A delegation led by the Society of American Florists (SAF), including nine floral industry professionals representing growers, wholesalers and retailers, met with 11 congressional offices April 14 during SAF's spring fly-in event.
The delegation advocated for increased funding for floriculture research and economic relief for growers, timing their efforts to coincide with federal appropriations negotiations.
Participants delivered a unified message: sustained investment in research and targeted economic support are critical to the continued success and stability of floriculture businesses.
"It was really important for us to be here to advocate and help lawmakers understand that what's happening for us as growers trickles all the way down to retail shops and consumers," said Victoria Register of FernTrust, a foliage cooperative in Florida.
Register and fellow grower Austin Bryant, AAF, of Heart of Florida Greenhouses, shared firsthand experiences of recent challenges, including freeze-related losses that increased costs and reduced product availability. Retailer David Mitchell of Mitchell's Flowers and Events in Chicago reinforced the supply chain impact, noting how disruptions at the grower level directly affect wholesalers, retailers and ultimately consumers.
"I buy from FernTrust and Heart of Florida Greenhouses," Mitchell said. "So, when they suffer losses from freezes and don't get aid, that hurts me — and my customers too. And when they benefit from research that makes their businesses more efficient, that benefits everyone."
© Society of American Florists
Additional participants included Kaci Anderson of Tradewinds International; Christine Guenther, AAF, PFCI, of Wildflower Stem + Sundry; Ryan O'Neil, PFCI, of Curate Floral Software; James Santoli of Jet Fresh Flower Distributors; Robert Swanekamp Sr. of Kube-Pak; and Randy Tagawa of Tagawa Greenhouses. The fly-in was sponsored by Asocolflores (the Association of Colombian Flower Exporters) and FTD.
The fly-in coincided with early discussions on fiscal year 2027 funding priorities, including decisions affecting the Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative (FNRI), a program SAF has championed since its inception. FNRI has grown from $500,000 in its first year to $6.4 million today and supports research in mechanization, pest and disease management, post-harvest handling and production efficiency.
SAF members urged lawmakers to maintain FNRI funding at fiscal year 2026 levels and emphasized the program's broader impact across agriculture through its collaboration with USDA's Agricultural Research Service and universities nationwide.
Delegates also highlighted ongoing financial pressures facing floriculture businesses, including rising input costs and limited access to federal relief programs. Unlike many other agricultural sectors, floriculture has largely been excluded from recent USDA assistance programs.
As Congress considers a proposed $15 billion to $17 billion economic assistance package, SAF members encouraged lawmakers to ensure floriculture and other specialty crop producers are included.
With key funding decisions expected in the coming months, SAF leaders emphasized the importance of continued industry engagement in the policymaking process.
"I can — and do — share the challenges and needs of floriculture businesses with lawmakers," said SAF Senior Lobbyist Joe Bischoff, Ph.D. "But they need to hear directly from their constituents. Those real-world stories are what help lawmakers understand the stakes, build support and ultimately make informed decisions."
For more information:
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