Ken and Deena Altman of Altman Plants have been named the recipients of the American Floral Endowment’s Ambassador Award. The recognition celebrates their longtime leadership, advocacy and dedication to the floral industry.

Their commitment to advancing AFE’s mission was recognized last week during the endowment’s Board of Trustees Meeting in Sacramento, California.

Established in 2023, the AFE Ambassador Award honors individuals and organizations in the floral industry who exemplify exceptional leadership, advocacy and service to the endowment’s mission. For the Altmans, that mission has been a shared priority throughout their careers, reflected in both their professional success and their support of floriculture research, education and innovation.

About Ken and Deena Altman

Ken and Deena’s love of the industry began in 1975, starting as a hobby. Over time, that passion grew into Altman Plants, now the largest horticultural grower in the United States. Despite its scale, the company remains family-owned and operated, guided by the same values that shaped its earliest days.

Giving back to the floral community has always been central to the Altmans’ approach. Their involvement with AFE spans decades and includes advocacy, financial support and volunteer service. Ken previously served as a member of the AFE Board of Trustees, including a two-year term as treasurer, and as chair of the Education and Scholarship Committee. He continues to serve as a scholarship reviewer and on a research committee, scoring and providing input on applications each year.

The Altmans’ commitment is also evident in their investment in future industry leaders. Altman Plants regularly hosts AFE pre-selected interns at its facilities, offering students hands-on experience in plant production and an introduction to careers in floriculture.

Eleven years ago, the Altmans established the Altman Family Scholarship through AFE to support graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in floriculture or horticulture. Since its inception, the scholarship has provided financial assistance to more than 25 students, helping support many of today’s floricultural researchers and educators. The scholarship helps alleviate the financial burden of higher education and helps students achieve their career goals.

“It is difficult to measure Ken and Deena’s true impact on AFE given all the many ways they have supported the endowment,” said David Garcia, AFE chairman. “They have created a lasting legacy by investing in young professionals and strengthening the industry’s most important resource: its people.”

Altman Plants was a founding partner of Sustainabloom, AFE’s newest program focused on sustainability education and helping floral businesses learn about and adopt more sustainable practices. Ken serves on the Sustainabloom Committee, offering insight and guidance shaped by decades of industry experience.

The AFE Board is honored to recognize Ken and Deena Altman with the Ambassador Award for their leadership, commitment and continued dedication to AFE and the floral industry at large.