URGENT ~ URGENT ~ URGENT

Member Action Request

The California State Floral Association   

needs you to help us

HELP YOU!!   - CALL AND WRITE TODAY!!

As most of you are aware, the California State Floral Association is supporting AB 1581 (Wieckowski) which is a bill about combating consumer deception.  Local consumers are misled when orders are routed to non-local business locations because fees and commissions are usually taken out of the order price.    

AB 1581 is intended to provide interested consumers relevant information about the location of a business and prevent unscrupulous retailers from parasitical advertising activities on existing local flower shops.  This bill only requires floral retailers who chose to use local phone numbers to include their address and notice of their place of business in their advertisements and for retailers who chose to use a local name to also include their address in their advertisements.

Besides informing consumers and preventing inappropriate advertising activities, this measure will also result in increased sales tax revenues and job creation and retention.  Studies from the Buy California marketing program show California consumers prefer to purchase from local retailers and California grown product.  This bill will provide those consumers who believe they are purchasing from a local floral retailer the information necessary to make an informed decision.

1-800 Flowers has started a phone campaign asking florists to oppose this bill.  Please click on the link below to read AB 1581 which will confirm why CSFA and the Society of American Florists and the Master Florists Association SUPPORT AB 1581.    Link to AB 1581 

Currently 28 states across the country have laws banning deceptive advertising.

CSFA is asking that all members call and fax a letter of support to Mary Hayashi, Chair, Business Professions and Consumer Protection Committee by Monday, March 26th.  Placing your letter on company letterhead is also important.  The list of Committee members follows, however, it is critical that Assembly Member Mary Hayashi receive your letter no later than Monday.  The following format is intended only as a guide.

The Honorable Mary Hayashi, Chair

Business Professions and Consumer Protection Committee

California State Assembly Member, District 18

State Capitol, Room 3013

Sacramento, CA  95814

Re:         AB 1581 (Wieckowski)  SUPPORT

Dear Assembly Member Hayashi:

I am ______________with ____________________(shop name).  I strongly support AB 1581 (Wieckowski) and respectfully request you support this bill when it comes before the Business Professions and Consumer Protection Committee.

AB 1581 addresses deceptive marketing practices in the floral industry.  This bill promotes consumer awareness to help educate consumers of floral products and increase satisfaction, support economic activity in California communities, increase sales tax collection and help encourage job retention and growth within California's floral industry. 

This bill will provide those consumers who believe they are purchasing from a local floral retailer the information necessary to make an informed decision.

For these reasons I request your support when this bill comes before the Business Professions and Consumer Protection Committee.

Sincerely,

(Sign your name)

(Your Name)

(Your Company Name)

You can personalize your letter as much as you like.

This bill is supported by the California State Floral Association, The Society of American Florists, and Master Florists Association.   

Thank you,

Ann Quinn

Executive Vice President

Below are the members of the Business Professions and Consumer Protection Committee and the areas that they represent. The first number is the fax number and the second number is the call in number.

Chair Hayashi- Fax:  916-319-2118 - 916-319-2018 -Hayward, Castro Valley, Oakland, Pleasanton, San Leandro, San Lorenzo

V. Chair Berryhill- Fax:  916-319-2126 -916-319-2026-Stockton, Manteca, Modesto, Turlock

Allen- Fax: 916-319-2107 - 916-319-2007-Santa Rosa, American Canyon, Calistoga, Napa, St. Helena, Santa Rosa, Vallejo, Yountville

Butler - Fax: 916-319-2153 - 916-319-2053-Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Venice, Westchester

Eng - Fax: 916-319-2149 - 916-319-2049-Monterey Park, Alhambra, El Monte, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, South El Monte

Hagman - Fax: 916-319-2160 - 916-319-2060-Chino Hills, Diamond Bar, La Habra, Orange, Rowland Heights, San Dimas, Whittier, Yorba Linda

Hill- Fax: 916-319-2119 - 916-319-2019South San Francisco, Burlingame, Daly City, Pacifica, San Bruno, San Mateo

Ma- Fax: 916-319-2112 - 916-319-2012San Francisco, Broadmoor, Colma, Daily City, San Francisco

Smyth- Fax: 916-319-2138 -  916-319-2038-Santa Clarita, Canyon Country, Northridge, Santa Clarita, Simi Valley.

Please call the CSFA office if you have any questions regarding the bill.  (916) 448-5266

The California State Floral Association and the California Cut Flower Commission (CCFC) once again were major participants and contributors to Ag Day at the Capitol.  The day started off with a legislative kick off and a number of legislative office visits by floral industry members.  CSFA prepared and handed out over 5000 fresh flower bouquets which were donated by California Flower Growers.   

LAD Co-Chair Mary Espe, Flora Fresh, Inc. 

A special thank you to LAD Co-chairs, Allan Nishita and Marty Espe, Floral Fresh, Inc. for all their efforts in procuring the tremendous volume of gorgeous product that was distributed to every attendee waiting in line. CSFA would like to thank Kasey Cronquist and the California Cut Flower Commission for co-sponsoring this event and the beautiful legislative bouquets.   A huge thank you to the following schools and their students that designed over 5000 bouquets which were handed out at the event: Davis High School, Delta High School, Esparto High School, Las Plumas High School, Pleasant Grove High School and Woodland High School. Karen Genoud AIFD, CCF created the gorgeous designs that graced the tables at the breakfast at the Sutter Club and the program stage at the Capitol.  

Student Volunteers Hand Out Floral Bouquets  

The California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers joined CSFA and CCFC in participating in the second member co-sponsored Legislative Action Day(LAD) and Ag Day at the State Capitol.  

Wednesday began with a breakfast at the Sutter Club and an opportunity to hear from Governor Brown's Deputy Legislative Secretary, Martha Guzman-Aceves and Assembly Member Cathleen Galgiani. Chris Zanobini, President, California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers was the keynote speaker at the breakfast meeting. Key Industry Issues were reviewed by Legislative Advocates Dennis Albiani and Louie Brown. Legislative Advocate, Debbie Murdock, presented the orientation and tips for meeting with Legislators. Attendees were encouraged to share a little about their own stories and concerns and each Legislator was given a packet of information including a sheet of key concerns along with a gorgeous bouquet of fresh California grown flowers.

Ag Day 2012 was a huge success. Approximately forty booths were set up on the West side of the Capitol showcasing the wonderful diversity of agriculture in California. This is a highly anticipated activity for not only the Legislative staffers but others with offices in the downtown area. Products including strawberries, cheese, deviled eggs, and tri tip sandwiches could be sampled. However, the tradition continues with the favorite booth being the California State Floral Association/California Cut Flower Commission booth that passes out floral bouquets to each Legislative office and every attendee that stops at our booth.  

California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary, Karen Ross, was on hand to welcome legislators, staff and the general public.  

CSFA's President, Richard Gourd, noted, "What a tremendous opportunity it is to be able to talk to our legislators about all of the critical issues facing our industry and at the same time, have so much fun distributing all of the flowers to over 3000 people who attended and visited our booth. The goodwill that was demonstrated by the California Floral Industry was priceless!"

The day closed with an Ag Day "Legislative Dinner" hosted by California Grain and Feed Association and seven of our I Street Associations including CSFA at The Grange in downtown Sacramento. Wilton Lee, Jim Relles, Catherine Stocker and Ann Quinn represented CSFA at this Legislative Dinner. Dennis Albiani and Chris Zanobini, brought together several Legislators including Assemblymembers: Susan Bonilla, Connie Conway, Mike Gatto, Jerry Hill, Richard Pan, Manual Perez and Bob Wieckowski to mingle and get to know our members and learn more of the issues that are of concern to us. There was a high energy level in the room and all would agree that it was a very successful event.  

CSFA Board Member Catherine Stocker, Shinoda Design Center

The California Floral Industry would like to thank the following companies for their generous donation of beautiful product for this event:

Legislative Action Day 2012 Product Sponsors

A & M Flower Growers, Inc.

B & H Flowers Inc.

California Pajarosa

CallaCo

Casitas Gardens, Inc.

Central Coast Greenhouses, Inc.

Coastal Floral

Continental Floral Greens  

Davis High School

Delta High School

Dos Gringos

Elk Grove High School

Esparto High School

Ever-Bloom, Inc.

Flora Fresh, Inc.

Florawest

Gallup & Stribling Orchids

Glad-A-Way Gardens

Green Valley Floral, Inc.

Greenwell Floral

Holland America Flowers

Joseph & Son Inc.

Las Plumas High School

Kendall Farms

Koch California

Kohara Nursery

Lake Flowers Shippers

Maximum Nursery Inc.

Mayeda Farms

Mellano & Company

Myriad Flowers International

Newport Floral

O&J Growers

Obies Floral

Pacific Growers

Paseo Floral

Plantaflor

Pleasant Grove High School

Pyramid Flowers

Rainbow Protea

Resendiz Brothers

The Sun Valley Group

Welty's Hilltop Flowers

West Flower Growers

Woodland High School

Yamashita Flower Farms, Inc. 

And to the following Sponsors - Thank you for supporting our industry!

2012 Legislative Action Day

Sponsors

On behalf of the California Floral Industry, we would like to thank the following companies for co-sponsoring this event:

California Association of Flower Growers & Shippers

CA Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers

California Cut Flower Commission

California Flower Shippers, Inc.

California State Floral Association

Delano Nursery

Flora Fresh, Inc.

Generation Growers, Inc.

Green Acres Nursery & Supply

Growers Logistics LLC

L.E. Cooke Company

Master Florists Association

Mt. Vernon Flower Shop

Nursery Growers Association of California

Pyramid Flowers

Resendiz Brothers

San Francisco Brannan Street Wholesale Florist, Inc.

Teleflora

The Sun Valley Group

Westland Floral

Please review CSFA's Issue Sheet as presented to each Legislative Office:

The California Floral Industry

Legislative Action Day

Key Issues for 2012

The California State Floral Association (CSFA) founded in 1948, is a trade association dedicated to representing California's floral industry - from seed to consumer (and everything in between). As the only state-wide association that encompasses the entire industry, we are in the unique position of strengthening unity within our industry through governmental relations, research support, educational programs, floral design certification, annual membership meetings, trade shows and the State Top Ten Design Competition. Our strong governmental relations program includes two lobbyists, regulatory and pesticide registration specialists, and a Political Action Committee committed to improving and protecting the floral industry in California.

The California Cut Flower Commission (CCFC) is an organization funded by cut flower and greens farmers to do for all of them what none of them could do alone. The Commission is uniquely focused on our farms and helping them survive and thrive while ensuring consumers in the United States have quick and affordable access to the freshest, highest quality flowers possible. The Commission focuses on four main areas to improve the vitality of the California cut flower and greens industry: Transportation, Public Relations, Governmental Affairs and Grower Research and Economic Development. 

California Flower Industry

• Farm Gate sales of California Flowers and foliage is approximately $330 million
• 250 flower growers and approximately 20,000 floral outlets in California
• California accounts for 75% of domestic production
• Cut flower growers alone account for $64.7 million in taxes
• Retail Florist sales are in excess of $1 billion per year
• There are approximately 2000 retail flower outlets in California

Issues: California flower growers and retail florists work to provide quality floral products at a value to our customers. We compete in an international marketplace with fresh flowers being flown in daily from areas around the western hemisphere. Issues include:

• Regulatory compliance - cost of complying with burdensome regulatory mandates such as the Central Coast Water Discharge permit or unreasonable OSHA standards.
• Affordable Workers Compensation Insurance - Florists and flower growers care greatly for their employees but have difficulty maintaining affordable coverage for workers compensation.
• Affordable Labor costs -proposals that mandate unpaid leave, add healthcare mandates, increase minimum wage all combine to make California based floral businesses less competitive to out of state and out of country competitors.

Legislation:

AB 1581 (Wieckowski) SUPPORT - This measure will ensure that consumers have accurate information on the location of floral businesses by requiring appropriate disclosure on advertisements.

SB 625 (Hernandez) SUPPORT - This measure will fund the Nursery Commission in California to support additional research and promotion of California floral and nursery products.

SB 900 (Steinberg) - SUPPORT - This bill would update the conflict of interest standards for Regional Water Quality Control Board to be consistent with the Legislature and other regulatory agencies. In addition, SB 900 would make additional changes to the Regional Boards to add more expertise on issues of water quality.

AB 1313 (Allen) OPPOSE - This bill alters the overtime laws for agricultural field workers. This bill would require additional overtime, cutting into the opportunities for employees to make additional income during peak season.

                                                                       by:  Dennis Albiani 

More Information On The Central Coast Water Board Adopting Ag Waiver Order

The Central Coast Water Quality Control Board voted on March 15th to adopt staff's recommended conditional ag waiver requirements with a few edits. An alternative to the staff's proposal had been advanced by a broad based agricultural coalition. The board rejected the majority of the agricultural coalition's recommendations that would have protected water quality and the viability of agriculture in the region.

The new order creates a tiered set of requirements based on the farm's threat to water quality. Some specific actions include monitoring at the edge of the field, groundwater monitoring and individual farm management plans. While the order was adopted by a 6-0 vote of the board, the agricultural coalition may appeal the board's actions to the State Water Resources Control Board.

Legislature Introduces a Host of Water Bills

Water is always a hot issue in California and legislation changing the water code can impact business, residential and agricultural interests.

AB 685 (Eng) - This bill would declare as state policy that every human being has a right to clean affordable water for cooking and sanitary purposes. The bill requires every state agency to consider the policy when making decisions. This bill is held in Senate Appropriations Committee and could be available for vote anytime. 

SB 250 (Rubio) - This measure is intended to insure that the BDCP stays on schedule. It requires the programs benchmark dates to be incorporated into statute. However, according to the author, the bill will be available if impediments to completion of the plan are identified, the bill would be available to address those issues. 

AB 2421 (Berryhill) and AB 2000 (Huber) - These are the annual bills that are hostile to a Delta conveyance facility. AB 2412 would require the Legislative Analyst's Office to complete an economic feasibility study on a peripheral canal prior to it being constructed. AB 2000 mandates additional studies and reviews in the alternatives analysis, cost benefit analysis, independent scientific review and permanent seat on the BDCP for a delta counties representative. AB 2423 (Berryhill) - This measure requires the Delta Stewardship Council to develop, adopt, and commence a comprehensive Delta Plan.

SB 964 and SB 965 (Wright) - Both of these bills are intended to address regulatory reform at the regional water quality control board. Specifically, the measures address ex parte communication with board members, align the conflict of interest provisions and address the adoption of the regulation process.

SB 1146 (Pavley) -This bill requires the Department of Water Resources to provide a report on wells, location and condition and would allow the department to charge a fee for the report.

AB 2075 (Fong) - This bill would make it state policy that water efficiency, conservation and recycling is the best most cost effective manner to address water supply in the future.   

Governor Makes Appointment to Key Environmental Post

Governor Brown appointed George Alexeeff of Walnut Creek director of the Office of Environmental Health and Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) at the California Environmental Protection Agency. Alexeeff has been the deputy director at the Office of Environmental Health and Hazard Assessment since 1998. He has worked at the department since 1988, serving as chief of the Air Toxicology and Epidemiology branch from 1990 to 1998, and chief of the Air Toxics Unit from 1988 to 1990. Alexeeff earned a doctorate in pharmacology and toxicology from the University of California, Davis.

OEHHA is becoming ever more important to food and fiber farmers and retailers over the past few years. They are the agency tasked with implementing Proposition 65. As more and more ingredients in food are being listed as toxicants, such as sulfur dioxide, methane and acrylamide, how this initiative is applied to food will continue to be a significant concern. The association has developed a relationship with Dr. Alexeeffof and will continue to work with the OEHHA on these issues as they arise.   

Agriculture interests across the country this week reacted with frustration to the unveiling of the Rep. Paul Ryan's (R, WI) FY2013 budget resolution, a bill which calls for cutting federal ag spending by $181 billion over 10 years. That total is achieved by cutting $33.2 billion out of direct payment and conservation programs ($15.5 billion on the conservation side), $15.5 billion out of federal crop insurance by cutting premium subsidies and administrative reimbursement payments to insurance companies, and about $134 billion out of nutrition programs, with $123.3 billion coming out of food stamps. Ryan cited the current "record-breaking prosperity" of farmers and ranchers, a nod to record on-farm income led by spiking commodity prices and record exports as to why ag is in line for the cuts. The overall direct payment/conservation number is in line with Ryan's recommendation last year, and compares closely to President Obama's call for a $32-billion cut as part of his FY2013 budget recommendation. Nothing binds the House Agriculture Committee to the specific Ryan proposals. Rep. Frank Lucas (R, OK), chair of the House Agriculture Committee, was circumspect in his reaction to the announcement, saying the numbers are "only suggestions," and that his committee is one of six major House panels, which will now try to reach the Ryan "suggestion" by reconciling program reauthorization to spending limits. Committee ranking member Rep. Collin Peterson (D, MN) said the Ryan budget resolution, approved this week "all but guarantees" efforts to write a 2012 Farm Bill are dead.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D, MI) said, "The budget proposed in the House...is irresponsible and undermines one of the few sectors in our economy that is growing and creating jobs. We must reduce the deficit in all areas...but we must do that in a way that does not hurt the economy." Sen. Kent Conrad (D, ND), chair of the Senate Budget Committee, said the Ryan proposal "throws the House-Senate agreement out the window," adding to get a Farm Bill done this year will mean House members will have to tell Ryan "the plan goes way too far and they're not going to go for it." Conrad is not expected to produce a similar budget resolution in the Senate, which complicates life for the House ag panel as it then has little indication how far the Senate might go in programs cuts and policy reinvention. A senior lobbyist for a national farm organization last week estimated the chances of getting a Farm Bill this year "are about 15% - maybe." This week post-budget announcement, she said, "If I could drop that estimate any lower I would."

A proposed rule by the Department of Labor (DOL) that would, in part, ban or restrict teenagers from participating in several on-farm jobs and related activities should be halted, said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R, KY) this week, as he joined a bipartisan group of colleagues cosponsoring legislation to force DOL to halt all action on the rulemaking. The rulemaking has become a touchstone for agriculture groups which contend it totally ignores the reality of children working on their parents' farms, operating equipment, etc. Congressional opposition says the DOL rulemaking "erodes rural cultural values," and DOL's attempts to rewrite the proposal to stem increasing ag opposition seem to be failing.  

Sen. Jerry Moran (R, KS), along with 38 cosponsors, introduced legislation this week to block the DOL from finalizing any part of the workplace safety rules it proposed last September, and Sen. Pat Roberts (R, KS), a cosponsor and ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee said this week the department has gone way too far. "We need the Department of Labor to take a big pill of common sense and back off," Roberts said. The original proposal changed a long-standing statutory exemption from child labor protections if a teenager younger than 16 years old worked for a parent, saying teenagers could only work or a farm operation wholly owned by a parent, but not allowing them to work for relatives or business partners of their parents.  

Ag groups opposed to the rulemaking said it would have also banned teenagers under 16 from herding livestock on horseback or on vehicles, bar teenagers from rodeo competition or working in grain elevators. DOL is reworking the parental exemption language in hopes of meeting the demands of ag groups, while moving forward with other portions of the proposed rule.

Assemblywoman Betsy Butler (D-El Segundo) yesterday announced plans to push legislation she is calling the "Farm Worker Safety Act of 2012," which the United Farm Workers say is needed "so farm workers themselves can enforce mandatory shade and drinking water requirements by taking delinquent employers to court in the tradition of a citizen's arrest," according to a UFW press release.

It would make growers liable for violations by labor contractors and set into statute penalties for individuals responsible for heat-related deaths. The bill would also create a "private right of action" for farm employees to bring civil lawsuits against employers for alleged violations of the heat illness and other occupational health and safety laws.   In a press release from her office, Butler says she plans to introduce this bill in order to help enforce state heat illness regulations made into law in 2005. The bill has not gone to print.    

A House proposal circulating this week would require EPA to hold all rulemakings under its Clean Air Act (CAA) authority until it's formally determined the cost of the rules. Under the proposed legislation, EPA would have to conduct feasibility and cost-impact studies when trying to change the national ambient air quality standards for smog using its CAA authority. The draft bill will be part of a March 28th hearing in the House Energy & Commerce Committee, and if enacted into law would also suspend several on-going EPA rulemakings until at least six months after a special committee set up by the proposed bill has determined the economic impact of any proposed rule. The proposal would impact automobile emissions standards, fuel standards, refinery standards and ozone regulation.

CALIFORNIA STATE FLORAL ASSOCIATION TOGETHER WITH ROP CAMARILLO   

Present a Floral Design Workshop

New Date ~ April 28th 

Floral Architectonics: the Art of Incorporating Architectural Elements into Dynamic Floral Designs

Instruction by:  

Tony Alvarez AIFD, CCF & Debbie Alvarez AIFD, CCF

Place: ROP Camarillo, 465 Horizon Circle, Camarillo, CA 93010

Time: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

In this class we will explore a number of architectural elements developed since man first began building shelters right up to the modern age of towering steel structures and modern conceptual theories in architecture. We will integrate these architectural elements in our design constructions using assorted building materials, plant materials, flowers and branches as well as decorative wire and glassware.  

Come spend a day with friends and learn new ways to add interest, value, drama and innovation to everyday designs!

Class fee: $125.00

• Click here for full details