The 2014 International Floriculture Expo, Fresh Ideas in Bloom, moves to the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, June 10-13. For the past five years the expo has been held in Miami Beach, FL.

IFE is a leading U.S. trade event for people from every aspect of the floriculture industry to come together annually to focus on floral education, resources, and connections, according to a news release. The four-day expo includes one education day and three days of exhibits, design demonstrations and other events.

The education program on June 10 includes:

The mission of the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association is to provide networking, business opportunities and education to wholesale distributors and their floral suppliers. To support this mission, WF&FSA’s Education Committee’s goal is to develop programs for members to network, do commerce and learn by facilitating participation. In mid-March, the committee met to map out the 2014 educational plan for the association, according to a news release.

AmericanHort announced in a press release that its annual convention and trade show has been renamed Cultivate —An AmericanHort Experience.

Formerly known as OFA Short Course, Cultivate ‘14 offers educational and networking experiences, and more than seven acres of trade show exhibits including technology, new products and services, and new plant varieties, according eto the relase.

This year also sees an expansion of products and services for retailers, nursery production and landscaping. Thousands of attendees from more than 20 countries are expected this year.

A newly created bipartisan Congressional Cut Flower Caucus, headed by California Reps. Lois Capps (D-24) and Duncan Hunter (R-50), was snnounced at a Washington, DC, press conference in February. The caucus is open to all members of Congress and is dedicated to promoting the domestic cut flower industry.

By all accounts Women’s Day 2014 was a glowing success for the floral industry. Supermarket floral departments saw their efforts resonate with customers who were already familiar with the holiday, and they witnessed a substantial increase in customers who were new to the holiday.

Traditionally, Women’s Day has been very popular in regions with large eastern European and Russian influences; however, this year Women’s Day gained mainstream traction in the United States from coast to coast.

Dos Gringos, headquartered in Vista, CA, and one of the larger ornamental sunflower companies in the world, recently conducted a nationwide survey of over 900 floral shoppers who purchase across all channels, but particularly grocery shoppers.