June 27, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 109 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H5206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING AMERICAN GROWN FLOWERS MONTH

  (Ms. PINGREE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of July as American 
Grown Flowers Month.
  As co-chair of the House Cut Flowers Caucus, I know the buy local 
movement has encouraged customers to buy not only their food, but also 
their flowers, from local farmers. People want to support the small 
family farm down the road, whether it is lettuce or lilies.
  The cut flower industry creates jobs, benefits our local economies, 
and naturally encourages us to embrace our planet's natural beauty.
  For farmers, cut flowers allow us to preserve open spaces, 
participate in sustainable agriculture, and, many times, support women-
owned businesses.
  In my home State of Maine, where I represent many small farms, more 
than 250 farms sell cut flowers, from the Snell Family Farm in Buxton 
to Lazy Acres Farm in Farmingdale.
  This is an industry worth upwards of $1 million to our economy and 
has seen such rapid growth in recent years that we have many flower 
CSAs for local customers. The new interest in locally sourced flowers 
has allowed farmers to diversify their crops and boost their income.
  In Maine, nationally recognized as ``Vacationland,'' cut flowers are 
essential to our tourism industry. Flowers decorate wedding venues, 
hotels, and restaurants across our State. And when you are celebrating 
something as special as a wedding or a long-awaited vacation, shouldn't 
everything, down to the flowers on the table, have some meaning?

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