Breeders, growers invited to enter SAF’s 2026 outstanding varieties competition
The Society of American Florists (SAF) is accepting entries for its 2026 Outstanding Varieties Competition, which will be held Aug. 18-20 during SAF Amelia Island 2026, the organization’s 141st Annual Convention.
The competition provides breeders and growers an opportunity to showcase new and top-performing varieties before retailers, wholesalers, importers, designers and other floral professionals attending the convention.
Entries will be judged by a panel of industry experts based on color, commercial appeal, overall presentation and other quality characteristics.
Awards include Blue Ribbon recognition for entries scoring in the top 15%, Red Ribbon recognition for the next 30%, Best in Class honors for the highest-scoring entry in each category and Best in Show, selected from the Best in Class winners.
The competition also includes Breeder’s Alley, a showcase for varieties that are not yet commercially available or widely distributed, giving attendees an early look at new introductions.
The early bird entry deadline is July 8, and the final entry deadline is July 21.
Competition guidelines and registration information are available at www.safnow.org/outstanding-varieties-competition/.
Videos
