Origin Matters ~ California Grown Flowers

Will the Tour Stop At Your Farm? We're Seeking Applications for the 2018 American Grown Field to Vase Dinner Tour Over the past three years, the Certified American Grown campaign has been hosting sold-out dinner events on some of America's most beautiful flower farms. Let's put your farm on the map! Halfway through the third season, we're beginning to look at the opportunities for next year's tour. A number of farms have contacted us to see what it takes to be on the tour (Read more here.) Sharing the 'Origin Matters' Message With the First Lady By Diana Roy, CCFC Chair Just before the Congressional Club's First Lady's Luncheon in Washington, D.C., on May 4, I had the opportunity to meet first lady Melania Trump at a reception. It was an opportunity I wanted to make the most of. After all, it's not every day you meet the first lady of the United States; and her husband's position on "buy American" initiatives meant this could be the chance of a lifetime to share the "origin matters" message on behalf of America's flower farmers. Once she had finished taking photos with prior guests, I approached the first lady, reached for her hand and introduced myself: "Hello, I'm Diana Roy, a flower farmer from California." (Read more here.) Staying On Mission The CCFC Is Unique Organization With A Unique Mission This weekend, one of our farmers reached out to me asking me to send him, "one sentence to describe the mission of the CCFC." He was preparing to give a presentation and wanted to be able to clearly articulate the purpose of the CCFC to his audience. Helping to keep your organization focused on your mission, your message and the people you serve is why a mission statement is so important. The good news is that the CCFC's mission is only once sentence: "To provide a unified effort by farmers to enhance the performance of the California cut flower and foliage industry."  (Read more here.) Celebrating California Grown Flowers Month at Arroyo Seco Weekend with Mud Barron Flowers On Your Head Is a CA Grown Hit! Festivalgoers gravitated to the all California Grown Flowers "Flowers On Your Head" tent during this weekend's Arroyo Seco Weekend. California Grown Flowers were a beautiful addition to this weekend's festivities at Arroyo Seco Weekend. The CCFC collaborated with Mud Barron of Muir Ranch to provide fresh California Grown Flowers for his crowd favorite "Flowers On Your Head," activation. The crowd loved it. (Read more here.) Celebrating American Grown at Destiny Hill Farm A Beautiful Evening On the Flower Farm In Western Pennsylvania  Photo by Farm Chick Photography Our Field to Vase Dinner at Destiny Hill Farm in Western Pennsylvania will go down as our miracle dinner. Just twenty-four hours before our dinner began, Washington, Pennsylvania was under a tornado warning as a severe storm ripped through the area.  (Read more here.) The Incredible Francoise Weeks! Francoise Shares Her Passion On the F2V Tour There is only one Francoise Weeks and she joined us at Destiny Hill Farm as our featured designer. Photo by Farm Chick Photography. I have a vivid memory of speaking with Francoise during our Field to Vase Dinner in Detroit in 2015 and hearing her passion for sourcing and designing with American Grown Flowers. She was committed to the idea of sourcing local long before it became "a thing." Sourcing from what grew around her is who she is and she is one of those rare designers who doesn't have a problem telling a bride "no," when something they're requesting isn't in season. An incredible talent, Francoise Weeks makes beautiful arrangements from plants that other people would consider weeds. Photo by Farm Chick Photography. Our conversation in Detroit touched on her desire to teach from flower farms and it was there we began discussing how to one day have her be a part of a future American Grown Field to Vase Dinner. (Read more here.) Kasey Cronquist, IOM                                                CEO & Ambassador New!                                                               916.468.4246 New! 1415 "L" Street, Suite 460 Sacramento, CA 95814  Note: CCFC's mailing address remains PO Box 90225, Santa Barbara, CA 93190 STAY CONNECTED

California Cut Flower Commission, PO Box 90225, Santa Barbara, CA 93190-0225

Christina Burton-Fox AIFD floral artist & instructor