Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 146

Introduced by Senator McGuire

May 24, 2016

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 146—Relative to California Grown Flower Month.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 146, as introduced, McGuire. California Grown Flower Month.

This measure would proclaim June 2016 as California Grown Flower Month to recognize and honor the men and women of the California grown flower industry for their dedication and productivity.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, California’s flower industry dates back to the late
1870s when Theodosia B. Shepherd was inspired to sell calla lilies
grown in her garden; and

WHEREAS, The industry of selling grown flowers began to
flourish and by the turn of the century most towns had at least one
florist; and

WHEREAS, In 1890, the Domoto family established California’s
first commercial flower farm in Oakland; and

WHEREAS, To this day, California still has a year-round climate
that is perfect for growing hundreds of varieties of flowers; and

WHEREAS, California flowers are grown across 701 million
square feet spanning the distance from the City of San Diego,
through the Inland Empire to the coastal City of Carpinteria, and
up to the Oregon border; and

WHEREAS, Arcata, California, is the largest producing region
of fresh cut tulips in the United States and is recognized nationally
for its lily and iris production, making Humboldt County a valuable
and important source of American Grown Flowers and local jobs;
and

WHEREAS, Humboldt County is a large flower producer in
California and is known for its ideal growing conditions for tulips,
lilies, and iris and is also where the legendary Stargazer Lily was
originally bred; and

WHEREAS, California flower farmers account for
approximately 80 percent of all domestically grown flowers in the
United States; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 50 percent of all California grown
flowers are distributed to wholesale and retail customers outside
of the state; and

WHEREAS, The economic activity of California flower farmers,
wholesalers, and retail florists creates nearly 145,665 jobs in the
state; and

WHEREAS, The total economic impact of business activity
created by California grown flower farmers’, wholesalers’, and
retail florists’ expenditures in the state is more than $12.2 billion;
and

WHEREAS, The amount of money generated by the California
grown flower industry for additional jobs in the state is more than
$12.5 million per day; and

WHEREAS, The economic activities of California grown flower
farmers, wholesalers, and retail florists generate nearly $1.1 billion
in additional taxes; and

WHEREAS, It is appropriate for all Californians to recognize
our California grown flower farmers, wholesalers, retail florists,
and others involved in providing such a bounty to our state and
the nation; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes and honors
the men and women of the California grown flower industry for
their dedication and productivity and hereby proclaims the month
of June 2016 as California Grown Flower Month; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.