The 2025 AmericanHort Impact Washington Fly-In Summit drew nearly 140 participants from 25 states earlier this week. Over three days, they held more than 220 meetings on Capitol Hill. The event amplified the horticulture industry’s priorities, including agricultural labor, the Farm Bill, supply chain stability, and horticultural research, directly with lawmakers and staff.
The Fly-In featured a dynamic lineup of speakers, including Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer (pictured below), Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), Representative Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), House Agriculture Committee Policy Director Trevor White, USDA Senior Policy Advisor Alison Slagell, Jonathan Cordone of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, and workforce and labor policy experts Lynn Jacquez and Laurie Flanagan.
Additionally, on Tuesday, September 16, Michael Frantz, co-owner of Frantz Wholesale Nursery, testified before the House Agriculture Committee at a hearing on the state of the specialty crop industry, which brought national visibility to horticulture industry priorities and reinforced the industry’s messages on Capitol Hill.
The Fly-In strengthened the horticulture industry’s presence in national policy discussions and advanced lasting relationships with key decision-makers.