US: At First Lady’s Luncheon, American Grown flowers take center stage
For the third year, Certified American Grown, a coalition of U.S. flower farms, organized the floral décor for the Congressional Club’s First Lady’s Luncheon. While First Lady Melania Trump was not in attendance this year — she is still recovering from surgery earlier this week — the event drew a VIP crowd, including Second Lady Karen Pence, making it an ideal venue to highlight domestic flowers and skilled floral designers, said Kasey Cronquist, PFCI, administrator of Certified American Grown.
“We’re proud of our farms and proud to be a part of this bipartisan tradition,” Cronquist said. “No matter your politics, this is really a wonderful example of people coming together.”
Kate Penn, CEO of the Society of American Florists, attended the luncheon as a guest of Certified American Grown.
The annual luncheon is an all-star attraction in Washington and coordinating the sourcing, transportation and design of some 15,000 stems — just days after Mother’s Day — was an all-industry affair, said Cronquist. Among other partners, about 15 flower farms donated to the effort, and the team received transportation support from DVFlora and donated hardgoods from Accent Décor.
Read more at the Society of American Florists