The Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association (WFFSA) concluded its 2026 Floral Distribution Conference (FDC) in Miami this week, welcoming over 520 attendees, 80+ exhibiting suppliers and nearly 50 Floral Xcellence Award entries for three days of business, education and industry connection.
© WFFSA
The conference began Sunday, March 1, with pre-conference activities including the Annual WFFSA Golf Tournament and Marketing and Education Committee meetings. These meetings focused on strengthening member value, expanding year-round engagement and positioning WFFSA to meet the evolving needs of the floral distribution community.
On Monday, March 2, the conference officially opened with exhibitor move-in, Board of Directors meeting, Wholesaler Discussion Groups (sponsored by American Floral Endowment), Industry Roundtables, First Timers Reception and the debut of the show floor. Conversations throughout the day centered on timely industry issues including market pressures, operational efficiencies, technology adoption and strengthening supplier-wholesaler collaboration.
© WFFSA
That evening, WFFSA announced the winners of the 2026 Floral Xcellence Awards, sponsored by Flowers of Colombia and Proflora 2027 by Asocolflores. With nearly 50 entries displayed in the Exhibit Hall, the awards showcased excellence and innovation from breeders and growers across the global floral supply chain.
On Tuesday, attendees spent a full day conducting business on the show floor before gathering for the General Session. WFFSA President Fredrick Melero, Choice Farms, delivered his President's Address, and the 2026 Leland T. Kintzele (LTK) Distinguished Service Award was presented to Bill LaFever, Bill Doran Company, in recognition of his lasting contributions to the floral industry.
© WFFSA
The keynote address by Joshua Evans, #1 bestselling author and workplace behavior expert, challenged attendees to think differently about leadership, culture and the future of work within the floral distribution industry.
Tuesday evening concluded with the outdoor "Havana Nights" WFFSA Party, sponsored by Syndicate Sales, bringing wholesalers and suppliers together poolside for celebration and connection.
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During Wednesday's Business Session, WFFSA announced a milestone: the 2027 Floral Distribution Conference will move to the Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC), February 28 – March 3, 2026, marking the next chapter of growth for the event.
Attendees responded positively throughout the conference, citing strong business activity on the show floor, meaningful industry conversations and continued enthusiasm around the Floral Xcellence Awards and evening networking events.
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To watch video highlights and interviews from FDC 2026, visit the official YouTube playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVw3-b8owG8hmyh960vfl7Pq4VPHd6Fzk
Those interested in attending, exhibiting or sponsoring FDC 2027 at its new location at the Miami Airport Convention Center, February 28 – March 3, 2027, can express interest here: https://bit.ly/4cj5P7v
WFFSA also invites members to learn more about its upcoming Development Experience this year (DevX 2026) in Atlanta, Georgia, July 28-31, and prepare to register for this year's event: https://wffsa.org/devx/
Source: WFFSA
