10/15/08 - California Cut Flower Commission Receives Funding
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 15, 2008) – Through a highly competitive grant-proposal process, the California Cut Flower Commission (CCFC) was recently awarded $95,000 to assist in the creation of a new transportation model on behalf of California cut flower growers. The funding was awarded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
“Our transportation committee’s goal is to examine the current transportation practices of our growers and to develop an efficient and innovative system to more effectively distribute their product and better compete in the domestic market,” said Kasey Cronquist, Executive Director of the CCFC.
Additionally, by developing a new transportation model, the California cut flower industry will improve product quality control and decrease overall truck traffic; thereby, reducing the carbon footprint, as well as provide for more competitive shipping rates based on statewide volume of flowers and foliages. Cronquist says the grant funding will be applied to a three-prong process that includes hiring an independent consultant to examine the state’s transportation issues, creating and implementing a plan for the new transportation model, and then sustaining the effort over the long term.
“Our organization and the 275 growers we represent are deeply appreciative of CDFA’s selection of this transportation-focused grant request,” said Wilja Happé, Commission Chairperson. “Many of our growers believe the future of California’s cut flower industry lies in finding an effective transportation solution to bring California flowers to markets throughout the United States; this funding will allow a solution to be realized.”
The newly funded transportation project will begin immediately and extend into 2009.
About the California Cut Flower Commission
The CCFC is a state commission, created by the state legislature to promote California- grown cut flowers and foliages. The CCFC is overseen by the California Department of Food and Agriculture and is funded by grower assessments. There are approximately 275 growers of flowers and foliage distributed throughout the state. They produce and market some $330 million worth of flowers and foliage each year. California cut flower growers create nearly 19,000 jobs within the state.