On "The Business of Blooms," host Nan Sterman explores why San Diego is one of our nation’s top cut flower producers. These crops generate almost 78 million dollars a year.
The cost of land and water has put pressure on local growers. Nan visits a hardy few who are helping San Diego’s floraculture industry to survive and thrive.
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Pickers harvesting flowers at Rainbow Hill Protea Farm in Fallbrook, Calif.
Courtesy of Michael Gerdes, AGP Productions, LLC
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Rainbow Hill Protea picker at work.
Courtesy of AGP Productions, LLC
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Dawn and the Rainbow Hill Protea crew after harvest.
Courtesy of Michael Gerdes, AGP Productions, LLC
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Truck loaded with flowers after harvest at Rainbow Hill Protea in Fallbrook, Calif.
Courtesy of Michael Gerdes, AGP Productions, LLC
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Rainbow Protea landscape.
Courtesy of AGP Productions, LLC
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Flowers, Rainbow Hill Protea
Courtesy of Marianne Gerdes, AGP Productions, LLC
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Protea bud
Courtesy of Marianne Gerdes, AGP Productions, LLC
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Rainbow Protea
Courtesy of AGP Productions, LLC
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Proteas packed to ship.
Courtesy of AGP Productions, LLC
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Noted floral artist, educator and speaker René van Rems with host Nan Sterman and floral arrangement.
Courtesy of Michael Gerdes, AGP Productions, LLC
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Floral Trade Center, Carlsbad, Calif.
Courtesy of Michael Gerdes, AGP Productions, LLC
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Boxes of tulips, Floral Trade Center, Carlsbad, Calif.
Courtesy of Michael Gerdes, AGP Productions, LLC
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Grevlilea "Moonlight" flowers
Courtesy of AGP Productions, LLC
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California lilac bloom up close.
Courtesy of AGP Productions, LLC
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California lilac blooming.
Courtesy of AGP Productions, LLC
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Dramm & Echter, horticultural greenhouse producer, 1150 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, Calif. 92024
Courtesy of Nan Sterman
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Gerbera, Dramm & Echter.
Courtesy of Nan Sterman
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Gerbera, Dramm & Echter.
Courtesy of Nan Sterman
Watch On Your Schedule:
Episodes of A GROWING PASSION will be available for streaming on demand following the broadcast. All past seasons are available on demand now.
Join The Conversation:
A GROWING PASSION is on Facebook, and you can follow @GrowingPassion on Twitter. Share photos and follow the series on Instagram.
Center for Plant Conservation is on Facebook, Instagram, and you can follow @CPCplants on Twitter.
About The Series:
More and more San Diegans strive to make socially, environmentally and economically-responsible choices.
From earth-friendly and water-wise gardens to organic foods and habitat restoration, we demand options that protect our health, feed our communities and protect our natural resources.
A GROWING PASSION is an Emmy-winning lifestyle program that explores San Diego County's agriculture and horticulture activities as an expression of this growing earth-friendly movement.
From backyard food production to major horticultural growers, from low-water landscapes to sustainable practices around the home and in the garden, we tell stories about the natural and manmade landscapes that shape the social, cultural, environmental and economic interests of our community.
We celebrate how San Diego grows.