Cut flower group elects 2014 officers
Cut flower group elects 2014 officers
Michael A. Mellano, vice president of production at Mellano & Co. in San Luis Rey, CA, was recently elected chairman of the California Cut Flower Commission. Mellano will serve a one-year term ending in December 2014, according to a commission press release.
“I consider it an honor and privilege to serve my fellow flower and greens farmers in this capacity,” Mellano said. “Based on the work the CCFC has been able to accomplish for our farms over the last several years, I’m excited about the road ahead for our California flower farms.”
In addition to Mellano, other officers elected to serve a one-year term on the commission’s 2014 executive committee are Diana Roy, business manager of Resendiz Bros. Protea Growers in Fallbrook, CA, first vice chairwoman; June Van Wingerden, co-owner of Ocean Breeze International in Carpinteria, CA, second vice chairwoman; Tom Lemus, general manager of Farmers’ West Flowers & Bouquets in Carpinteria, CA, secretary-treasurer; and Lane DeVries, president and chief executive officer of Sun Valley Group in Arcata, CA, past chairman.
CCFC staff members are Kasey Cronquist, chief executive officer and ambassador, and Janice Wills Curtis, program business manager.
The CCFC was created by the state legislature to promote California-grown cut flowers and foliage. The CCFC is overseen by the California Department of Food & Agriculture and is funded by assessments on flower farms with gross sales over $500,000. There are approximately 225 flower farmers throughout the state. They produce and market approximately $273 million worth of flowers and foliage each year and have an economic impact of $10.3 billion to the state’s economy. California’s cut flower farms employ approximately 14,000 people directly.
