Endangered Species: American Grown Flowers!
My friend Jeff Piscitelli forwarded this article to me... regarding George Ball's (Burpee CEO) recent Keynote at the Urban Agriculture Conference (sponsored by The Horticultural Society of New York)...
Mr. Ball referred to American Grown Flowers as "Endangered Species"... but also noted that Americans are Anxious and Excited to plant their own gardens and grow their own vegetables.
The Burpee CEO reminded everyone of the Spiritual Value of Flowers ... and even quoted the Rutger's Study by Dr. Haviland-Jones that proves fresh cut flowers in the home improves moods and aids in warding off depression!
He went on to state that many off shore flowers are not fully pigmented before they are cut and start their long journey from foreign countries. Ball advised that adding Flowers to your urban garden helps preserve a now "Endangered Species"... the American Grown Flower!
3 years ago uBloom began our very First American Flower Series... with the CA Grown Experience... visiting 14 American Flower Farms in the State of California... since then we completed another 16 visits to Californian and A New Series with 7 Farms in Central Florida... The American Flower Movement is Underway... It is Important to know where your Flowers come from... Supporting Local American Farms... supports American Jobs and American Families...
California Cut Flower Commission Ambassador Kasey Cronquist used a football analogy in the CCFC Blog... sharing how the American Flower Farmer might be compared to a Home Football Team that has been pushed back to their own 20 yard line... I'm not a Football expert by any means... but I do know... that when a TEAM Pulls Together... they can come from an "under-dog" position... and Win the Game!It's up to all of us... to do our Part and Support American Grown Flowers... Plant More Flowers in our Backyards... Buy more American Grown Flowers... Support our Local Farmers Markets ... and Ask our Flower Sellers where their Flowers come from!J Schwanke is America's Foremost Cut Flower Expert, CEO of uBloom and Host of Fun with Flowers and J and the America's Flowers Documentary Series: The CA Grown Experience and The Florida Fresh Foliage and Flower Tour on uBloom.com!Learn more about the American Foliage and Flower Farmers of Florida and California... on uBloom.com or watch the entire CA Grown Experience on Vimeo.com!