CalFlowers Welcomes Lane DeVries as Executive Director to Drive ‘That Flower Feeling’ to New Heights
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Join us in welcoming CalFlowers' new Executive Director, Lane DeVries! In his dual role as Executive Director and the strategic lead for ‘That Flower Feeling,’ DeVries is committed to ensuring that the floral industry unites behind a common goal: making flowers a part of everyday life.
His experience in consumer behavior, market expansion, and sustainable flower production will be key in driving higher floral consumption, strengthening industry partnerships, and elevating the CalFlowers membership experience.
Send Lane a welcome email!
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CalFlowers Pledges $10,000 in Matching Donations to Support Floral Community Impacted by Los Angeles Wildfires
In the wake of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, the floral industry is coming together to support florists and businesses affected by this natural disaster. CalFlowers, known for fostering growth and unity within the floral community, is acting by pledging to match up to $10,000 in donations to the AIFD Foundation Catastrophic Fund, amplifying relief efforts for those impacted. Read more.
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Mellano & Company Celebrates 100 Years of Floral Farming Excellence
Mellano & Company, the Southern California name synonymous with breathtaking blooms and gorgeous wholesale flowers and foliage, is pleased to announce that 2025 is its 100th year in business. To mark this milestone, Mellano & Company is embarking on a year-long celebration entitled Blooming into a New Era! The celebration will highlight the generations of families and faces who have played an integral role in the company’s success throughout the years while also looking ahead to the next century as a leader in the floral industry. Read more.
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San Francisco Unveils State-of-the-Art Wholesale Flower Market
“The opening of this extraordinary new market is a testament to the resilience, creativity, and passion of San Francisco’s floral community,” said Jeanne Taggart Boes, Executive Director of the San Francisco Flower Market. “The SF Flower Market is a living symbol of our city’s enduring beauty and culture. This facility allows us to nurture our legacy while propelling Northern California’s floral industry into an exciting future.” Read more.
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Floral Marketing Fund and CalFlowers Partner to Advance the Floral Industry
The Floral Marketing Fund (FMF) and CalFlowers are partnering to strengthen and support the floral industry through strategic consumer research and marketing initiatives. This 3-year partnership, supported by an annual $50,000 commitment from CalFlowers, exemplifies a shared dedication to fostering growth, innovation, and increased consumer engagement for flowers and plants. Read more.
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Call For Research Proposals: Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund
The Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund (FCGFRF) of the American Floral Endowment (AFE) is now accepting grant proposals for research and educational projects in floriculture. The submission deadline is April 1, 2025.
Eligible proposals include those addressing critical topics in floriculture related to plant pathology, plant breeding, agricultural economics, agricultural engineering, entomology, and plant physiology. Applications are open to universities, colleges, and federal research institutions across the United States. Read more.
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International Women's Day Free Marketing Toolkit for Florists
In honor of International Women's Day 2025, Florists’ Review and esteemed partners are thrilled to unveil the free International Women’s Day Marketing toolkit made for florists.
Access the 8-week marketing plan, complete with ready-to-use creative materials, email template, social media packets, press releases, and step-by-step guidance. Read more and download the free marketing toolkit.
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Life In Bloom Visits Flower Icon Phil Rulloda and Green Point Nurseries Flower Farm
As we inch closer to the April premiere of Life In Bloom, more web-exclusive bonus content will be revealed each week on uBloom.com.
In the video that just premiered at uBloom.com, J visits with California Flower Icon, Phil Rulloda, AIFD, at his home in Fullerton. The season premiere of Life In Bloom (episode 701) is devoted to celebrating Phil and his on-going legacy in the Flower Industry. Read more.
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WFFSA Announces Inaugural Floral Xcellence Awards
Sponsored by Flowers of Colombia and Proflora 2025 by Asocolflores, the Floral Xcellence Awards provide WFFSA supplier members with an opportunity to showcase their most outstanding floral varieties. Open exclusively to WFFSA members registered for the 2025 Floral Distribution Conference, this prestigious competition celebrates creativity and excellence, shaping the future of floriculture while connecting breeders, growers and wholesale buyers in an engaging and competitive environment. Read more about the award and how to enter.
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Member Spotlight: Green Valley Floral
Nestled in the heart of Salinas, California, is a third-generation flower grower and shipper renowned for its dedication to quality and innovation. Specializing in garden roses, spray roses, gerberas, California greens, and an array of vibrant field flowers, Green Valley Floral is committed to cultivating unique and captivating varieties. With a legacy of excellence and innovation, Green Valley Floral remains a cornerstone of the floral industry, proudly growing with care for the land and its communities.
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FedEx Updates & Service Disruptions:
Now that winter is here, it's an essential practice to check for any service delays or alerts before shipping. Knowing to what to expect before you ship can limit any unexpected delays and headaches.
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FedEx International Shipping:
See here for an excellent resource from FedEx that walks shippers through the process step by step. First time international shippers inherently have questions on the process and paperwork required. If you'd like to talk to someone in person whether on the phone or at FedEx office, professional assistance available.
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Additional Reminders:
- Although FedEx First Overnight is available to any FedEx customer. It is HIGHLY recommended that you do not select this service unless it is absolutely necessary and you fully understand the pricing. FedEx First Overnight (8am) is a remarkable service but please understand FedEx does not discount this option. Rates are VERY expensive and cannot be re-rated once shipped.
- Did you know that our Priority Overnight rates (10:30am delivery), typically are only a few dollars more than Standard Overnight? The Standard Overnight delivery commitment is around 5 hours later (3:30pm), which can make a difference with many varieties in terms of arrival condition. Take a look - you will be surprised how close these rates are.
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- For those wanting to know who your FedEx representative is, or if you want to be contacted by FedEx, please email Chris Johnson your FedEx account number and he will respond with information on your FedEx contact. It’s a good practice to establish a relationship with your FedEx representative. They can be of great assistance when needed.
- Call (877) 339-2774 for FedEx’s tech support team, who can help with many tech-related issues including guidance regarding on-line shipping platforms.
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- You can have your shipments held at your nearby FedEx Office instead of 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 than 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.
- Find the latest news from FedEx here.
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Surcharges & Claims Resources:
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 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.
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FedEx New Member Resources:
New members who are just starting with FedEx shipping can utilize the “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. Visit this webpage for excellent information for new shippers and a summary of FedEx's offerings.
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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, contact Chris Johnson, Director of Transportation.
To obtain your invoice details and payment options, please contact FedEx Customer Service.
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GLS Updates & Transit Map:
Exciting News! We’ve introduced NEW GLS Ground rates exclusively for our members. This service covers the entire domestic U.S. and is ideal for non-perishable items, though perishable goods can also be shipped. Our rates are highly discounted and available to all shipping members. For complete pricing and additional details, please email Chris Johnson.
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.
Check out the GLS interactive Time and Transit map. Plug in your ZIP code and a handy map will show you your 1-day, 2-day transportation options.
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GLS Program Improvements:
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.
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- GLS will now honor product claims. 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.
- GLS will credit 100% of 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.
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- GLS has given our account access to a special premium team of Customer Service agents. This high-level group was designed for fast response and problem solving. Please contact Chris Johnson for access to this important resource.
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Alaska Air Cargo Program:
If you've been using our new CalFlowers/Alaska Airlines shipping program, you’ve likely experienced the exceptional value it offers. Our program provides outstanding rates to numerous regions across the country, including shipments from California, Portland, Seattle, and now Alaska. Be sure to explore all the program details on our website.
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Did you know Alaska Airlines provides one of the most comprehensive intra-California services, with San Diego serving as its largest hub in the state? Even better, through our exclusive partnership with Alaska Airlines, we offer truly exceptional rates that you won’t find anywhere else. To sign-up, contact Chris Johnson (chris@cafgs.org).
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For the latest News and updates please visit the Alaska Airlines webpage.
Alaska Air commonly asked questions.
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For the latest in Alaska Cargo News see here.
For questions about our Alaska Air Cargo program, please contact Chris Johnson, 760-533-5580.
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Member Benefit Spotlight
The 2025-2026 Membership Directory will be mailed to members THIS WEEK! Members can also access the electronic version of the Directory on the CalFlowers website.
The Membership Directory is a valuable tool with information about benefits, resources, and contacts of CalFlowers members across all segments of floral and produce industries. Member information can also be easily accessed in the online directory.
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Membership Drive Raffle Winner
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Congratulations to Vail Family Farm for winning the January Membership Drive referral raffle! There are two more opportunities to win a $100 gift card so be sure to tell your friends and colleagues about CalFlowers.
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Funding for Floral Producers – Insights into Value-Added Producer Grants Webinar
Join CalFlowers on February 27th at 10am PST/1pm EST for an informative webinar designed to help flower producers access up to $250,000 in working capital through the USDA’s Value-Added Producer Grant(VAPG) program.
What we will cover:
- Program eligibility and competitiveness
- Potential uses of funding for flower producers
- Timeline for submission and awards
- Free resources to help plan and apply
Attendees will walk away with a better understanding of how this opportunity applies to their business and how to move forward with an application.
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CalFlowers Members Receive Special Rate for the 2025 AIFD® Industry Showcase
Registration is open for the 2025 AIFD® Industry Showcase, which will be held at the AIFD® National Symposium in Palm Springs, CA, from July 12 to July 15.
Running through April 1, CalFlowers members can register for the Industry Showcase, which will include a one-day pass to the Symposium, display space in the Showcase, and a one-year AIFD® Industry Partner Membership with benefits at an exclusive rate of $900 (typically a $1,200+ value)!
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Have You Registered to Attend The 2025 Annual Bloom Together Event!?
We’re thrilled to announce that CalFlowers is a proud collaborator of this premier floral networking event! Mark your calendars for March 3, 2025, from 7 p.m. – 12 a.m., as we gather at an exciting NEW venue—Copper Blues Rock Pub & Kitchen! Get ready for an unforgettable evening of connections, conversations, and collaborations in a dynamic setting.
Be our guest and get ready for an unforgettable night of supporting the power of floral networking, collaboration, and building community!
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CalFlowers is a proud sponsor of the 2025 WF&FSA Floral Distribution Conference!
We’re excited to connect with industry leaders, share insights, and support the future of floral distribution. Be sure to stop by and say hello—we’d love to see you there!
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CalFlowers is a Proud Sponsor of:
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