As the calendar turned a year ago, Florida’s flower and plant growers were nervous, yet hopeful, for a sales rebound. Trepidation evaporated as Florida’s $15.3 billion nursery and landscape industry enjoyed a significant sales jump across all categories.

As 2014 arrives, the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association is anticipating the notable rebound will persist.

In 2013, consumers seemed to be seeking comfort and ways to relax, so they were drawn to the familiar, tried-and-true plant varieties.

When does a trend become the standard? Is it two years? Three years? Five years?

For the fourth consecutive year the California Cut Flower Commission has seen an increase in the annual sales of flowers and greens from its farms. As the largest producer of U.S.-grown flowers, California’s flower-farming families have certainly continued to benefit from a general market trend towards locally grown foods.

Last year brought many industry challenges that were beyond our control. The government sequester and shutdown created additional problems for the Customs & Border Protection staff for flower importing. The sequester reduced the number of staff members who were employed and cut back on overtime. The government shutdown added even more stress.

The complete change in the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association, its management and conference, has inspired its members to not just think outside the box, but to throw the box away and look at every part of their businesses. Who are we? Where do we fit in? What can we do for you?

The last few years, members of WF&FSA have been asking and answering the first two questions.

All people may be created equal, but that’s not the case for supermarkets. According to the Food Marketing Institute, there are more than 37,000 grocery stores and supermarkets in the United States. They spread across the country from large metropolitan areas to small rural communities and their floral departments come in all sizes too. But regardless of their size, supermarket floral centers all use the same calendar and focus their business on the same floral holidays.

The calendar is turning and the clock is ticking — Valentine’s Day is just a few weeks away. According to the Society of American Florists, it is the most important floral holiday of the year. It accounts for 36 percent of all holiday floral transactions and moe than 40 percent of total holiday dollars for the year.

A profitable Valentine’s Day influences a floral department’s annual success.