The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) members consist of thousands of growers of flowers and ornamental plants around the world who are together united by one essential goal – promoting the place of plants in people’s lives.
AIPH hosts several conferences, webinars and events such as the International Grower of the Year award throughout the year. Read about these along with the latest news about the association’s activities.
AIPH’s key aim is to stimulate demand for ornamental trees, plants and flowers worldwide. We are committed to supporting growers in achieving this by protecting and promoting the interests of the industry.
The AIPH Spring Meeting 2020 took place in the ‘Sunshine State’ of Florida and focussed on key industry opportunities in the USA. The event will hosted approximately 100 participants including:
Key US and international speakers
AIPH member associaitons and affiliated members
Growers, traders and experts from around the world
Supporters, sponsors and expo organisers.
Watch on demand
Password: AIPH2020
Anna Ball, CEO Ball Horticultural Company
Anna Caroline Ball is President and CEO of the 114-year-old Ball Horticultural Company, which specializes in all aspects of horticulture, including breeding, biotechnology, production, and marketing of flower seeds and cuttings.
Privately-held and now in its third generation of family management,
Ball Horticultural Company is located in over 25 locations worldwide.
Anna received her B.A. degree from the University of Colorado and her MBA from Northwestern University. She is a Trustee for The Morton Arboretum and is also Director of the Board of Career Vision.
Ken Fisher, CEO AmericanHort
Ken Fisher is the President and CEO of AmericanHort (The American Horticultural Trade Association).
AmericanHort is the leading US horticultural industry association. It unites the horticultural industry and represents professionals from all facets of the business that produces annual industry economic output of $348 billion and directly supports 2.32 million full- and part-time jobs. The horticulture industry is a crucial player in the American economy. AmericanHort helps the industry perform better, grow faster, and prepare for the future by facilitating industry commerce and growth, educational and workforce development events, government advocacy, and research.
Before joining AmericanHort in May 2016, Ken spent 20 years in senior management positions leading industrial and consumer products companies including President and CEO of Elmer’s Products, an international consumer products company; Vice President of Poet-Ethanol Products, LLC the largest marketer of ethanol in North America; Senior Vice President of The Coleman Company, a global outdoor consumer products company; and various senior leadership positions within Koch Industries, Inc., a large multinational corporation.
Ken holds an MBA from the W. Frank Barton School of Business and a BS in Chemistry from Wichita State University.
Dr. Charlie Hall Ellison, Chair in International Floriculture, Texas A&M University, USA
Dr Charlie Hall received a BS in Agricultural Economics from the University of Tennessee in 1984, a Master’s Degree in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design from the University of Tennessee in 1986, and his PhD from Mississippi State University. He began his academic career at Texas A&M University in 1988, where he spent 13 years on the faculty before joining the faculty at the University of Tennessee in 2002.
In August 2007, Dr Hall returned to Texas A&M University as Professor and Ellison Chair in International Floriculture. Dr Hall’s expertise is in the production and marketing of green industry crops. He is nationally recognized in academia and among the horticultural clientele he serves.
Dr Hall currently serves as the Chief Economist for AmericanHort and Co-Chair of the Advisory Council of Seed Your Future. He is former President and Past-President of the board of directors for America in Bloom.
He received the Paul Ecke, Jr. award from the Society of American Florists for professional contributions to the floral industry and the Porter Henegar Memorial Award from the Southern Nursery Association for significant contributions to ornamental horticulture research and the Southern Nursery Association.
He is an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association and has received TNLA’s Staff Award for Outstanding Service to the Nursery Industry.
Dr. Hayk Khachatryan, Associate Professor in Food and Resource Economics at University of Florida, USA
Dr Hayk Khachatryan is an associate professor in the Food and Resource Economics Department and Mid-Florida Research and Education Center at the University of Florida.
His research interests include consumer behaviour, experimental economics, pro-environmental behaviour, temporal preferences, and urban and environmental policy.
His recent empirical work estimates the effects of policies and regulation on consumer behaviours, such as sustainable production labelling or economic incentives for water conservation in the urban environment.
Other projects integrate stated preferences and visual attention measures to investigate shopper behaviour and effectiveness of point-of-sale advertising and promotions. He has published in the economics, agricultural economics, marketing, social psychology journals, including Applied Economics, Agricultural Economics, Marketing Letters, Behavioral Sciences, Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, and Journal of Environmental Psychology.
Kate Penn, CEO Society of American Florists (SAF)
Kate Penn has been CEO of the Society of American Florists (SAF) since November 2017. Before that, Penn oversaw all of SAF’s content and education. Prompted by the transformational changes in the US floriculture market, she recently led the association through a strategic planning process to determine how the association can help the industry capitalize on the myriad changes in how consumers buy flowers. With its new mission – to connect and cultivate a thriving floral community – in addition to advocacy and local marketing, key strategies that emerged include creating a robust online training platform to attract and train floriculture talent, and expanded educational events.
The Society of American Florists is the umbrella association that serves the US floriculture industry – about 4,500 retailers, freelance and studio florists, wholesalers, brokers, importers, growers, manufacturers, distributors and academics. SAF has commissioned some of the industry’s most compelling and publicized research about the positive impact of flowers on emotional well-being. One of SAF’s most notable annual programs is “Petal it Forward.” This campaign is a designated day where thousands of floral industry members around the country hit the streets to give unsuspecting strangers two floral bouquets – one to keep and one to give to someone else.
Christine Boldt, Executive Vice President of Association of Floral Importers of Florida (AFIF)
Christine Boldt is executive vice president of Association of Floral Importers of Florida (AFIF); she joined in 2004. Christine is responsible for the day-to-day operation of AFIF and implementation of its advocacy and regulatory compliance initiatives. Her responsibilities are those of AFIF spokesperson and she collaborates with all government and federal regulatory agencies. Christine works with other industry organizations, both domestically and overseas. She is responsible for all the activities to ensure the efficient, cost-effective and timely clearance of flowers. Christine also directs AFIF’s promotional, statistical and member programs and new initiatives implemented.
Before joining AFIF, Christine worked for World Flowers Inc., in many capacities. (Exposed to all facets of the industry for more than 30 years). Christine was president of the Miami Floral Importers Credit Association (MFICA) from 2000 through 2004. She worked for AFIF with the first three planned trade shows from 1999 through 2002. Christine was the business manager for WTXL-TV from 1991 to 1999.
Christine has a Bachelor Degree in Accounting from Florida State University.
Awarded by Florida Shipper Magazine as a Transportation Leader in 2007.
Honoured with World Trade Center Miami’s International Women’s Day Award in 2008.
Awarded a CBP Exceptional Service Award in March 2009.
Christine currently sits on the World Trade Center Miami’s Board of Directors.
Christine speaks yearly to several university classes and college students regarding the perishable and flower industry.
Christine has been an active leader in Cub Scouts and Boy Scout Troop 457 since 2005.
Ornamental Horticulture in the USA – Preparing for the future
Welcome speech – Bernard Oosterom, AIPH President.
A vision for the future for the ornamental horticulture industry – Anna Ball, CEOBall Horticultural Company.
Initiatives in support of ornamentals producers in USA – Ken Fisher, CEOAmericanHort.
Panel session with Dr. Hayk Khachitryan, Associate Professor at University of Florida and Dr. Charlie Hall, Ellison Chair in International Floriculture, Texas A&M University, USA – Horticulture and the Consumer: Where should industry go from here?What research is revealing about horticulture and consumer behaviour, and how can we translate findings to the community level. Presentations followed by discussion.
Focus on Flowers
Developing the market for flowers in the USA – review of the US market and promotional initiatives – Kate Penn, CEO Society of American Florists (SAF)
Challenges and Opportunities for US flower importers – Christine Boldt, Executive Vice President of Association of Floral Importers of Florida (AFIF)
Ken Fisher is the President and CEO of AmericanHort (The American Horticultural Trade Association).
Dr Charlie Hall received a BS in Agricultural Economics from the University of Tennessee in 1984, a Master’s Degree in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design from the University of Tennessee in 1986, and his PhD from Mississippi State University. He began his academic career at Texas A&M University in 1988, where he spent 13 years on the faculty before joining the faculty at the University of Tennessee in 2002.
Dr Hayk Khachatryan is an associate professor in the Food and Resource Economics Department and Mid-Florida Research and Education Center at the University of Florida.
Christine Boldt is executive vice president of Association of Floral Importers of Florida (AFIF); she joined in 2004. Christine is responsible for the day-to-day operation of AFIF and implementation of its advocacy and regulatory compliance initiatives. Her responsibilities are those of AFIF spokesperson and she collaborates with all government and federal regulatory agencies. Christine works with other industry organizations, both domestically and overseas. She is responsible for all the activities to ensure the efficient, cost-effective and timely clearance of flowers. Christine also directs AFIF’s promotional, statistical and member programs and new initiatives implemented.