Villa Park's The Flowery - Original LA Flower Market

Robert Kitayama (Kitayama Bros.); Dee Dee Meininger
(Obie’s Floral); Jason Levin (Dos Gringos, A Flower Company);
Carmen Garcia (Coastal Nursery, LLC/Monterey Bay Heather);
Joe Goldberg (Skyline Flower Growers & Shippers); Jose
Arellano (O&J Growers).
CCFC Announces Commissioner Election Results
The California Cut Flower Commission recently concluded its
annual Board of Commissioner elections. The following producers
were elected by their peers to serve a term of three years:
District 2 – Commissioner: Chad Nelson (Eufloria Flowers,
Nipomo); Alternate – Jennifer Everett (California Floral
Greens, Watsonville);
District 3 – Commissioner: June Van Wingerden (Ocean
Breeze International, Carpinteria); Alternate – Karen Graf
(Hilltop Flowers, Carpinteria); Commissioner – David Van
Wingerden (Westland Floral, Carpinteria; Alternate: Vacant;
District 4 – Commissioner: Michael A. Mellano (Mellano &
Company, Oceanside); Alternate: Vacant.
Eight producers and one public member comprise the Board
of Commissioners for the California Cut Flower Commission.
They represent the above four specific growing regions in the
state. About one-third of the CCFC’s Board of Commissioner
positions are open for nomination and election each year.
ASCFG Recognizes Gay Smith
Some of the ASCFG conference attendees
Gay Smith, Technical Consulting Manager for Chrysal
USA, was presented the Allan M. Armitage Leadership Award
by the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers at its
2010 National Conference in Tulsa, OK in November. Gay,
an expert on cut flower postharvest handling, has worked in
wholesale, import and bouquet making and has been with
Chrysal for ten years. ASCFG also recognized Laurie Hodges,
University of Nebraska, with its Outstanding Service Award,
and honored long-time member Ruth Moore for her service.
People & Places
PMA Announces Floral Marketer of the Year
The Floral Marketer of the Year honor went to Bill Byland,
business manager of Micky’s Minis Floral Express, a division
of N.G. Heimos Greenhouse, at the Produce Marketing
Association’s October conference in Orlando. Micky’s Minis
sells a novelty gift item – small scale plants in two-inch pots
with colorful seasonal and holiday accessories. PMA has also
announced its 2011 board: Chairman John Anderson (The
Oppenheimer Group, Coquitlam, BC); and, among others,
these Californians: Tonya Antle (Earthbound Farm, Salinas);
Karen Caplan (Frieda’s Inc., Los Alamitos); J. Scott Car
(YottaMark, Redwood City); Lorri Koster (Mann Packing Co.,
Salinas); Jim Leimkuhler (Progressive Produce Corp., Los
Angeles); Lisa McNeece (Grimmway Farms, Bakersfield); Dick
Spezzano (Spezzano Consulting Service, Monrovia).
Jim Wanko Leaves WF&FSA
After nearly twelve years as executive vice president of the
Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association, Jim Wanko
retired on December 31, 2010. Wanko’s 30 years in the floral
industry included leadership roles with SAF, publically held
and private companies and Promoflor, a nationwide flower
marketing campaign. Trish Lilly of Thomson Management
Associates is WF&FSA’s new management executive.
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THE BLOOMIN’ NEWS 7 JAN – FEB 2011