An influential senator sent a love letter about the U.S. floral industry — and the dynamic and important role it plays in generating revenue and jobs — to the secretary of agriculture on Valentine’s Day. The Society of American Florists played an important behind-the-scenes role in ensuring the letter came to pass — and that it accurately reflected the realities of today’s floral industry.
In the letter, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) asked Secretary Sonny Perdue “for continued support of the American floriculture industry. Today — Valentine’s Day — is the number one holiday for florists and floral purchases, representing 30 percent of all transactions for the year.”
Murphy went on to note that 28 percent of American adults purchased flowers or plants as a Valentine’s Day gift in 2019, according to the IPSOS Floral Tracking Study, commissioned by SAF, and that the National Retail Federation “estimates $2.3 billion will be spent on Valentine’s Day floral products, meaning lots of romantic gifts, but also important job-creating revenue for U.S. floral producers, wholesalers, and retailers in both urban and rural areas.”
Murphy has previously submitted similar letters to the U.S. Department of Agriculture; however, this year, building on a relationship that SAF has created with the senator and his staff, Murphy reached out to the national trade association for assistance with the letter, including background information and data on the industry’s economic footprint, main challenges and current needs for federal support.
Indeed, Murphy also expressed his support to Perdue of “full funding of the Floriculture Crops Report and the Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative.” The report and FNRI provide important data and research opportunities to the entire floral community — and they are among the issues SAF members will advocate for next month during SAF’s 40th annual Congressional Action Days (CAD), March 9-10.
The fact that Murphy wrote the letter and turned to SAF for support is a positive indicator, said SAF’s Senior Lobbyist Joe Bischoff, Ph.D. — and a testament to not only SAF’s year-round presence in Washington, D.C. but also the powerful effect of SAF members’ in-person visits to lawmakers’ offices during CAD.
“It shows the impact our industry can have when we communicate with a unified voice,” Bischoff said.
Early-bird registration for CAD 2020 ends Feb. 21. Find out more and register today.
Mary Westbrook is the editor in chief of Floral Management.
