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2026-2027 Membership Directory
Members, this is your FINAL opportunity to update your contact information and floral availability for the 2026-2027 Directory. Please log into your Member Compass or contact Jordan at jordan@cafgs.org or (831) 217-3423 to make changes to your profile.
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An Important Message from
the President
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Dear CalFlowers Members,
CalFlowers has always been about bringing people together to strengthen the floral industry. Our roots stretch back to 1941, when a group of flower growers and shippers came together to solve a simple but important problem: how to better coordinate the transportation of their flowers to the airports in San Francisco and San Jose. Back then, we were known as the Northern California Association of Flower Growers and Shippers, a regional group with a very specific mission.
But just as the floral industry has evolved, so has CalFlowers. For decades, we carried the identity of a California-based organization. Then, in 2010, a pivotal change occurred. Membership was opened nationwide at first mainly to wholesalers. That step was driven by our desire to share the FedEx shipping discount with customers and other growers.
Fast forward to today, and CalFlowers has become something far larger: a national community. We now count 850 members across the United States, growers, wholesalers, retailers, and suppliers from coast to coast.
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These slides highlight not only the variety of businesses we represent, but also the significant portion of our membership that resides outside of California.
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This growth has been extraordinary. But with growth comes responsibility, and it raised important questions:
- Do our governance structures reflect who we are today?
- Are our bylaws inclusive of the full diversity of our national membership?
- Are we preparing CalFlowers to thrive for decades to come?
The truth is that our bylaws had not kept pace. The last major update was in 2015, and while that framework served the organization well then, CalFlowers in 2025 is fundamentally different from CalFlowers a decade ago.
That is why, after months of careful discussion, input from legal counsel, and thoughtful review by the Board, we brought forward to our voting (California-based) membership a set of comprehensive bylaw changes.
Here are some key updates:
- Clearer membership categories: Six nationwide categories now recognize the distinct roles of Growers (1), Wholesalers (2), Retailers (3), Agricultural Members (4), Associate Members (5), and Industry Partners (6).
- Voting rights where it matters: Only Active Members (categories 1–3) will hold voting rights, ensuring that governance remains led by those most directly engaged in the floral marketplace.
- Board structure for accountability: Directors will be selected exclusively from Active Members, with term limits of three terms of three years—encouraging renewal, diversity, and fresh leadership.
- Modernized leadership titles: The designation of “President” becomes “Board Chair,” and “Executive Director” becomes “President,” aligning CalFlowers with best practices in nonprofit governance.
These changes are not cosmetic. They ensure that CalFlowers:
- Operates efficiently within a complex and growing national landscape.
- Grows responsibly, with governance that reflects the membership it serves.
- Maintains the trust of its members by being transparent, inclusive, and future-focused.
During the month of October, members cast their votes and passed the bylaw changes by an overwhelming 88% in favor.
This is a monumental moment in the history of our organization, and a milestone that positions CalFlowers to lead with strength and unity for many years ahead.
Thank you all for your engagement and support.
With gratitude,
Lane DeVries
President, CalFlowers
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In early December members will be asked to provide information to help determine their new member type. More details will be shared shortly. Thank you in advance for your assistance!
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Two new stems of leadership join the CalFlowers Board
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CalFlowers is excited to welcome two new members to our Board of Directors — Julie Ortiz of Joseph & Sons Inc., and John Louie of Green Valley Floral. CalFlowers President Lane DeVries shared, “Julie and John both bring impressive expertise and a shared passion for the floral industry’s future. Their leadership and insight will help guide CalFlowers as we continue to promote and strengthen the floral community across the country.”
Please join us in welcoming Julie and John to the CalFlowers Board of Directors — helping ensure that More Americans Enjoy More Flowers More Often. READ MORE.
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Great Lakes Floral Foundation inducts Bob Patterson CF into Hall of Fame
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On the evening of October 28, 2025, the Great Lakes Floral Foundation inducted Bob Patterson CF, owner of Patterson’s Flowers in Big Rapids, Reed City and Cadillac, MI into the Hall of Fame.
This distinguished recognition honors Bob for his significant contributions to the floral industry, as well as his steadfast support of the Great Lakes Floral Association (GLFA), Great Lakes Floral Foundation (GLFF), and the Great Lakes Floral & Event Expo (GLFEE). Bob has served two terms as president of the GLFA (1996 and 2013–2015) and previously chaired the GLFF, demonstrating a career-long commitment to advancing the floral profession and supporting both fellow florists and his local community. In addition to his professional achievements, Bob is dedicated to the 4-H Great Lakes & Natural Resources Camp, where he has provided leadership for over three decades in various roles. READ MORE.
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2026 ASCFG Conference: Call for flower donations
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The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers is seeking donations of specialty cut flowers and dried botanicals for the ASCFG Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in January 2026. These dried and fresh floral donations will be used in arrangements and demonstrations, and donors will receive an acknowledgement in the Winter 2026 issue of The Cut Flower Quarterly and on social media.
Here's how you can get involved: Please fill out the form shared below by Friday, December 5, 2025! If you're not attending the conference, you can still donate flowers and simply ship the blooms to the conference hotel. Please know that the ASCFG will share shipping information with all donors. Donate Flowers Today!
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Continental Floral Greens announces key leadership promotions and career growth milestones
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Continental Floral Greens (CFG), a leader in the floral industry, is proud to announce several key promotions within its leadership team - a reflection of the company’s continued growth, internal development, and commitment to cultivating excellence from within.
These exciting changes mark a major step forward for CFG as it continues to expand operations, strengthen its partnerships, and celebrate the people who make it all possible. READ MORE.
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Behind the Bloom podcast ranks 127th on Apple Podcasts
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“We are so delighted to share - that we were notified by Podstatus, a leading podcast monitoring service - that our Behind the Bloom Podcast with J Schwanke and RJ Pole is ranking #127 - on Apple Podcasts in the last 30 days,” says J Schwanke. As a point of reference, Apple Podcasts has over 2.8 million podcasts.
“This is so exciting!” J continued. “And I’m so proud of my Co-Host and Producer RJ and his expertise in helping us create this Flower Filled Podcast – I’m equally thankful for his encouragement along the way!” READ MORE.
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CalFlowers announces Match Challenge 2026 contributions
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That Flower Feeling has announced CalFlowers Match Challenge for 2026 contributions. For every $1.25 raised, CalFlowers will match $1.00, up to a total of $300,000. This initiative provides an incentive for the floral industry to unite and support the growth of the "Just Add Flowers" national marketing campaign. READ MORE.
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10 questions to Lane DeVries, the President of CalFlowers
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Few stories in floriculture carry the depth and conviction of Lane DeVries’s journey. From a small Dutch town— where tulips filled the fields —to California, Lane’s path reflects the courage and faith of a man who built his life around purpose and perseverance. READ MORE.
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Do you have floral news you want to share with the CalFlowers community?
Please contact us.
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Important FedEx Updates:
Lately I (Chris) have been getting calls and emails from members with questions about their FedEx bill regarding extra changes and fees that they don’t recognize. There are a couple things in play here. First, remember, FedEx is now charging PEAK / DEMAND fees to all shippers. These fees are a little over a dollar per package, but other fees could come into play. Here is a SUMMARY from FedEx that sheds some light on some of these fees you may be seeing.
Also, there have been reports that FedEx has “accurized” their automated scanning machines that dimensionalize boxes sent through the system. These machines with sophisticated lasers are now even more accurate than before thus showing boxes larger than what was previously listed. In other words, your box is probably going to show LARGER than expected. For example, a 20 x 8 x 6, may now show as 21 x 9 x 7. This will result in price changes if your box is sensitive to size in terms of pricing. There are other fees that you may see on your statement and the above link can help make sense of it. CalFlowers is currently negotiating some of these fees and we should have news soon on how we did.
As a follow-up to my email two weeks ago regarding Pick-up fees, that information is still the best information we have to this date. If you have a regular scheduled daily pick-up with FedEx, you will see a fee somewhere around $34.00. To get around this fee we suggest using FedEx On-Call to schedule a pick-up when needed. You can do this online, or by phone. By using this method, you should not see a fee applied to your invoice. If you do see a pick-up fee, please let me know by emailing me at chris@cafgs.org. As more information becomes available, we will keep you updated.
We have just received confirmation of the FedEx General Rate Increase (GRI) for 2026. Effective January 5, FedEx will implement a 5.9% overall rate increase. In addition, we anticipate that new surcharges and/or fee adjustments will be announced in the near future. Updated rate sheets will be available during the first week of January. As further details become available, we will share updates promptly to keep you informed.
For those of you that haven’t heard, FedEx is spinning off its Freight (pallet) business. Most FedEx Freight accounts are stand-alone agreements, but we have ours built into our overall contract. Members still have Freight rates at 89% discount. How does this change affect CalFlowers? No changes as of today but more information will be coming next year. Read HERE for more details.
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With the Fall season here, winter is not far off. It’s an essential practice to check for any service delays or alerts before you ship, and the best resource for that information can be found HERE. Knowing 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, assistance available when needed.
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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Your shipping platform may not allow you to book a shipment to arrive on Saturday. To get around this, shippers need to go to FedEx.com and book it manually. This will allow Saturday delivery zones and times to show up.
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 a FedEx office is preferable to being in a truck for hours.
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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 with your FedEx account number and he will respond with your FedEx contact. It’s a good practice to establish a relationship with your FedEx representative. They can be of great assistance when needed.
Find the latest news from FedEx here.
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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Surcharges & Claims Resources:
For those members looking for general information on Surcharges and Claims, the following resources 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.
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 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:
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.
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Check out the GLS interactive Time-in-Transit map. Plug in your ZIP code and a handy map will show you your 1-day, 2-day transportation options.
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.
GLS has an updated website. Additionally, try this handy Delivery Rates & Times Calculator to view delivery dates and estimated time of arrival.
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Alaska Air Cargo Program:
As you may know, Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines are merging. Due to this merger, Alaska has asked us to pause adding new shippers to our program while they combine operational systems. This pause is temporary, and we will notify members when we get the “go ahead” to add shippers to this signature program.
Alaska has also been keeping shippers up to date on the progress of the merger. Click HERE for the latest in booking and information.
If you've been using our new CalFlowers/Alaska Airlines shipping program, you’ve likely experienced its exceptional value. This program provides outstanding rates to numerous regions nationwide, including shipments from California, Portland, Seattle, and Alaska.
For 2025, we have renewed our contract with Alaska Cargo and are pleased to announce no change in pricing! Look for more information coming soon and be sure to explore all program details on our website.
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. Click HERE for the latest Alaska Air Cargo Zone Map.
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For the latest News & Updates please visit the Alaska Airlines webpage.
For the latest in Alaska Cargo News see here.
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Alaska Air commonly asked questions.
For questions about our Alaska Air Cargo program, please contact Chris Johnson, (760) 533-5580.
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Air Canada Cargo Program:
In case you missed it, we now have Air Canada rates available to our membership! They can be viewed on our website. These are the standard Floral Rates from Air Canada, and they offer good value. However, we are currently working with Air Canada with the goal of securing exclusive rates for CalFlower members. More information to follow.
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Time is running out! The CalFlowers Membership Directory is one of the most trusted resources in the industry, used year-round by over 850 growers, wholesalers, retailers, and suppliers. Advertising in the directory ensures your brand stands out to key decision-makers while reaching a highly targeted audience. See full details HERE.
BOGO Deal: Get a prime placement for your ad in the Fun 'N Sun 2026 convention booklet with the purchase of a directory print advertisement.
Members Only Bonus: You profile will be featured at the top of the online directory for a full year!
Secure your ad no later than November 21st. Questions? Contact us.
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If you've never attended an ASCFG Conference, there is no better time to invest in yourself! The Association of Specialty Cut Flowers welcomes CalFlowers members to register at the ASCFG member rate for the 2026 Conference in Albuquerque on Jan 13-14.
Meet well-known podcasters, Charlotte Smith of The Profitable Mindset Podcast, and Scott Shepherd of The Flower Podcast, along with Dr. John Dole, Laura Lengnick, and Robert Washington-Vaughns during the first day of sessions. Day one will be topped off with a Trade Show and social time with peers and suppliers.
There will be something for everyone with concurrent sessions on day two. learn more about the fifteen educational sessions HERE.
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Member Spotlight
CamFlor, Inc.
CamFlor, Inc. is a 30+ year-old family-owned farm based in California, specializing in growing and wholesaling cut flowers. Their focus is on cultivating a wide variety of unique cut flowers, fillers, and greens—making them your one-stop shop for all your fresh floral needs. They also offer customized wreaths and garlands year-round!
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The ASCFG educates, unites, and supports cut flower growers of all sizes.
Not a member yet? Now is the time!
Join or rejoin the ASCFG by December 31 and receive a package with all four 2025 issues of The Cut Flower Quarterly plus a $50 gift certificate.
Use ASCFG2025 on the application where it asks "How did you hear about the ASCFG?"
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Member Benefit Spotlight
Member Spotlights
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Members can fill out the Member Spotlight Form to be featured in CalFlowers' communications, seen by over 10,000 industry professionals. Member spotlights are a powerful way to connect with new customers and expand your network. Submit your info today and let us help share your story!
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