National Floriculture Forum Set for February 2019 in Chicago
November 18, 2018 
Attendees of the 2018 National Floriculture Forum met in Central Florida.
Floriculture industry leaders should mark their calendars for the 2019 National Floriculture Forum (NFF), which will take place Feb. 16-17, 2019, in Chicago.
The NFF brings together diverse floricultural communities with the objectives to 1) address issues of importance to the floriculture industry; 2) form collaborative relationships; and 3) improve communication within the American floriculture industry to share and disseminate information.
The NFF tradition dates back to the early 1990s, with an educational meeting for industry leaders, university faculty, graduate students, and government scientists from academic institutions, governmental agencies, and the greenhouse industry.
The 2019 Forum will open with an optional tour to the Chicago Botanic Garden for those arriving early. At the Chicago Botanic Garden, Dr. Jim Ault will lead a tour of the newly renovated greenhouses and speak about the scientific endeavors of the garden, which includes the breeding and introduction program associated with Chicagoland Grows.
Following the tour will be an afternoon business meeting with presentations from various speakers on research funding opportunities and industry trend. Faculty members and graduate students will also be asked to update the group on their universities’ programs including enrollments, and teaching, research, and Extension programs. This will continue into Sunday morning’s session.
On Saturday evening, Dr. Charlie Hall, holder of the Ellison Chair in International Floriculture at Texas A&M University, will address the group on “Incorporating the Value of Plants and Our Industry into Curricula.”
Registration for the NFF is $150, thanks to financial support from the American Floral Endowment. The fee includes the tour to the Chicago Botanic Garden, including bus transportation on Saturday morning, lunch, and dinner on Saturday, and refreshments at breaks.
For more questions about the Forum, contact the 2019 event organizer, Dr. Marvin Miller of Ball Horticultural Company.
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