For decades, California growers have been small players in a U.S. cut flower market dominated by imports.
But now the state's flower industry, with a substantial presence in Ventura County, faces new challenges, and growers say it's time to take more of the market.
They point to a new Los Angeles warehouse that imports South American flowers and to federal policies that give free access to Colombian imports as the latest triggers convincing growers that aggressive action is needed to survive.
"California is the last great state of flower farmers," said Kasey Cronquist, CEO/ambassador of the California Cut Flower Commission in Santa Barbara. "Farmers are up against competition that consumers are unaware of."
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