[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 132 (Friday, August 2, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1027]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE CAREER OF KASEY J. CRONQUIST

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SALUD O. CARBAJAL

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 2019

  Mr. CARBAJAL. Madam Speaker, to mark the conclusion of American Grown 
Flowers Month, we honor a great citizen who has been instrumental in 
starting the movement to support American Grown Flowers, Kasey J. 
Cronquist, the outgoing CEO of the California Cut Flower Commission and 
Administrator of Certified American Grown.
  In 2007, Kasey Cronquist took the helm of the California Cut Flower 
Commission and in his successful tenure, he spearheaded an aggressive 
legislative advocacy program targeting elected officials in Sacramento 
and Washington, D.C., and retail promotional campaigns to attract 
consumers and industry stakeholders to the benefits of American Grown 
Flowers.
  His efforts have brought industry and consumer attention to the value 
and importance of domestically grown flowers and foliage, helping 
consumers connect the ``Farm to Fork'' trend with floral, and driving 
home the message that the bouquets at the center of our tables should 
be as fresh, sustainable, and homegrown as the food on our plates.
  Prior to joining CCFC, Cronquist held posts as president and CEO of 
the Carpinteria Valley Chamber of Commerce and CEO of the Shelton-Mason 
County Chamber in Washington State. A firm believer in service to the 
industry, Cronquist is an active volunteer for the Buy California 
Marketing Agreement, the Agriculture President's Council of California, 
and the California Department of Food and Agriculture Nursery Advisory 
Board.
  A committed nonprofit leader, Cronquist is a graduate of the U.S. 
Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management, was named 
a Santa Barbara Foundation's Katherine Harvey Fellow in 2007, and is 
the former recipient of Produce Business magazine's ``40 under Forty'' 
award that identifies the produce industry's top young leaders.
  As a Co-Chair of the Congressional Cut Flower Caucus, I laud Kasey 
for his service to this iconic sector of American agriculture and wish 
him the best in his future endeavors.

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