MARYSVILLE, Ohio — Miracle-Gro®, is proud to celebrate “Life Starts Here” with its 2016 Rose Parade float entry. The company is saluting California’s high quality locally grown floral industry and “nature’s pollinators” that keep the beauty of magnificent crops so abundant throughout the state.
Over 85% of the fresh flowers and foliage that adorn Miracle-Gro’s float will come from within the State of California, which qualifies this floral masterpiece for the prestigious “California Grown Certification”. The float’s sensational display of California grown flowers represents all farming regions of California. Featured throughout this inspiring floral exhibit are drought tolerant landscaping plants from California including cacti, succulents, flax and agaves.
“We are proud that Miracle-Gro is the first major brand to use materials that support and celebrate California farmers and local growers at the Tournament of Roses,” said John Sass, Vice President and General Manager of Miracle-Gro. “This year’s float not only reminds of us of the Rose Parade’s origins, it puts a focus on sustainable flowers that inspire consumers to dig in and discover their own piece of earth.”
“Miracle-Gro’s commitment to focus on the important movement toward California Grown and sustainable flowers is a celebration of what makes California special,” said Kasey Cronquist, CCFC CEO and Ambassador. “This is an honorable effort by a nationally recognized consumer brand to bring back the true meaning and tradition of the Tournament of Roses Parade and to support the farmers that contribute $1.7 million to California’s economy every day.”
Meet the Californians Supporting CA GROWN Float Initiative
Joining Miracle-Gro in Pasadena, California is TV personality Ty Pennington who returns for the second year. Ty will be onsite prior to the parade to help decorate the float alongside more than 400 volunteers as well as riding the float on New Year’s Day. Joining Ty on the float this year will be the company’s “Miracle-Groers.” These Miracle-Groers consist of two California farmers and three community gardeners from across the state who were selected due to their passion for gardening and commitment to sharing their love of the outdoors with others. Miracle-Gro is the first major brand to use flowers from the personal gardens of consumers for a Rose Parade float. All Miracle-Groers and California farms participating this year have been critical to completing the 85% required minimum required to be California Grown certified.
Bonnie Jo Manion (Based in San Diego Region) is a garden writer, speaker and photographer that has been gardening for 15 years. Bonnie loves the creative aspect of gardening as she views it as an art form, and enjoys working with her hands in dirt and soil and making something that others can enjoy.
Mud Baron (Based in Pasadena – Los Angeles Region) is volunteer lead at the Muir Ranch gardens located on the campus of John Muir High School in Pasadena. The two acre urban farm grows more than 1,000 produce items per month.
Susan Phillips (Based in Clovis – Fresno Region) started a creative blog to inspire and be inspired with her home gardening, sewing, crafting and cooking projects. As a CA Grown program supporter in Northern California, she regularly plants snapdragons, cabbage, onion, and kale in her home garden.
Harry Van Wingerden (Based in Santa Barbara Region) owns and operates Myriad Flowers International with his wife, which brings over 35 years of growing experience where they specialize in Hydroponic Roses, Pompon Chrysanthemums and a wide variety of field cut flowers.
Mel Resendiz (Based in FallBrook – San Diego Region) runs Resendiz Brothers Protea Growers alongside his family, which offers an extensive selection of Protea, Pincushions, Banksia, Kangaroo Paws, Leucadendron, Filler Flowers and Foliages, as well as many hybrid varieties.
The magnitude of flowers and foliage that adorn the Miracle-Gro float come from nearby California flower fields. The float has approximately 15 California farms involved this year. On December 31, the Buy California Marketing Committee (BCMA) and the California Cut Flower Commission (CCFC) will recognize Miracle-Gro with a certification ceremony for their commitment to California’s flower farmers held at Fiesta Float Barn where the Rose Parade floats are being housed and built prior to Parade Day.
For more information please go to miraclegro.com/roseparade and check out the #CAGROWN, #RoseParade and #LifeStartsHere hashtags and follow @MiracleGro to watch the Tournament of Roses conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About ScottsMiracle-Gro
With approximately $3 billion in worldwide sales, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. The Company's brands are the most recognized in the industry. In the U.S., the Company's Scotts®, Miracle-Gro® and Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup® brand, which is marketed in North America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts and owned by Monsanto. In the U.S., we operate Scotts LawnService®, the second largest residential lawn care service business. In Europe, the Company's brands include Weedol®, Pathclear®, Evergreen®, Levington®, Miracle-Gro®, KB®, Fertiligène® and Substral®. In 2015, the Company ranked on Forbes 100 Most Reputable Companies in America. For additional information, visit us at www.scottsmiraclegro.com.
About the Pasadena Tournament of Roses®
The Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization that annually hosts the Rose Parade®, the Rose Bowl Game® and a variety of associated events. Nine hundred thirty-five volunteer members act as ambassadors of the organization and contribute upwards of 80,000 hours of manpower each year. The 127th Rose Parade presented by Honda and themed “Find Your Adventure,” will take place Friday, January 1, 2016, followed by the 102nd Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual. Learn more at www.tournamentofroses.com and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About the California Cut Flower Commission
The California Cut Flower Commission (CCFC) is a state agency created in 1990 by the Legislature to advocate and promote California cut flowers and foliage farmers. For more information about California Grown flowers, visit www.ccfc.org.
About the Buy California Marketing Agreement and the “California Grown” Program
The Buy California Marketing Agreement (BCMA) is a joint effort of agricultural industry groups representing the products of California’s farms and ranches. Working as an advisory board to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, BCMA brings together industry and government resources to increase the awareness, consumption and value of California agricultural products, helping the state’s consumers enjoy the best of the California lifestyle. For more information, visit www.californiagrown.org.
Source: ScottsMiracle-Gro
