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Chain of Life - Origin

In 1975, Floriculture faculty (Kiplinger, Robertson and Staby) at Ohio State University (OSU) initiated an educational program that was eventually named Chain of Life. It was the purpose of this program to obtain, verify and disseminate proper postharvest care and handling information for flowering potted plants, foliage plants and cut flowers.

Due to the national interest created by the Chain of Life program, Society of American Florists' (SAF) staff contacted OSU faculty about the possibility their organization taking a leadership role. It was concluded that SAF would be an ideal conduit to further develop and promote this postharvest care and handling program.

In the ensuing five years, numerous educational events, publications and the like were conducted/produced including the creation of a Chain of Life Speakers Bureau.

Chain of Life - Present Status

By the early to mid 1980's, many of the Chain of Life promotional efforts were severely reduced or eliminated. Reasons included the perceived need for something "new" and/or "exciting" to be developed and a lack of adequate funding. This is not to suggest that SAF or others gave up on care and handling related subjects. To the contrary, two major floral care manuals were subsequently commissioned and published by SAF.

While Chain of Life related topics no longer appear in industry trade publications, its name and meaning still ring true to many industry members who were in business during its birth. In short, it is believed that many of the attributes of this program can be reinvigorated under a new name and logo to provide a platform from which proper and practical flower and plant care information can be disseminated.

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