Page 69 - Index

FLOWER FAIR
e Flower Fair has always been the hallmark of this convention, and attendees this year enjoyed seeing products and learning of services from 24 booth exhibitors and 22 tabletop exhibits.
Look closely, there might be a quiz. Ocean Breeze Farms of Carpinteria, CA, provided variety names within this brilliant Gerbera display.
David Marabella of Floral Supply Syndicate in Camarillo, CA, shows the newly designed Day of the Dead ower skull.
Thursday night’s Flower Power extravaganza, complete with wearable owers for all, was especially enjoyed by Crystal Hedgpeth of Safe- way, Norcal Division in Pleasanton, and Heather Butts of B-Fresh Floral in Carpinteria.
Sometimes you amusingly nd the unexpected in an exhibitor’s booth. California Flower Shippers Inc. of San Jose, displayed an interesting assortment of natural products, cut greens, ornamental pomegranates and dried botanicals. But the fragrant cut gardenias for corsages offered in boxes of three or as singles, complete with the pin, were a hit with wholesalers specializing in weddings.
Seen in the booth (at left) were these vines of blooming stephanotis that were tubed to maintain freshness. Brides often order stephanotis for the sweet fragrance and pure white color, and California Flow- er Shippers Inc. of San Jose offers the blossoms in bulk or in leis. Owner LeRoy Franzoia says he was tired of seeing so many vines thrown away, so on his drive home from work one day, he came up with the idea of selling a water-tubed stephanotis vine. His oral team thought the idea to be far-fetched, but when the sales began happening they realized he was onto something.
PRODUCE BUSINESS / AUGUST 2019 / 69