Hiawatha Evergreens started out modestly enough 75 years ago as Northwest Evergreen, a local supplier of a limited range of fresh evergreen brush such as salal and huckleberry. Three-quarters of a century later, the firm is called Hiawatha Evergreens, its product line has expanded, it has added locations in British Columbia, Oregon and Washington, and it is a leading supplier of evergreen products worldwide.

Market Street, one of four chains operated by United Supermarkets in Texas, will roll out a new, smaller prototype store in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in November of this year with floral offerings up front, company spokesman Kerri Fulks told The Produce News in mid-January. United currently operates 51 stores under the Market Street name and three other banners: United Supermarkets, Amigos United and United Express.

Farmers’ West Flowers & Bouquets in Carpinteria, CA, is teaming up for another year with community groups to feed the homeless and teach them cooking skills so they can get jobs at local restaurants and cafes.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Kerry’s Nursery, one of the larger flower growers in Florida, was exhibiting at the Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition here in a large and stylish booth, although it is facing a foreclosure lawsuit on 128 acres of property in Homestead and Apopka, FL. The South Florida Business Journal reported Jan. 14 that the legal action was filed late last year by the Florida Federal Land Bank Association.

“Explore beyond the Shore” is the theme of the 2013 American Institute of Floral Designers Southern Conference to be held April 11-14 in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico. The four-day conference will offer an opportunity to explore Old San Juan and participate in a “Pirates of the Caribbean” opening reception and costume party, according to an AIFD news release.

Every year at about this time, retailers, floral importers, shippers, consolidators and transporters are sitting down and evaluating their supply chain planning and execution for one of the most important floral holidays of the year.

While floral retailers are busy putting the finishing touches on in-store merchandising, the rest of the industry is evaluating how to improve speed to market, reduce bottlenecks, and extend vase life through a complex, temperature-controlled, international supply chain.