In This Issue ...

1. CalFlowers & SAF Back-to-Back
2. CalFlowers Attends Texas Floral Forum 2018
3. Strategic Planning - Member Survey Coming Soon
4. Featured Members 
5. Transportation
6. New Members

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

CalFlowers Member Meeting
September 11, 2018
Westin Mission Hills
Rancho Mirage, CA

SAF Palm Springs
September 12 - 15, 2018
Westin Mission Hills
Rancho Mirage, CA

SAVE THE DATE:

2019 Fun 'N Sun Convention
July 24 - 27, 2019
Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort
Santa Barbara, CA

 Flower Of The Month:

August flower of the month: 
Gladiolus

Symbolically this flower signifies remembrance, infatuation, and strength of character. Its name comes from Latin's "gladius" meaning "sword" for its sword shaped leaves.

CalFlowers News

Our goal is to communicate on a monthly basis with the membership and interested parties about recent past and upcoming events, program updates, and general information about how CalFlowers is engaging in the industry on behalf of the membership.

CalFlowers & SAF Back-to-Back

Don't miss this unique opportunity to attend a CalFlowers Member Meeting one day, then enjoy SAF meetings the next day.

Online registration is now open for the 2018 Member Meeting scheduled for September 11.  This year, we are hosting one meeting only, so mark your calendars now! This meeting will be co-located with the SAF annual convention at the Westin Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, CA.

CalFlowers Membership is About More than Shipping – Attend Member Meeting to Learn...

The discounts are great – no question.  But is that all there is to membership in CalFlowers?  Of course not.  CalFlowers' signature shipping programs generate considerable financial resources to the organization.  Attend this every-other-year meeting to learn about how these proceeds are being re-invested into the floral market to grow your business opportunities. We encourage you to take this time to share your thoughts with us.

Early Bird registrants who sign up to attend by September 10, will have their name entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of two prizes, one Full Registration and Grower Tour to Fun ‘N Sun 2019 or a $150 Southwest Airlines gift card.
Must be present to win!

To register, click on the link below and follow the instructions. The price for the meeting is $25 for early bird (until September 10) and $35 at the door.

Please note that registering requires logging in to the CalFlowers website.  If you've forgotten your username and/or password, you can retrieve them using your e-mail address (the e-mail address at which you have received this e-mail notification). 

If you have questions please contact our office at (831) 479-4912.

CalFlowers Attends Texas Floral Forum 2018

Frank Biddle, CalFlowers' Board Vice President, and Michael LoBue, CEO, attended the Texas State Floral Association Texas Floral Forum July 13 - 15, 2018 in League City, TX.

"We arrived Friday late afternoon, met with TSFA leadership in an informal setting and spent most of Saturday staffing our product showcase, and then enjoying an elegant dinner with all the attendees," said Biddle.  Biddle continued:  "what an impressive organization with a strong and committed membership."

In addition to being an event sponsor, CalFlowers attended this event to learn more about state floral associations (Biddle attended a CSFA event earlier this year).  Texas State Floral Association has a number of programs that line up with our aspirational theme of:  "More Americans, enjoying more flowers more often."  None is more impressive than their record of supporting approximately 300 certified floral educators (high school teachers) with a total of 2,868 high school students throughout the state.  In 2018, a total of 1,967 students were tested for Level 1 Certification and Knowledge Base, and a total of 91 were tested for Level 2 Floral Certification.

Below, Biddle poses with former TSFA Board President Susan Weatherford (Southern Supply) and Johnny Hackett, floral teacher from Alief Elsik High School in Pattison, TX.  Mr. Hackett is one of those special high school teachers who spends his own funds to make opporunities for his floral students.  CalFlowers established a special fund through TSFA to provide Mr. Hackett with the resources necessary to provide proper floral educational opportunities for his students.  If the quality of Mr. Hachett's students are like the two we met at the Forum, the future of floral is bright, indeed!

Left to right:  Susan Weatherford (Southern Supply), floral student,
floral student, Johnny Hackett (teacher) and Frank Biddle

Strategic Planning – Member Survey Coming Soon 

We're mid-way through our strategic planning outreach and research.  By next week a broader survey will be sent to all CalFlowers members to provide input about the value and satisfaction with the various member benefits.

This is an important opportunity to provide completely confidential input that will help the CalFlowers Board of Directors set a path that incorporates member issues and priorities.

Featured New Members

Wm. F. Puckett, Inc. 

Both Julie and Bill Puckett of Wm. F. Puckett, Inc. grew up in their respective grandparents’ ferneries. Shortly after their marriage Bill suggested they plant an acre and a quarter of leatherleaf fern. On borrowed money, their first fernery was planted. Working full-time jobs and caring for their newly planted acreage kept them busy. Bill’s mission statement was not to be the largest grower but to be the best, with special attention to quality and detail. Consequently, over the years, the company grew and became known as a large grower of Cut Floral Foliage. From that small beginning of leatherleaf fern, the company now grows and offers a wide variety of cut floral greenery, garlands, wreaths, drop-in bouquets, and color enhanced products; making them a one-stop, shopping center for all your special floral greenery needs.

On July 3^rd of this year, after suffering Alzheimer’s disease, Bill left us to go to his Heavenly home. During Bill’s illness, Julie maintained Wm. F. Puckett, Inc. with the help of many wonderful, caring people. Their staff, in excess of 100 individuals, is dedicated to carrying on the legacy started by the Pucketts forty-five years ago. Bill and Julie’s nephew, Grayson Puckett has come on board as the new CEO of Wm. F. Puckett, Inc. He has successfully built his own company as a grower and shipper of pittosporum, palm fans, tree fern, and moss. Ninety percent of his business is to the European market with the remaining ten percent in the US. He is an excellent business man with an innate sense of always doing the right thing and is ready to take on the new challenge of Wm. F. Puckett, Inc.

Julie Puckett remains in the company saying, “It is hard to give up your life long quest to work and promote a wonderful company who grows for the very best wholesale florists in the country and around the world.” 

Click Here to learn more about Wm. F. Puckett Inc.

Botany Lane Greenhouse

Botany Lane Greenhouse produces retail-ready plants, liners and pre-finished choices at three locations across two states. They grow a diverse line of plant materials within 827,640 square feet of environmentally controlled production, 10 acres of field production, and an acre of shade houses. Succulents are among their most sought-after plant lines and are available as liners and retail-ready products. High altitude produces superior color in the succulents for an exceptional display. A new introduction in 2018, assorted liner trays specific to Echeveria, Haworthia and Sempervivum, have proven especially popular.  Our finished pieces provide succulents in stylish containers that are on trend with current decorator styles. Another innovative option that retailers and florists love is our Natural Elements pod plants available in a sustainable gift box or as a bouquelent which is a succulent in an all natural plant pod on a stake; great alone or add it to a cut-flower arrangement for a ‘living’ stem once the cuts have faded.  

Their three locations puts Botany Lane’s robust young plants division within easy reach of growers in all 50 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico.  Liners of annuals, perennials, tropicals, cordyline, grasses, and succulents can all be shipped across North America. Botany Lane is a grower of many popular plant brands such as Proven Winners and Plant Select. They are also a premiere producer of Hollywood Hibiscus and Diamantina Mandevilla liners and pre-finished plants. Botany Lane is a group of experienced individuals dedicated to providing the best quality plant material possible.  In partnering with their customers, they strive to provide excellence in customer service and innovative products, thus ensuring the sustainable growth of the green industry, their customers, and their company.

Click Here to learn more about Botany Lane Greenhouse.

Roses Only International LLC.

Roses Only represents the arrival of one of the world’s most iconic rose brands. Combining the world’s finest, hand-picked, long stemmed roses with the signature Roses Only box, New York and Los Angeles are the first US cities to experience all that the Roses Only brand represents. Measuring 24 to 28 inches, their roses are genuine long stems from the finest global producers. 

James Stevens, founder, has worked with flowers all his life. At the age of five, he would visit the markets with his father, buying stock for the family floristry business run from the Town Hall Station in Sydney.

It was in the early 90's that James saw an opportunity in the new world of ecommerce for a business focused on roses. His concept of a brand known for its quality - "the Tiffany of flowers" - led to the creation of Roses Only.

"Roses Only is a luxury brand," James explains. "Our customers are discerning, and they trust us to source the best roses available, no matter where in the world they are grown." The quest for quality led James to look beyond Australia's seasonal trade - to Ecuador, Colombia and Kenya. There he found the longer stems and larger heads he wanted to bring to their customers.

While their roots are in Australia, they now serve customers from London, New York, Los Angeles, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Roses Only will begin shipping throughout California soon and throughout the rest of the United States next month.

Delivering love since 1995 – Roses Only.

Click Here to read more about Roses Only.

Transportation  

As a reminder, new shipping rates and program information for 2018 is up on the CalFlowers website.  Members can use their login to access this information anytime.  Rates on FedEx, GSO, OnTrac and Airlines can all be found as well as other handy information.  For questions or comments on any of our programs, please contact Chris Johnson for assistance (760) 533-5580 or [email protected].

FedEx Hold at Location options just got better.  Not only can customers receive packages at FedEx Office, but now the convenient “Hold at Location” option has expanded to include Albertson's, Kroger and Walmart. Refrigerated storage may also be an availaible option. Visit fedex.com for more info on this new addition.

Golden State Overnight now services UTAH.  CalFlowers members now have access to expanded reach into Utah and in some cases is overnight!  Visit gso.com for a handy map tool that can show you new transit times into Utah and neighboring states from YOUR location. If you have any questions, please contact Chris Johnson, [email protected] and (760) 533-5580.

GSO has a nice handy tool on its website that shows shippers which states of their service area are overnight or 2-day.  Click here for GSO’s “Time and Transit Map” https://www.gso.com/shipping/transitmaps

OnTrac also has a very nice “Time and Transit Map” under Zip Tools on their website.  This handy map loaded from YOUR zip code really helps understand OnTrac’s overnight commitment areas.  To download your map please visit https://www.ontrac.com/servicesareas.asp

Airlines:

Check out our updated airline contact website page, a handy reference offering contact information for our California Air Cargo representatives.  Please visit www.cafgs.org 

NOTE: Transportation Rate information and documents are viewable/downloadable (as PDFs) on the CalFlowers Members Only site. Please note that these documents are considered sensitive material and are available to the primary contacts for Ag Buddy, Associate Floral, Associate Grower, and Floral members only.

To access the Members Only site, simply log in using the Member Login button in the top-right corner of our website.  

Click here if you don't know or don't remember your username and/or password.  This document will help you login. 

New Members

In July 2018, we were pleased to welcome the following new CalFlowers members:

1500 41st Avenue, Suite 240 Capitola, CA 95010 | www.cafgs.org 

Ph. 831-479-4912 | Fax 831-479-4914