November 2026 Newsletter

November 11, 2026

in AFA Newsletters,

Looking Ahead with Gratitude:
Building a Stronger Floral Industry

As Thanksgiving approaches, it is a good time to reflect on the many things we have to be grateful for, both personally and professionally.

As we look to the future of the Floral Alliance, I see an organization that goes far beyond the valuable FedEx shipping benefits we provide our members today.

While our FedEx program remains an important cornerstone of our organization, I believe we have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to do much more for the floral industry.

I see the Floral Alliance becoming an organization that our members can turn to for education, guidance, resources, and support. Whether it is helping businesses navigate challenges, providing educational opportunities, bringing different segments of our industry together, or advocating for their interests, we have an opportunity to make a meaningful difference.

Having spent more than 40 years in the American floral industry, I have experienced firsthand both the opportunities and the challenges that come with this business. This industry has been my life's work, and it has given me so much.

My heart and soul are in the floral industry, and at this stage of my life, I want to give back. I can think of no better way to do that than by helping build an organization that strengthens our industry and supports the people and businesses that make it so special.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, I am especially grateful for the people who make up this industry, for their hard work, dedication, and resilience. I look forward to working with all of you to build an even stronger future for our industry.

Wishing you and your families a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

Lane DeVries
President, American Floral Alliance

Floral News

Seed Your Future Launches 'Careers In Bloom'

Seed Your Future (SYF) launched a new digital series, highlighting the full spectrum of careers within the floral industry. 'Careers In Bloom' takes students and career explorers on a journey – from the fields where flowers are grown, through the supply chain, and all the way to the final arrangement revealing that the floral industry is far more than floral design. Watch and share.

Peony Grower Secures Federal Funding & Advice on How You Can Too

EagleSong Family Peony Farm, was awarded $59,958 to research value-added processing opportunities using Alaska-grown peonies. Learn about their innovative project and glean advice on how to approach funding opportunities. Read more.

AzMF Certification Registration is LIVE

Ready to take the next step in your floral education? Registration for the upcoming Arizona Master Florist (AzMF) class is officially open! Whether you're looking to expand your floral design skills, strengthen your industry knowledge, or work toward earning your AzMF certification, this is a wonderful opportunity to invest in your professional growth. Register now.

Blackfoot, Idaho Flower Farm & Business For Sale

Specialty flower farm and established floral business, Florage Fresh Cut Flowers is for sale in eastern Idaho. The proposed combined sale brings together real estate, the operating business, and associated equipment and brand assets. Read more.

"Life In Bloom" Featured in All of December's Create TV Marathons

We’re excited that Create TV is including episodes of J Schwanke's Life in Bloom in all four weekend marathons for the month of December. Many thanks to our friends at Create TV - we’re happy to help them celebrate all month long!

Enjoy episode 514 ‘Holiday for Blooms’ - featuring a classic Christmas arrangement and a review of J’s vintage decorations - as part of the Create TV “Celebrate the Season” Marathon. The marathon is scheduled for Friday, December 4 starting at 9 pm Eastern (6 pm Pacific), Saturday, December 5 at 10 am Eastern (7 am Pacific) and Sunday, December 6 at 12 noon Eastern (9 am Pacific).

Enjoy episode 614 ‘Winter in Bloom’ - with projects inspired by snow and the holidays - as part of the Create TV“Cozy Season” Marathon. It’s actually a Viewers’ Choice Marathon selected by PBS Utah viewer Marguerite M. - thanks for the shout out! The marathon is scheduled for Friday, December 11 starting at 9 pm Eastern (6 pm Pacific), Saturday, December 12 at 10 am Eastern (7 am Pacific) and Sunday, December 13 at 12 noon Eastern (9 am Pacific). Read more.

That Flower Feeling Launches Season of Giving to Unlock $100,000 Industry Match

Thursd Floral Trend Color of the Year 2027

Tariff Resources: IFPA | SAF

Do you have floral news you want to share with the AFA community?

Fall Into Savings with
Service First Processing

As the leaves change and the floral industry prepares for a busy holiday season, it's the perfect time to help your business flourish!

Through the partnership between Service First Processing (SFP) and the American Floral Alliance (AFA), members can access payment solutions designed to reduce costs, streamline operations, and improve cash flow.

SFP helps floral businesses spend less time managing payments and more time growing their business. Let your savings bloom this fall with your AFA member benefits!

Learn More

Transportation Updates

FedEx Updates

Folks, FedEx Peak season is here. This is where FedEx adds a “demand” surcharge for the busy holiday shipping period. You can expect to see a demand surcharge on large boxes, Residential and Home deliveries as well Express. The good news is that AFA members will receive a 45% discount on these surcharges. It pays to be a member! This period runs through January 17, 2027.

For those members who missed our announcement on Thursday, October 8, 2026, our new negotiated FedEx agreement took effect. This latest round of negotiations focused primarily on strengthening our FedEx Ground and Home Delivery offerings, with substantial improvements to base-rate discounts, residential and delivery-area surcharges, demand surcharges, and minimum charge reductions.

Perhaps most importantly, we have also secured a Money-Back Guarantee for FedEx Ground and Home Delivery shipments—a significant new benefit for members using these services. However, to take advantage of the Money Back Guarantee when shipping GROUND, members must enroll in FedEx rewards. Sign up for FedEx Rewards.

With the Fall season here, we should expect weather disturbances to become more frequent. It’s an essential practice to check for any service delays or alerts before you ship. Knowing to what to expect before you ship can limit any unexpected delays and headaches. Check out this helpful resource on how to ship perishables on FedEx.

FedEx International Shipping

For members thinking about shipping internationally, we have excellent new import and export rates. 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 is 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 to see how close these rates are.

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.

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.

Surcharges & Claims Resources

For 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 American Floral Alliance's 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. Product claims are 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.

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.

Find the latest news from FedEx here.

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, contact Chris Johnson, Dir of Transportation. To obtain your invoice details and payment options, please contact FedEx Customer Service.

GLS Updates

The GLS program continues to be one of our most popular member benefits, offering door-to-door regional shipping with discounts of 70% off base rates and up to 57% off accessorial fees.

GLS provides door-to-door service throughout California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas, with 90% of intra-California shipments delivered overnight. The GLS® regional network helps reduce transit time and handling, making it an excellent option for fresh floral products.

Members who would like to ship with GLS must enroll in the program in advance. Signing up is quick and easy. For more information, contact Chris Johnson at (760) 533-5580 or chris@americanfloralalliance.org.

Explore the GLS Time-in-Transit Map

Use the interactive Time-in-Transit Map to enter your ZIP code and instantly view one- and two-day delivery coverage throughout the GLS service area. Note longer distances may be subject to additional days in transit.

GLS Program Enhancements

GLS continues to invest in the American Floral Alliance (AFA) program by adding valuable benefits for members shipping Priority service.

Product Claims Coverage – If a shipment is damaged, significantly delayed, or lost due to a GLS service issue (excluding acts of God), members may now file a claim. Be sure to enter the appropriate Declared Value when shipping.

On-Time Service Guarantee – If a shipment is not delivered on the promised day (weather exclusions apply), GLS will credit 100% of the shipping charges. Claims must be submitted within 48 hours by contacting customerservice@gls-us.com.

Dedicated Customer Support – AFA members have access to a specialized GLS customer service team focused on rapid response and issue resolution. Contact Chris Johnson for access to this resource.

Updated Online Tools – Visit the updated GLS website and use the Delivery Rates & Times Calculato r to quickly view estimated transit times and delivery dates.

Alaska Air Cargo Updates

If you've been using our 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 and now Hawaii!

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.

For the latest News & Updates please visit the Alaska Airlines webpage.

Alaska Air commonly asked questions.

For questions about our Alaska Air Cargo program, please contact Chris Johnson, (760) 533-5580.

Member Spotlight
Royal Imports

For more than a century, Royal Imports has been a trusted name in the floral industry. They offer an extensive and growing assortment of more than 1,500 floral hardgoods, including glass vases, sympathy supplies, candles, ribbon, floral tools, packaging, and more, all under one roof. This broad selection helps wholesalers and distributors consolidate purchases, simplify sourcing, and better serve their customers.