The oversized cat-shaped clock rising above the float is instantly recognizable. It is a Kit-Cat clock, complete with popping eyes, whiskers upturned over a smile, and, of course, a clock face on its chest. The cat’s coat is made up of black seaweed and onion seeds, and it is accented with white coconut chips. The jukebox below is mostly walnut shells and dried cranberry leaves, and the florescent garden covering much of the floats surface area contains thousands of roses, carnations, and red gerbera. But there is one thing that distinguishes this float from all others in the Rose Parade: everything on it was grown here in California.
The California Department of Agriculture secretary, partnering with farmers from the California Cut Flower Commission, recently certified two floats as “CA Grown” for the first time in Rose Parade history. “This means that 85 percent or more of the flowers used in the float were grown by California farmers,” said Kasey Cronquist, CEO of the California Cut Flower Commission (CCFC). Originally, all Rose Parade floats were adorned with California flowers, but in recent years trade agreements have made it easier for South American farmers to corner the cut flower market. “This is a great event,” Cronquist said. “It’s helping us return to our roots.”
“We reached out to the CCFC to help us achieve our goal of having only CA grown flowers on our float, something we had been told was impossible,” said Woody Young, CEO of Kit-Cat Clocks, whose float was certified before the Rose Parade. “Through our partnership with CCFC and the great effort of our builder, Fiesta Parade Floats, we achieved that goal. CCFC felt it was only right to take the extra step to certify it as CA Grown.’”
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