June is California Grown Flowers Month

Did you know that June is California Grown Flower Month?

This week, California Sen. Mike McGuire took to the floor of the Senate to urge his colleagues to support California’s flower-farming families by passing Senate Concurrent Resolution 58 declaring June “California Grown Flowers Month.”

In presenting the resolution, McGuire acknowledged California’s hardworking flower farmers for the beauty, variety and economic value their flowers bring the Golden State.

“Today, we are recognizing California as America’s best source for high-quality cut flowers,” Senator Mike McGuire said. “The industry has blossomed since its inception back in the late 1870s. California flower farmers, distributors and florists generate thousands of jobs and drive $12.2 billion in economic activity every year. Our own Humboldt County is one of the largest flower producers in America growing more fresh tulips than anywhere else in the nation.”

As part of the announcement, each senator received a bouquet of California Grown Flowers from McGuire to help commemorate the occasion.

“The month of June is the perfect time to celebrate the beauty and bounty of what our farms grow in California,” explained California Cut Flower Commission (CCFC) CEO & Ambassador Kasey Cronquist. “The resolution helps to remind people that the origin of your flowers does matter and buying California Grown Flowers does make a difference – not only in the quality of the flowers, but also by helping the state’s economy.”

So, the table is set and it’s time to celebrate!

The California Farm and Flower Guide

This year, I had the pleasure to introduce the 2016 California Farm and Flower Guide, a spectacular publication that celebrates the various flower and foliage varieties grown in our state and the flower farmers who grow them.

Welcoming readers to this annual guide is one of the perks of being chair of the California Cut Flower Commission (CCFC). I list it as a perk because I can't imagine a more wonderful honor than getting to show and tell about the amazing bounty that comes from California's flower farms.

In this guide, you meet the farmers who are working hard to bring these gorgeous varieties to market!

Enjoy a peak at several beautiful designs!

And, you'll find this guide to be a handy resource for information on the state's flower farms, and for details and images of a wide range of flowers and foliage from which to select.

Right this way to see the complete Guide. Enjoy!

Celebrating CA Grown at the Library of Congress

The Library of Congress, built in 1897, is the nation’s first established cultural institution and the largest library in the world, with millions of items including books, recordings, photographs, maps and manuscripts in its collections. The Library provides visitors with a rich, diverse and enduring source of knowledge to inspire and engage them and support their intellectual and creative endeavors.

This beautiful Library has also become the home to the annual Wine Institute Reception where Members of Congress, staffers and other DC leaders gather for an evening of wine tasting. The Wine Institute is the voice for California wine representing more than 1,000 wineries and affiliated businesses from throughout the state.

For the last three years the California Cut Flower Commission has teamed up with the Institute to provide flowers for this very popular Capitol Hill reception. California farmers from across the state eagerly provide the beautiful flowers that adorn this event. The flowers not only spread good cheer throughout the Library, they celebrate the amazing bounty that comes from California’s flower farms.

Special thanks to Andrea Gagnon from LynnVale Studios for doing the wonderful design work for this prestigious affair

Inspirational Floral News:

US (CA): Photos CCFC's 25th anniversary

CCFC's Silver Anniversary was celebrated on December 3. According to the organization, it was a memorable evening. "An evening we won't soon forget." A lot of pictures were taken from their celebration in Santa Barbara. The room was filled with flower farmers, stakeholders from throughout the state and guests. They thank everyone for a wonderful evening celebrating the accomplishments of the past 25 years! Read the rest of this article at floral daily.

CCFC Launches BloomCheck

In the fall of 2012, the California Cut Flower Commission (CCFC) embarked on the journey of designing and implementing a sustainable flower farming program for California Cut Flower farmers. This month after concluding a successful pilot project, the CCFC’s sustainability certification program, BloomCheck, launched. This program is the result of a comprehensive study, and contributions from the California flower community as well as a two-year Specialty Crop Block Grant that was initiated to help better position California’s flower farming practices as the sustainability standard of choice for consumers and the industry.

“Consumers across our country understand the high standards and the strict oversight that is involved with growing anything in California,” said CCFC's CEO & Ambassador, Kasey Cronquist. “BloomCheck was developed to make sure our farms were provided with the credit they deserve for the work they do to meet and exceed the high bar involved with growing flowers in California.”

The foundation of the program is a self-assessment workbook that addresses all of the important production issues facing cut flowers and greens farmers in California. The workbook has multiple benefits. It helps farmers identify strengths in their flower production operations. It also helps them identify areas where improvements can be made, as well as provide information on practices that can be implemented to make these improvements.

BloomCheck is certified by Protected Harvest, a third-party certifier and auditing company. Farms are encouraged to log in to the BloomCheck online self-assessment program at www.SustainableFlowers.org, complete the self-assessment and encouraged to go for their certification.

Resendiz Brothers Protea Growers is very proud to be one of the first adopters of this new program!