California Grown Flowers Field Notes

Time To Celebrate!  Certified American Grown Turns 2 July marks the second anniversary of the Certified American Grown program and branded campaign. The California Cut Flower Commission is a proud sponsor of the Certified American Grown program.    Launched in 2014 by a national coalition of flower farmers and organizations, the program is now certifying millions of stems of American Grown Flowers and providing the only 3rd-party guarantee that assures buyers of the domestic origins of the flowers they are purchasing.    The campaign now represents 54 certified farms in 16 states. "Certified American Grown has helped to unify flower farmers on a campaign that consumers can understand and identify," shared Certified American Grown administrator Kasey Cronquist. "It is exciting to see so many flowers going out from so many farms with such a consistent and compelling message and then to see such a positive response."   To see the complete list of Certified American Grown farms visit AmericanGrownFlowers.org.  Take a moment during the month of July and thank a flower farmer!    Back to Top California Grown Features Flower Farmers Frank Costa & Mel Resendiz The popular and informative California Grown blog has recently been featuring flower farmers up and down the Golden State.  Get to know flower farmer Frank Costa at Ocean View Flowers and Mel Resendiz of Resendiz Brother's Protea through these fun interviews with California Grown.  Click on the image above to read more. Click on the image above to read more Back to Top Your Guide to the Field to Vase Dinner Experience To get a real sense of what it's like to attend and participate in an American Grown Field to Vase Dinner, check out Debra Prinzing's article on Botanical Brouhaha. Click on the image above to read more Here Prinzing describes, in vibrant detail, the venues, the connection to the farms and farmers, the design efforts and the slow food approach that makes these dinners so special and impactful.  She notes: "Guests are drawn to the F2V Dinners for the unique venue - an American flower farm - where they experience the age-old art and science of flower farming. They meet the flower farmer, tour the fields and greenhouses, dine among gorgeous local and seasonal blooms arranged by talented floral designers and leave with all their senses fed."  Prinzing explains that the flowers really are the essence of the experience, "heightening each guest's awareness that the centerpieces are uber-local, of the moment, fresh and bountiful, not to mention grown and designed by real people." We couldn't agree more! Why not attend a dinner and see for yourself? Click on the map above to reserve your seat now! Dalai Lama Welcomed with CA Grown Flowers When the Dalai Lama visited the  state Capitol on June 20 to address  a joint session of the Legislature,  he was greeted by a spectacular  CA Grown arrangement. The arrangement, in hues of pink and purple, included Stargazer lilies, iris, carnations and gladiolus-all from California flower farms.  The Dalai Lama also enjoyed a locavore meal created by a popular area chef. Intel post visit found he was a big fan of chocolate chip and carrot cookies.  Read and watch clips of the visit at http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article84907302.html. Back to Top Annual Monterey Bay Open House Attracts Flower Fans   The annual Monterey Bay Open House attracted big crowds who were able to tour California Pajarosa Floral, Kitayama Brothers, Four Winds Growers and Succulent Gardens-some of the area's most popular and prestigious flower farms. An event in advance of the tour drove outstanding traffic and included a fun, floral design competition among local candidates who are running for office. That event, and the media coverage that followed, provided yet another opportunity to connect with consumers who continue to crave locally grown blooms.   Robert Kitayama (far left) talks with Jimmy Panetta (middle) and Santa Cruz Supervisor, Zach Friend, on a tour of the Kitayama Brothers Greenhouse.    Now in its seventh year, the open house has raised more than $35,000 for area nonprofits and has gone a long way toward connecting the community to the "buy local" movement.  Guests of the Monterey Bay Open House brought home  fresh, stunning, locally grown flowers. Check out the amazing flickr gallery to get a sense of the event and its popularity.  Back to Top Field to Vase Dinner Tour Makes Sunset   The American Grown Field to Vase Dinner Tour was recently featured in Sunset Magazine's "Best of the West" section. The photo featured flowers grown by Kendall Farms in Fallbrook, CA and designed by Christina Stembel of Farmgirl Flowers.  Click photo to read the article beginning on page 6. The mention highlighted the upcoming dinner tour stop, hosted by Sunset, at Cornerstone in Sonoma, CA. That dinner will be held October 16. Don't wait to be a part of this amazing tour stop at Cornerstone!  Save your seats today! Photo by Johanna Silver, Garden Editor of Sunset Magazine Back to Top Field to Vase Dinner Tour Headed to Boulder  The next stop for the American Grown Field to Vase Dinner Tour is Boulder, Colorado, on August 13. So far, every dinner held has been a sellout. And, each time the tour comes to town, local-and often national-media helps spread the word about the importance of local, sustainably grown flowers. Guests arrived to this stunning table last year  for the 2015 Field to Vase Dinner at the Fresh Herb Co. in Boulder, CO. Those who attend the dinners enjoy a spectacular meal on an American flower farm with views that are simply breathtaking and leave as evangelists for the movement!  Now in its second year, the Field to Vase Dinner Tour is proving once again to be a spectacular opportunity to showcase American Grown Flowers, the farmers who grow them and designers who work with them.

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