be determined, but Dr. Bill Miller of Cornell University and Dr. Will Healy of Ball Horticulture are working on finalizing the itinerary.
On January 27, a coach will take all participants down to Essen, Germany. Once in Essen, everyone will be on their own for the remainder of January 27 and all of January 28 to visit the IPM Trade Show. The IPM is a unique combination of exhibition areas, plant displays, innovative technology and trendy floristry that offers a comprehensive overview of the green industry and floristry. With 1,600 exhibitors from 49 countries and 62,000 trade visitors every year from all over the world, the IPM Essen is the world’s largest event of its kind. On the morning of January 29, participants will check out of the Sheraton Essen Hotel and travel back to Amsterdam for the return flight to the U.S.
Visit the Travel Concepts’ website for online reservation and for more details about travel and pricing. Space is limited. There are 45 spots available on this trip and they will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. The last day to register is Sept. 25, 2015 to reserve a seat on this trip.
For registration questions, call 203-262-6260 or 800-274-5801. For questions about details of the trip, contact coordinator Dr. Mark Bridgen at mpb27@cornell.edu or 631-727-3595