ANLA and OFA Members Vote to Form New National Horticultural Trade Association

ANLA and OFA Members Vote to Form New National Horticultural Trade Association
AmericanHort to Launch January 2014  

Members of OFA - The Association of Horticulture Professionals and the American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA) have voted in overwhelming support of the consolidation of the two organizations into a new, national trade association to serve the entire horticulture industry. The announcement followed a 30-day open ballot and today's in-person vote for OFA's members, held in Columbus, Ohio.

With the consolidation, the new trade association will have the largest national nursery, greenhouse, and garden retail membership of any horticulture association in the United States. Those communities will join together with breeders, distributors, interior and exterior landscape professionals, florists, students, educators, researchers, manufacturers, and all who are part of the supply chain to represent our industry with one, strong voice and a greater base of volunteer, staff, and financial resources.

The new trade association, named the American Horticulture Association, will be known as AmericanHort, and will begin operations by January 1, 2014. The mission of AmericanHort is to unite, promote, and advance our industry through advocacy, collaboration, connectivity, education, market development, and research.

The association will have its primary office in Columbus, Ohio and an office in Washington, DC to facilitate government relations and research activities. Michael V. Geary, CAE will continue as the chief staff executive.

The inaugural board of directors was appointed by the legacy organizations. For the first year, the board will have equal representation from OFA and ANLA.

To learn more, visit AmericanHort.org.