SHARE:  

Monthly Newsletter June 2024 Issue

Have You Registered To Attend Fun 'N Sun!

Click Here To Download The Fun 'N Sun Brochure

Everything Fun 'N Sun! Registration Is Now OPEN!


Registration: We have crafted an exhilarating lineup of events for Fun 'N Sun, including a first timers' reception, dynamic networking opportunities, top notch educational sessions, farm tours at Kendall Farms and Mellano & Company, and hands-on classes designed for your enjoyment and enrichment.


Sponsorship Opportunities: Looking for a prime opportunity to showcase your company? Look no further! Our array of sponsorships offers the perfect platform to gain exposure and elevate your brand. With opportunities starting at just $300, there's something for everyone to shine.


Booth/Tabletops: We only have 2 booths and 4 tabletops available. Act quickly to reserve your space today before space sells out! Click Here to view the Flower Fair floor plan.


Golf Tournament: Calling all golf aficionados! Get your clubs ready because our Fun 'N Sun Golf Tournament is back and better than ever. Held right on site at the prestigious Legends Golf Course, prepare to be mesmerized by the stunning vistas and challenging fairways. Tournament fees this year are $295 which includes: green fees, cart fee, range balls and lunch on the Legends Lawn. Space is limited so register today!


Farm Tours: This year's farm tour will take place at Kendall Farms and Mellano & Company. Both companies are diligently organizing an exhilarating day for all participants and eagerly anticipate your arrival. Space is limited!


One United Floral Mixer Fundraiser: Join Us for the One United Floral Mixer Fundraiser. We are thrilled to invite you to the upcoming One United Floral Mixer hosted by That Flower Feeling. This exclusive industry fundraiser aims to bring together floral industry stakeholders to support our mission of increasing floral consumption in the US.


The event will take place at the luxurious Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, CA. Nestled in the serene Iris/Marigold Terrace, the evening promises an unforgettable experience with the floral industry’s most innovative minds.


Hotel Accommodations: Prepare to be pampered in style at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa, a haven of luxury nestled amidst breathtaking gardens. With a fabulous room rate of just $279 plus tax, exclusively for our attendees, get ready to experience unparalleled comfort and relaxation.


Register today to secure your sleeping rooms before our block sells out! (Friday, 9/6 and Saturday, 9/7 are sold out. Overflow hotels are available or you can pay the flexible room rate at the Omni La Costa. Click Here for more information.)


Hands-On Classes:

Build a Better Bouquet with Color Theory Tips and Techniques

Presented by Amy Balsters - The Floral Coach®


Artistry Unleashed: Mastering Foam-Free Centerpiece Design

Presented by Janelle Thomson of Lavenders Flowers


Fun 'N Sun Floral Convention

September 4 - 7, 2024

La Costa Resort & Spa, Carlsbad, CA

For more information visit or

Fun 'N Sun Webpage or contact: Monnaie Pepin (831) 610-4826 

Thank you for Renewing your CalFlowers Membership!

The CalFlowers’ Staff and Board would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our members. Together, we continue to grow and strengthen our vibrant floral community. Thank you for being part of the CalFlowers family!


Congratulations to the winners of our weekly renewal raffle: Star Valley Flowers, Trinity Green Corp., Ode a la Rose - Austin, Cruz Flower Wholesale Inc., First Step Greenhouses Inc., Frank Adams Wholesale Florist, Sea Glow Enterprises, Orchids Without Borders, and Farmer Bailey Inc.


If you have yet to renew your membership, please contact us via email or by calling (831) 217-3423. The deadline to renew membership was on May 31, 2024. 

Member Benefit Spotlight: FedEx Office

One of the fantastic discounts available to CalFlowers members is printing services with FedEx Office. Whether you need simple black and white copies or vibrant signage and banners, FedEx Office has you covered with significant savings.

 

FedEx Office Discounts and Benefits for Members:

  • Over 32% off black and white copies*
  • Over 42% off color copies*
  • Access to 2,000 FedEx Office locations nationwide
  • Free local delivery for most print projects of $25 or more within 30 miles of the production center



*Discount percentages can vary depending on paper choices.


Take advantage of these exclusive benefits to enhance your printing and production needs!

Learn More About FedEx Office

14th Annual Memorial Day Flowers tribute at Arlington National Cemetery 2024

All of us in the flower world know all the preparation it takes to have a successful holiday. For the Memorial Day Flowers Foundation, it’s all about the last weekend in May; at Arlington National Cemetery and another forty-five cemeteries across the country.

 

The Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, makes it possible for thousands of cemetery visitors to place a flower to honor and thank those who served our country. It is a privilege to count CalFlowers as our major underwriter and partner. CalFlowers continued support has allowed the Foundation to plan and operate these flower-based events with the assurance that we have the resources to be able to plan and execute tribute events.

 

Every year is unique in its own special - and terrible - way, and other moments have become a tradition. 

 

One of these traditions is the generous donation made by Ben Dobbe from Holland America Flowers, of 500 bouquets for the T.A.P.S. Convention held over Memorial Day weekend in Washington DC. This donation is sent to Younger & Son, where Jeff and Sue bring them along and deliver them to the Marriott Gateway Hotel near Arlington.

 

A newer tradition is Williee Armellini joining us and writing about his experience in his newsletter. For anyone not subscribed yet, visit https://www.flowersandcents.com. Even more incredible, Williee takes the time to make a video you can watch here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=nBLQErt29-U&si=g0qN-jZkQbtWGD9i.


This year, Ramiro Penaherrra, the Foundation’s Executive Director, had the surreal and seren-“gyp”-itious opportunity to ring the opening bell at Nasdaq to start trading operations on Friday, May 24. We thank the Google algorithm for placing Memorial Day Flowers as a top result for around Memorial Day weekend.

Pictured above: Ramiro Penaherra, the Foundation’s Executive Director

Pictured above: Former President, Barack Obama

Pictured Above: Paul Marcato (TD Bank), Ramiro Penaherrera (Executive Director MDFF), David Murphy (Board Member MDFF)

Read More About Memorial Day Flowers

2024 Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Intern of the Year

Megan Grace Ann Nelson of Junction City, KS

Audrey Arntz of Santa Rosa, CA

Maggie Whittington of Kingston, TN

Three students working towards careers in horticulture and plant science have been recognized for their exceptional participation during their work experiences provided by the Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program administered through the American Floral Endowment (AFE).

 

Megan Grace Ann Nelson of Junction City, Kansas, currently a senior studying horticulture and natural resources and environmental science at Kansas State University, has been named the 2024 Paul Thomas Floriculture Production Intern of the Year. Each year, students who have successfully completed the three- to six-month Vic & Margaret Ball internship are eligible for the award.

 

As the winner, Megan is receiving travel funds and registration from the Vic & Margaret Ball Fund to attend Cultivate ’24, American Hort’s annual convention for the green industry. This year’s event will be held in July in Columbus, Ohio. Megan will also receive free registration to the convention provided by AmericanHort as well as $500 spending cash awarded by AFE’s Young Professionals Council, a photo opportunity with AFE representatives and faculty members and articles in AFE publications and trade press.

 

Two other students have been named Paul Thomas Floriculture Intern of the Year honorable mentions. Those students are Audrey Arntz of Santa Rosa, California, who is studying plant science at California Polytechnic State University, and Maggie Whittington of Kingston, Tennessee, a December 2023 graduate of the University of Tennessee. Audrey and Maggie will each be awarded $250 for their recognition.

 

“It is so important to us that we highlight individuals who excel in their internships and embody the spirit of who Paul Thomas was,” said Debi Chedester, AFE’s Executive Director. “We are so pleased to announce that in addition to the winner, Megan, this year we are honoring Audrey and Maggie, whose performance during their respective internships deserves recognition as well.” 

Click Here to Read Press Release

Member Spotlight: 2Plant International

Founded in 2008 by Frank Riteco and Pieter van der Lans, 2Plant International has been a prominent name in the bulb and perennial industry. With decades of experience in the industry, Frank and Pieter established 2Plant after working with various suppliers in the United States.

 

The company initially focused on their genetically short pot lily line, "Lily Looks." Over the years, 2Plant has expanded its offerings to include a variety of flowering perennials such as bareroot, divisions, cuttings, and tissue culture plants. About 10 years ago, they started collaborating with Hoornsman, one of the largest calla growers in Holland, to add callas to their product line.

 

In 2022, Robin van der Schaaf joined 2Plant to enhance their presence on the West Coast. With extensive experience in flower bulbs and perennials, Robin found his perfect match in 2Plant, a company renowned for its strong genetic lines in perennials and a diverse assortment that enhances nursery results. Leveraging his connections with cut flower growers, Robin helped open 2Plant's West Coast cold storage facility in Watsonville, CA, in early 2024. This facility enables efficient and cost-effective shipping of

lilies, callas, and dahlias to both cut flower and potted growers.

 

Additionally, 2Plant has expanded its lineup to include crops beyond bulbs, such as hellebore and alstroemeria, for both potted and cut flower production. The company prides itself on building strong relationships with customers, offering not just products but also growing and technical advice through site visits or upon request.

 

For more information, please contact Robin at robin@2plant.com or info@2plant.com. Visit www.2plant.com and follow along via 2Plant’s Facebook page.

Flowers Come From Where?

Well, I have talked about it long enough. Finally, I am happy to share with you my first book Titled, Flowers Come From Where?

 

The book is currently available online as a download for your reading pleasure. I had some soft cover books printed to have on hand for those that might want a signed copy.

 

It took a long time to write, and it was one of the few positive things to come from covid lockdown. It gave me time to write these thoughts that have developed over many years.

 

I hope you enjoy it.


For those of you who have purchased my book, I welcome all reviews good or bad. Please send me your thoughts if you have read it.

 

Williee Armellini

Owner, Editor and Author of Flowersandcents.com.

Transportation Updates

Lately I’ve been receiving more requests from members interested in shipping internationally. As many of you know, shipping Internationally on FedEx is a great way to go. Our rates are very competitive, and you’ll find FedEx does a nice job when it comes to on-time service and assistance. However, what you may not know is that international shipping is more complex, requires more documentation and frankly takes a little more knowledge than shipping domestically. And that is exactly why I recommend using FedEx for your small parcel international needs. Below is a excellent resource from the FedEx website that walks shippers through the process step by step. First time international shippers inherently have lots of questions on process and paperwork required. This link can really help. Take a look, and if you would like to talk to someone in person whether on the phone or at FedEx office, professional assistance is there for you when you need it.


A few other reminders


  1. For those wanting to know who your FedEx representative is, or if you want to be contacted by FedEx, please email Chris Johnson, chris@cafgs.org, your FedEx account number and he will respond with information on your FedEx contact. It’s always a good practice to establish a relationship with your FedEx representative. They can be an asset when needed.
  2. You can have your shipments held at your nearby FedEx Office instead being delivered to your door. Having shipments held at your local FedEx office can help with temperature management since your boxes will be stored in a temperature-controlled office rather riding in a truck all morning. It’s also true that you can drop off your shipments at your local FedEx office. This can be an advantage for some parts of the country where having your packages standing by in FedEx office is preferable to being in a truck for hours.
  3. Find the latest news from FedEx here.


For those members looking for good general information on Surcharges and Claims, the following information can be helpful.


This first resource offers information regarding surcharges and fees. Keep in mind that the CalFlowers program offers members MANY surcharge and fee reductions that are significantly lower than these standard surcharges, however it’s still a good reference point and has some clear definitions on what each fee/surcharge is. If you would like a summary of your program surcharge / fee discounts and waivers, please check our website or email Chris Johnson (chris@cafgs.org) for a copy.


The second resource is very helpful when you need to file a claim for damaged or lost product. Keep in mind, a product claim is different from our Money Back Guarantee, which applies to shipping charges and is handled differently. Product claims are more involved and can be confusing, but this resource helps navigate the process. 


To all our new members who are just starting with FedEx shipping, they have a helpful “Customer Training” service that is available upon request. This service offers shippers direct one-on-one assistance from FedEx covering many of the questions new shippers may have. If you are interested in signing up, please contact Chris Johnson via email: chris@cafgs.org. FedEx also has some excellent information for new shippers on their website. Visit: https://www.fedex.com/en-us/get-started.html for a good summary of what FedEx offers.


For members needing FedEx Tech Support, this phone number takes your right into the department (877) 339-2774. They can help with many tech-related issues including guidance regarding on-line, shipping platforms.


We would also like to remind members to stay current with their FedEx Express shipping invoices. FedEx payment terms are 15 days. All members shipping on FedEx Express are expected to stay within the FedEx payment terms. Failure to stay current with FedEx risks your account being delinked from the program. For more information on this issue, please contact Chris Johnson, Dir of Transportation chris@cafgs.org.


To obtain your invoice details and payment options, please contact FedEx Customer Service.

For GLS shippers who are looking for a “Time and Transit” map, check out this interactive link. You just need to plug in your ZIP code and a handy map will show you your 1-day, 2-day options. Try it here.


In case you missed the announcement we are now offering exclusive GLS Ground rates. Now members have the option to ship Priority or Ground when shipping on GLS. The main difference is the time of day the delivery takes place and some product guarantees. For typical floral shipments, Priority with a morning to noon delivery time is the solution. For more hardy products or hard goods, GLS Ground can be an excellent choice. No matter what service is selected, our CalFlowers GLS program is an outstanding value offering consistent on-time service.


The CalFlowers GLS program is one of our popular, most value-priced offerings, with discounts well over 70% off standard rates. GLS offers later pick-ups and earlier deliveries while providing express door-to-door services covering CA, AZ, NV, OR, WA, NM, UT, and ID. Members who want to ship on GLS must sign up in advance. It’s easy and just takes a few minutes. Please contact Chris Johnson for more details at (760) 533-5580 or chris@cafgs.org.  


GLS has been very receptive to our requests for program improvements. They have added the following features to our program for members to utilize when shipping Priority.

  1. GLS will now honor product claims. Yes, if GLS is at fault (acts of God, not included) and the product arrives damaged, significantly late, or just missing, members now can file a claim. We highly recommend member shippers to indicate the correct Declared Value to be covered.
  2. GLS will credit (100%) of the shipping costs if your shipment is not delivered on the day promised. Bad weather is excluded. Members will need to request this within 48 hours at customerservice@gls-us.com
  3. GLS has given our account access to a special premium team of Customer Service agentsThis high-level group was designed for fast response and problem solving. Please contact Chris Johnson for access to this important resource.
  4. GLS has a new revamped website. Check it out at https://www.gls-us.com. Additionally, I recommend trying this handy Delivery Rates & Times Calculator to view delivery dates and estimated time of arrival.

For our members shipping cargo on airlines, we’d like to remind you that just we had a significant update to our Alaska Air Cargo program. We are pleased to add the state of Alaska to our discounts! Now members in Alaska can ship OUTBOUND nationwide, from any major airport in Alaska (serviced by Alaska Airlines), for super discounted Express rates. Member shippers just need a CID number and to sign up with us.

  

Additionally, we added SEA and PDX to our program. Now the Pacific Northwest can ship to California at our highly discounted Express rates. Again, members just need a CID number and to sign-up.


Did you know Alaska Airlines is the largest airline operator out of San Diego. They have 67 daily flights to 33 non-stop destinations.


For the latest in Alaska Cargo News, Check out: https://www.alaskaaircargoconnections.com/.


Here is a handy link for commonly asked questions: https://www.alaskacargo.com/faqs


For members wanting to get in touch with our Alaska Air Cargo Regional Sales Manager, California, Mike Narowski can be reached at mike.narowski@alaskaair.com.

 

If you have been taking advantage of our new CalFlowers/Alaska Airlines shipping program, you know this offering really delivers when it comes to value. Our program offers EXCELLENT pricing to many areas of the country from California, Portland, Seattle and now Alaska. Check out all the program details on our website. To sign-up, contact Chris Johnson at chris@cafgs.org.

Welcome To Our Newest CalFlowers Members

5/13/24- 6/3/24

Associate Floral

El Campanario de Santa Anita Soc

Doral, FL


KBF Wholesale

Webster, NY


Paradise Flowers Distribution LLC

South River, NJ

Associate Grower

RAM Flower Farm

Cambridge, MA


Floral

S & J Farms

Aptos, CA


San Joaquin Flower Collective

Fresno, CA

Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn