Local grower visits Columbia

SACRAMENTO — Diana Roy of Resendiz Brothers of Fallbrook, a grower of cut flowers, was part of the California Cut Flower Commission’s (CCFC) delegation of 14 industry representatives to Colombia May 27-31 to experience firsthand the production practices of the domestic industry’s largest overseas competitor.

The California delegation made the trip upon invitation by Asocoflores, the Colombian cut flower exporter’s association.

“We traveled to Colombia to establish enhanced working relations with our international counterparts,” said Kasey Cronquist, executive director/ambassador of CCFC. “Our goal was also to gather insight, information and experience on issues affecting Colombia’s cut flower production in a way that we can distill and apply to what California growers are experiencing as well.”

The trip also adds significant credibility to the public affairs work the CCFC is undertaking at the federal level, Cronquist added.

“Experiencing the Colombian way of cut flower growing was enlightening,” said Wilja Happe, CCFC chairperson. “As we all work within a dynamic global economy, being insightful about how flowers are being brought to market from other parts of the world is not only a smart business move, it is also a necessary business move.”