Rainforest Alliance Tulips

Rainforest Alliance Tulips

#american grown Eco-friendly tulips environmental protection Rainforest Alliance Sustainability

Good news, everybody! Our Arcata Farm has just been Rainforest Alliance Certified! While their certification services have been exercised around the world, they have just begun including United States farms in their certification process and we are the very first American Grown flower farm in the US to gain certification.

Believe it or not, our Sun Valley home in Humboldt County exists within the largest Temperate Rainforest in California, populated by Sequoia sempervirens, better known as the tallest tree in the world, the coastal Redwood.  Definitions of rainforest aside, the most important takeaway about the Rainforest Alliance Certification is what it means for us, our flowers, and you.

You've probably seen Rainforest Alliance Certification seal on food, beverages, and other agricultural products all around the world. That little frog says a lot -- it assures you that the product you are enjoying comes from a farm that has met the strict standards of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), designed with environmental, social, and economic sustainability in mind. 

Cultivating Eco-Friendly Flowers

In order to certify our Arcata farm and all its products--lilies, iris, and of course, our bread and butter, tulips--we are regularly audited for verification of our compliance with SAN's comprehensive sustainable guidelines.  These guidelines are based upon the basic principles of sustainable farming: biodiversity conservation, improved livelihoods and human well-being, natural resource conservation, and effective planning and farm management systems to reduce waste.  

Energy Management: We record, report, and make efforts to reduce our energy usage, by using renewable energy (such as our energy-efficient greenhouses and Snap Fans).  Our team members use bicycles to get from place to place, which is friendlier for the land and for our health.

Soil and Water Conservation:  Both water and soil are some of our most precious resources -- we conserve water through the use of drip-tape irrigation, fertigation, and by monitoring waste-water and preventing contamination.  We conserve soil with natural barriers to reduce runoff, and we utilize steam-sterilization techniques to sanitize and reuse our soil, which reduces overall waste.

Working Conditions, Occupational Health, and Community Relations:  Our team members are treated with respect—not only in accordance with the conventions of the International Labor Organization, but also under our Guiding Principles, which guarantee respect and opportunities to learn and grow, along with access to training and healthcare services.    We also have occupational health and safety programs to reduce the risk of accidents and to support the health of our team members who are involved with hazardous activities (such as operating heavy machinery).

Ladybugs- a biological weapon against pests

Integrated Crop Management: Certification requires the shunning of highly toxic pesticides and the use of earth-friendly biological and mechanical methods (good bugs vs. bad bugs) instead.  If approved pesticides are used, they are applied responsibly and safely with the protection of our team members and the environment in mind.



Integrated Waste Management:  We manage our waste through recycling, reducing, and reusing.  As mentioned above, we reuse our soil by steam-sanitizing it; plus, leftover greenery (stems, roots, bulbs, leaves, and flowers) aren't just thrown in the garbage--we add them to our compost pile out back, where they eventually breaks down into a nutrient-rich additive which we can use again.

Our Compost Pile in Bloom

While this is an abridged explanation of what the Certification requires, it does paint a pretty full picture about Rainforest Alliance's deep-seated commitment to conservation.  What's more, these guidelines are continually being improved and advanced as our world progresses in sustainable agriculture techniques.

We're proud to offer Rainforest Certified Tulips out of our Arcata Farm.  They join our matricaria, snapdragons, amazon dianthus, sunflowers, statice, solidago, and more that come out of our Baja Farm, which is also Rainforest Alliance Certified.  For us, it is about respect for the land, respect for the flowers, and respect for people -- our team members, community, and customers. For an eco-friendly certified tulip, look for Sun Valley flowers and keep your eyes peeled for that little green frog!

Women's Day Freesia Tsunami

Women's Day Freesia Tsunami

#american grown #CAGrown #WomensDay Freesia

Today is March 8th, so you know what that means....

 

To celebrate here on the farm, we'll be giving a mix of Sun Valley's finest flowers to all our female team members.  These valuable women help make the world of color a reality day after day.

 

One of the fine flowers included in these Women's Day bouquets is the beautiful and fragrant freesia.  A note about growing freesia--the soil is kept warm for healthy stem development, then for the moment(s) of truth, the soil is cooled so that the freesia can "set bud" (aka, begin producing its beloved flowers). 

That moment is now.  While the rest of the country is experiencing winter storms, our own Oxnard farm is experiencing a freesia tsunami, and it is beautiful!

Freesia are particularly fitting for Women's Day--a classically styled flower that performs well under pressure, with a lovely scent, and long vase life.

We'll be following the day's activities closely, sharing the good stuff and posting our own, so stay tuned @LilySunvalley on social media to see how women are being celebrated all over the world, all day long.  Follow more Women's Day happenings (and share your own) with the social media hashtags below:

 Happy Women's Day. 

Field to Vase Dinner Tour Comes to Arcata!

Field to Vase Dinner Tour Comes to Arcata!

#american grown #CAGrown Amy Stewart Debra Prinzing F2V Dinner Tour field to vase Lady Aster Wil Franklin

The Field to Vase Dinner Tour is starting 2016 off right!  The widely-acclaimed dinner tour (the brainchild of American Grown) is kicking off this year's circuit right here in Arcata, in one of Sun Valley's very own tulip greenhouses--and you are invited to join us for this enchanted evening among the flowers.

Sounds magical, right?  Believe me, it is.  What I love about the concept is that it is not just a typical gourmet dinner in a pretty setting.  It is those things, but it is also an opportunity to support your immediate community, while also advocating for our country.

Yeah, I said it, and it's not hyperbole..... (Okay, maybe a little bit).


What do I mean by that? Well, did you know that 80% of flowers in the United States are imported from South America?  Unfortunately, this statistic is not well-known, which is why the American Grown brand (an offshoot of the California Cut Flower Commission) launched the Field to Vase Dinner Tour last year.  Its intention is to create awareness of the domestic flower movement.  Everything about the enchanted evening highlights the importance of Fresh, Local, and Sustainable--the flowers at the center of the table (and surrounding it), the wine in your glass, and the food on your plate.  Studies have shown that given the choice, consumers prefer American Grown flowers, echoing the preference of those who care where their beer was brewed and how their beef was raised, chickens were reared, and so on.

Last year, the dinner tour was a smashing success, nearly selling out in every location, and it looks like we are on track to do that here.  Here's what to expect:

A four-course meal of local food prepared by local businesses--think Eel River Grass fed Beef incorporated into gastronomical delights by Arcata's own Café Brio and Folie Douce; beer flowing from McKinleyville's Six Rivers Brewery; a selection of award-winning wine from StargazerBarn.com and Trinity River Vineyards (Willow Creek); and Drunken Botanist-inspired cocktails mixed from locally-made vodka.  Dinner will be served on a single long table, against a backdrop of millions of growing tulips.  This is the unique setting for an intimate tour of Humboldt County's epicurean and agricultural delights.

The tulips growing in the greenhouse won't be the only flowers, of course. There will be arrangements galore, all done by local business owner Faye Zierer Krause of Flora Organica Designs.  She'll be using Sun Valley flowers, greens, and botanicals to make table arrangements and dramatic installments, and there's even going to be a small demonstration for those who want to learn a few tricks.  

Also joining the evening for drinks, dinner, and conversation will be best-selling author and flower fanatic, Amy Stewart,  floral advocate and garden geek Debra Prinzing, and Winemaker Wil Franklin.  Of course, the evening would not be complete without our very own CEO Lane DeVries, whose passion for flowers, this community, and the Sun Valley team stands as testament to the American Grown feel of the entire event.

Tickets are $184 and include all the food and drink, a farm tour led by Lane DeVries, a flower demonstration by Faye, a swag bag of American Grown goodies, and of course an armful of local flowers.  There are only 150 tickets available for this once-in-a-lifetime event, so you better get while the gettin is good. 

So, what are you waiting for? Show Humboldt Field-to-Vase some love, buy your tickets here.  

How to Survive the Biggest Floral Holiday of the Year

How to Survive the Biggest Floral Holiday of the Year

#american grown #CAGrown #flowers4mom #origin matters Guiding Principles Mother's Day 2015 Sun Valley Holiday

Before joining the ranks at Sun Valley, my best guess for "The Biggest Floral Holiday of the Year" would have been that fateful day in February in which all romantics (or hopeful romantics) can earn
extra points for sending flowers to their sweetheart.  However, I have become enlightened--Mother's Day, by far and away, takes the LARGEST slice of the floral holiday pie.

And why?


Simply (and logically) put by one of my fellow team members: "Not everyone has a lover, but most people have a mother."


This logic has been dictating every waking (and sleeping) hour of our team members at Sun Valley.  All teams are literally working around the clock--sunup to sundown and back to sunup again--to get these beautiful flowers for mom picked, packed, and shipped.
 

For the floral industry, this holiday is about teamwork and communication.  On the farm, we are all striving to work together, hang tough, and abide by our guiding principles, which help us remain cohesive, productive, and sane.  These principles are as follows:

1)  Be the best that you can be
2)  Treat others how you want to be treated
3)  Inspire others and always keep learning
4)  Treat team members with respect
5)  Keep our workplace safe and clean
6)  Delight and amaze customers
7)  Foster a team culture
8)  Instill opportunities for all
9)  Continuously improve and innovate
10) Always remain humble and gracious


A strong foundation in these principles is what helps us get through this crazy holiday.  Let's be honest, working all day, 7 days a week, for 3 weeks straight will put even the most cheerful, patient person a little on edge.  But when we step back and remember that "Hey, we're in this together," and, "Hey, I'll sleep when I'm dead!" things seem easier. Teamwork and communication make this company operate like a well-oiled machine, and each moving part does its job to help the whole.

Team members catching some Zs while they can!

Smiles help!

   
But it doesn't stop there.  We must pass the baton! Trucks full of flowers are leaving our warehouses in a steady stream, taking our treasures to all corners of the United States.  This is the hand-off to all the flower professionals, florists, and designers out there who make doubly sure that everyone can have the power of flowers this Mother's Day.  

 Together, we can make some mamas smile. 

Floral Knowledge= Lifetime of Enjoyment

Floral Knowledge= Lifetime of Enjoyment

#american grown #CAGrown Floral industry floral knowledge Flower quality

Did you know that you should leave the bulb on the stem of a Hyacinth when you put it in a vase?  The basal plate at the bottom of the bulb continues to absorb water and nutrients and can prolong the beautiful blooms even longer.
Did you also know that Hyacinth has a powerful, sweet fragrance that's reminiscent of gardenia or plumeria?

Well, I didn't either!

But I do now.  This little tidbit of floral education is just one of the many perks that happened when I joined the team at Sun Valley. I came into this business bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, with an average appreciation for flowers and a black thumb to boot. But all the flower knowledge I've gained has converted me into an avid lover of flowers and even inspired me to grow my own garden.

Through my personal transformation into a floral butterfly, I see an opportunity for the rest of the floral industry:

Gift a person flowers, they have a flowers for a week.  Teach them about flowers, and they enjoy them for a lifetime.

Like the old fishing adage, we can appeal to those who aren't already in love with flowers by educating them. Reach them by teaching them!

I'm walking (and talking) proof that an otherwise non-committal window shopper can be converted into a regular floral consumer just by learning a bit more about those pretty little mood enhancers. My romance with flowers is directly correlated to my increasing knowledge about them. And the more I know, the more I want to learn. The more I learn, the more I love flowers! This principle can be applied to all potential floral consumers. The tricky part is understanding what exactly they need or want to know to make the same transition.

People don't want to be left in the dark.  They want to know where their flowers come from, how they're grown and where they end up.  This is one of the reasons why the #Americangrown and #CAgrown movement, along with the Field-to-Vase aesthetic, is so strong.

In addition to farming and growing practices, there is A LOT to know about flowers.  Six months ago I certainly couldn't have told you what each flower symbolizes, their history, their country of origin, or which ones were appropriate for certain occasions. On top of that, there are the more practical educational bits, such as: what prolongs vase life, which ones smell the strongest, and what the heck is Lisianthus, anyways?

THIS is a lisianthus!

That's why it is important to reach out and offer information, photos, and educational tidbits about the flowers that we already love so much. These educational bites can be as simple as flower care tips or as complicated as a breakdown of the year-round tulip growing process. The point is to give people a sense of floral competency through the acquisition of knowledge.
 

Let's go one step further than telling people that flowers are great. Let's teach them about flowers, so they can bloom into flower enthusiasts as well!

If you have any questions about flowers, please let me know in the Comments!