Calif. reps create bipartisan Congressional Cut Flower Caucus
Calif. reps create bipartisan Congressional Cut Flower Caucus
A newly created bipartisan Congressional Cut Flower Caucus, headed by California Reps. Lois Capps (D-24) and Duncan Hunter (R-50), was snnounced at a Washington, DC, press conference in February. The caucus is open to all members of Congress and is dedicated to promoting the domestic cut flower industry.
The launch was celebrated with a roundtable discussion with industry leaders in the Capitol complex, including Kasey Cronquist, chief executive officer of the California Cut Flower Commission; Lane DeVries, president and chief executive officer of The Sun Valley Group in Arcata, CA; and Diane Szukovathy, owner of Jello Mold Farm in Mount Vernon, WA.
A delegation of flower farmers from across the United States were on-hand for the launch of the Congressional Cut Flower Caucus in Washington DC. Caucus Co-Chairs Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-24) (center, first row) and Congressman Duncan Hunter (CA-50) (right of Capps) invited there colleagues in Congress to join the caucus in support of America’s cut flower farmers.“This caucus will be a very important resource for America’s cut flower and greens farmers going forward,” said Kasey Cronquist in a statement online. “There are over 100 caucuses that have been formed in Congress to help address special issues or interests of the United States.”
The Produce News contacted the offices of both Reps. Capps and Hunter and a Congressional aide said there is no pending legislative agenda at this time. The Cut Flower Caucus is currently a platform for education and discussion.
According to a Congressional news release, the caucus will focus on educating members of Congress and staff on the economic and cultural importance of America’s cut flower and greens farmers, as well as the challenges the industry faces. The caucus will sponsor events to provide a greater understanding of the issues and opportunities facing America’s cut flower farmers, their families and their flowers.
“Floriculture is our nation’s third-largest agricultural product, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and billions in economic activity.
This caucus will be a platform to highlight these contributions and increase awareness for the issues facing the industry, Capps said in the release.
The Washington, DC, event was of particular interest to growers in California and Washington state, the top two states in cut-flower production, but also attracted farmers from Alaska, Oregon, Maryland and Virginia.
