This retiring week myself and our team hosted one of the most important event CCFC / CAG has each twelvemonth , the DC Fly In . As your chief operating officer , I was beyond proud of the group that dedicated themselves to join us in Washington DC to perform this critical overhaul on behalf of the entire US Cut Flower Industry . Our group consist of 15 US farmers , 2 professional intriguer and 3 CCFC stave ; all represent 10 States and include Jumana Madanat Miskeh , our DC Legislative Consultant , who set up all of our appointments . During the 2.5 days , we held our annual CAG Council Meeting , then divide ourselves up to conquer the 40 + meetings with Representatives , Senators and 3 different departments .
by Dave Pruitt , chief executive officer of The California Cut Flower Commission and Administrator of Certified American Grown
I think I can safely say that this was the 1st ever DC Fly In where we ’ve had a Senator actually sign a bill for us right there in his office ( figure below ) !
Other highlights of the trip were us learn how the National Floriculture Report is produce and discussing ways we can give stimulant to meliorate the report managed by NASS , The National Agricultural Statistics Service . each year , when you are describe your cut flower variety production , there is an country call ‘ other ’ . Please take a few minutes and save in the specific top five varieties you are growing , not included in the pre - printed list of varieties on the same page . That way we will get an opportunity to have detailed data on single diverseness we grow to good influence marketing decisions for our future .
confluence last class with the Undersecretary Ted McKinney , in Charge of Foreign AG Trade , initiate conversation with USAID about financial aid given to res publica to export flowers into the US market . We discussed with stave from USAID the need to rethink helping Kenya with exporting their flower into the USA . We also met with the USDA to cover up selling , regulatory program and fair craft policies for all bloom coming into this commonwealth . We presented our stand on ‘ rural area of Origin ’ labeling to numerous masses from Department Staff to every Congress individual we receive . We followed up by arrest funding to officially fate July as “ American Grown Flower Month ” and had appendage of Congress say they would become new members of our Cut Flower Caucus .
In closure , 2020 is the 30th birthday of the Cut Flower Commission . That longevity accomplishment is a unfeigned bench mark of the value our growers have get , as a result of the work our brass remove pridefulness in .
For more entropy : American Grown Flowers916.441.1701[email protected]www.americangrownflowers.org
