Cal Poly Float Certified CA Grown

Before the Cal Poly Universities’ float made its debut down Colorado Boulevard, California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross, in partnership with the Buy California Marketing Agreement (BCMA), recognized the students and advisors in a special ceremony for sourcing exclusively California grown flowers and foliage. To earn this special certification, a float must be decorated with more than 85 percent of its flowers and greens from California, and ‘kudos’ to this year’s Cal Poly Float for being nearly 97 percent. This is the seventh year that the university has received this certification.

Named “Dreams Take Flight,” the float was designed to inspire the audience to join the young animals’ journey to take flight, in much the same way that Cal Poly students journey through college. The diversity of the animals represents the diversity of the Cal Poly Rose Float team. The team consists of students from both Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly, Pomona who travel over 200 miles to come together to design, build, and decorate a float.

This year not only was the Cal Poly Float Certified CA Grown, it was recognized with the Past President’s award for their innovative use of the floral – Congratulations Cal Poly Universities!

Farm Tour: Cal Poly Rose Parade Float Team

The 129th Rose Parade is over four months away and the Cal Poly Float Team is out touring farms and meeting the farmers “Making a Difference” – the 2018 parade’s theme. A theme chosen to honor and celebrate all of the people in our communities, who quietly and without desire for reward or recognition, act in selfless, generous and kind ways to aid or benefit others.

This year Cal Poly is once again committed to source at least 85 percent of their float décor from California flower farms and be recognized as "California-Grown Certified". During the last few years this project and the 'Learning by Doing' has expand beyond the campuses. Students and administrators tour farms that donate the fresh cut flowers and greens in order to see where and how they are grown.

Float construction work has already begun on both campuses. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo students are expected to move their half of the float to Cal Poly Pomona in mid-to-late October. Construction typically continues until right before Christmas. Students and volunteers then spend the week between Christmas and New Year decorating the float with flowers and foliage.

A big ‘Thank You’ to this year’s Cal Poly Float Team for visiting us this week. We enjoyed getting to know these enthusiastic designers and sharing a little of our 'Flower World' with them. Looking forward to seeing another beautiful "California-Grown Certified" float on New Year’s Day!