Well, 2011 was a year that was definitely not foreseen in my crystal ball. On Feb. 13, Congress gave flower importers an unwelcome Valentine’s gift of duties. Other than 10 years ago when the Andean Trade Preference Act lapsed for eight months, importers have not paid duties on imported flowers in 20 years.

Since this was not anticipated or budgeted, importers had to scramble to start paying duties as one of the biggest volume days approached.

The feds are counting sheep again. And flowers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, bowing to an outcry from farm trade groups and related organizations such as the Society of American Florists, has abruptly reversed a decision to eliminate dozens of longstanding statistical reports that covered a broad array of farming activities, including flower growing, beekeeping, trout farming, and sheep and goat farming.

Our crystal ball for 2011 predicted a shorter supply of trendy seasonal colors and novelty containers due to the unwillingness of businesses to speculate on the needed inventory to support these types of products. Although we have no comprehensive empirical data to support this claim, the late 2011 announcement by a major importer ceasing its in-stock availability of floral containers should be sufficient evidence that this concern exists and is real.

They didn’t go over the river or through the woods at Thanksgiving, those folks at Dos Gringos, and they had to scramble for sunflowers on the way to grandma’s house. Unseasonably hot days in mid-September in the San Diego area led to torrid soil and air temperatures that “burned the sunflower seeds in the ground” and led to serious flower shortages for Thanksgiving, according to Jason Levin, president of the grower and bouquet-maker in Vista, CA.

Tanimura & Antle Inc. announced donations to two North American organizations that offer healthy school lunch programs. As a result, Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools will be able to place new salad bars in five schools in the United States, and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association can give the Freggie Friday In-School Program curriculum to 10 elementary schools in Canada.

BrightFarms Inc., located in New York City, announced the completion of a $4.3-million series-A equity-financing round. The round was led by NGEN Partners and included investments from Emil Capital Partners and BrightFarms founder Ted Caplow.