US (CA): Carpinteria's flower farms continue to press on

Last week's storms and mudslides in California have been devastating. Since Tuesday's flooding, California Cut Flower Commission CEO Kasey Cronquist has been in touch with a number of farmers in the Carpinteria Valley. While December's fires threatened farms, the mudslides have been worse.

Highway 192 in Carpinteria Valley. Photo by Hans Brand of B&H Flowers

Fortunately, from the reports he's received, all farmers, their families and their employees are safe. However, the storm and the mudslides have caused some minor damage to a couple of the 20+ cut flower farms in Carpinteria Valley. The storm has certainly left a mess and farmers have been out working alongside first responders to move debris with their tractors and heavy equipment.

The biggest impact farms face is logistics.

Via Real near Gallap & Stribling Orchids and Westerlay Orchids in Carpinteria Valley. Our farms worked alongside first responders with their farm equipment to clear debris. Photo By Alex Van Wingerden

Highway 101 is closed from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara, making pick up and deliveries extremely difficult. However, farms are able to ship their flowers south to Oxnard for state and national distribution. Right now, state officials are not indicating when Highway 101 will reopen.

Alex Van Wingerden of Westland Floral and Ivan Van Wingerden of Everbloom work together to help clear the debris on roadways after the storm. Photo by Ivan Van Wingerden

For more information:
California Cut Flower Commission
PO Box 90225, Santa Barbara, CA
93190-0225
www.ccfc.org