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Extra Features and Video Online FloristsReview.com R E A D O N L I N E 15 Cut fl owers produced in the U.S. are favored by a growing number of consumers. Discover more about the "American grown" fl ower industry and burgeoning movement in this exclusive FR report. By Nita Robertson, AIFD, CFD The U.S. Cut Flower Market e cut fl ower and foliage sector are an important part of U.S. agriculture, with a daily economic impact, supporting hundreds of farmers and small businesses and providing tens of thousands of jobs in the United States. Most cut fl owers are grown in warm climates that allow for fl ower production through much of the year. Growers in Florida produce an estimated 69 percent of the cut foliage grown in the U.S., and California is the top cut-fl ower-producing state in the U.S., with fl ower farms there producing approximately 76 percent of all U.S.- grown cut fl owers. Smaller percentages of cut fl owers are produced also in Washington, Oregon, New Jersey, Florida, Hawaii and other states, according to Petal Republic and AboutFlowers.com. You may be surprised to learn that there are fl ower farms in every state. Despite their long history of quality fresh fl ower production, many domestic growers are—and have been—struggling because of competition from growers outside the U.S., particularly in Colombia and Ecuador, as well as in Mexico, Costa Rica and Guatemala. Cut fl ower and foliage imports from off shore growers dominate today's U.S. fl ower market, accounting for approximately 80 percent of all the cut fl owers sold in the U.S. However, the role of domestically and locally grown botanicals is undeniable. ere is an increased awareness about supporting "local" goods and businesses among consumers, including cut fl ower growers and the fl orists that sell American-grown fl owers. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many fl orists discovered "local" fl ower farms and used them to fi ll their needs. American-grown fl owers are something to be celebrated. ey highlight the resilient spirit that has defi ned the American people across generations. "Local" growers often off er types and varieties of cut fl owers that are not available from any other sources. Florists also have the opportunity to get to know farmers and form long-lasting collaborations with them. ey see fi rsthand the growers' pride in their products. "It is important to promote 'American Grown' fl owers, not only to help sustain existing farms and encourage new farms to fl ourish but also to continue the rich tradition of American agriculture and invest in America's cut fl ower industry," says Aileen Casillas, owner of Florian, a full-service fl ower shop in Prescott, Ariz. Resendiz Brothers Protea Growers Fallbrook, Calif.

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