CCFC's Cronquist Recognized As Young Leader

By Greenhouse Grower staff|July 21, 2009

Kasey Cronquist, the 31-year-old executive director of the California Cut Flower Commission (CCFC), was recognized as one of Produce Business magazine’s 40 influential industry leaders under 40.

Cronquist, whom Greenhouse Grower featured in its January issue earlier this year, is the first to hold the position of executive director/ambassador with the reorganized CCFC. He was the only greenhouse floriculture industry person featured. Of Cronquist, Produce Business wrote:

In assuming the leadership role, his primary goal was to reach out to all of the state’s growers, determine industry priorities and then develop cutting edge programs to meet industry needs. He has worked diligently to rejuvenate grower involvement through personal outreach, modern communication and effective programming. He conducted a CCFC economic study to establish and highlight the economic impact of the Cut Flower Industry in California and held the first ever annual, statewide meetings for the Cut Flower Commission, inviting all 275 growers to regional meetings to highlight what the Commission is doing for them. He established an online California Cut Flower supplier database to help growers better connect with buyers and consumers.

He led the first delegation of California cut flower growers to Colombia and recently completed the reverse trip with Colombian growers in an effort to better understand each country’s strength and opportunities within the floral industry. It was also an effort to identify where California and Colombian growers can work together to improve the future of the industry and increase flower consumption. Additionally, he organized the formation of the Commission’s “New Model Development Task Force Committee,” which is focused strictly on improving the industry’s overall transportation system by reducing rural truck traffic, reducing less-than-trailer-load shipments, centralizing the industry’s shipping volume, reducing the industry’s overall carbon footprint and reducing cube rates out of California for flowers.

For more information on the CCFC, click here.