Hortica celebrates 135 years in business

Today, Florists' Hail Association of America—now known as Hortica®, a brand of the Sentry Insurance Group—celebrates 135 years in business.

During the late 1800s, a group of horticultural business owners faced an overwhelming problem unique to their industry. They needed to protect their glass greenhouses from destructive hailstorms. The Society of American Florists (SAF) recognized that need and founded the Florists’ Hail Association of America on June 1, 1887, in New Jersey. In 1927, the association’s headquarters were moved to Edwardsville, Illinois, where they reincorporated in 1940. From that point on, Florists’ Hail was authorized to write all forms of fire, windstorm, and allied lines of business insurance.

During the late 1800s, a group of horticultural business owners faced an overwhelming problem unique to their industry. They needed to protect their glass greenhouses from destructive hailstorms. The Society of American Florists (SAF) recognized that need and founded the Florists’ Hail Association of America on June 1, 1887, in New Jersey. In 1927, the association’s headquarters were moved to Edwardsville, Illinois, where they reincorporated in 1940. From that point on, Florists’ Hail was authorized to write all forms of fire, windstorm, and allied lines of business insurance.

As Florists’ Mutual Insurance continued to evolve—serving all facets of the horticultural industry--the company rebranded as Hortica. The new brand reflected the company’s primary goal to be viewed more broadly in the entire horticultural market. In fall 2001, the company moved to its current corporate headquarters at 1 Horticultural Lane in Edwardsville, Illinois.

In 2015, Hortica^® officially became a brand of Sentry insurance Group.

Today, a nationwide network of representatives is dedicated to providing comprehensive insurance solutions through safety/loss control expertise, prompt claims handling, personalized customer service, and financial stability to business owners throughout the horticultural industry, including:

• Garden centers

• Greenhouse growers

• Nurseries

• Retail florists

• Wholesale floral distributors

• Interior plantscapers

• Sod farms

• Lawn care professionals

Property and casualty coverages are still underwritten—and loss control services provided—by Florists’ Mutual Insurance Company, Florists’ Insurance Company, and Florists’ Insurance Service, Inc.

“We’re dedicated to providing leadership for horticultural businesses,” said Tim Noble, president of Florists’. “Today, it’s important to find new ways to lead our partners—ensuring they know how we can help and protect them every step of the way.”

Since 1887, this pioneering insurance company has helped protect horticultural businesses across the United States and now proudly serves 46 of the top 100 growers. As a brand of the Sentry Insurance Group, one of the largest and most financially secure mutual insurance companies in the nation, Hortica will continue to flourish.