(HawaiiNewsNow) - Importing flowers and foliage into Hawaii raises many concerns when it comes to the introduction of invasive pests and plant diseases. The Department of Agriculture is kicking off an event to raise awareness. Ramsay Wharton went down to the state's plant quarantine office to find out more.
Buy-Local Bridal Floral Challenge
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Kahala Mall
11:00am
HAWAI`I-GROWN
FLOWERS TAKE STAGE IN WEDDING DESIGNS
Top Wedding Floral Designers to Create Spectacular
Bouquets and Tablescapes
Honolulu –
Competition will blossom as four of Hawai`i's top wedding floral designers compete
in the first-ever "Buy Local Bridal
Floral Challenge," sponsored by the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture
(HDOA) at Kahala Mall on Saturday, May 19 at 11:00 a.m. The challenge is a collaborative effort
by the Hawai`i Floriculture and Nursery Association, Kahala Mall, Hawai`i Bride
& Groom magazine and HDOA's Plant Quarantine Branch.
The event is
free to the public and part of HDOA's Buy
Local, It Matters campaign, which encourages consumers to support local
farmers and growers by making conscious decisions to buy local whenever
possible. In addition, this particular
event emphasizes that by buying local, we can also reduce the amount of
imported flowers, thus reducing the amount of invasive plant pests and diseases
entering our state.
The floral
designers will compete in two categories, including finished bouquets and a
tablescape category where the designers will have one hour to create a wedding
reception tablescape live at the event.
The bouquets will be on display and the public will have a chance to
vote for their favorite. The tablescapes
will be judged by a special panel of judges.
Designers
participating in the competition specialize in wedding florals and
include: Easely Designs; Exquisite Hawaiian Weddings, The Floral Boutique, Inc.;
and Su-V Expressions. To help enhance their tablescapes the designers will
be assisted by REA Events, Royal Party Rentals and Event Essentials.
HDOA and the
local nursery industry will provide the designers with hundreds of locally
grown flowers and foliage for the competition including: anthuriums, orchids, cymbidiums, protea,
heliconia, ginger, bird of paradise, palms and much more. In addition, the designers will be required
to incorporate a secret ingredient to be unveiled on the day of the event.
"Florists
tell us that local consumers don't ask for local flowers for special occasions
such as weddings," said Russell S. Kokubun, chair of the Hawai‘i Department of
Agriculture. "With this event, we want to demonstrate how supporting local growers
may also help to create exceptional and memorable wedding bouquets and
reception tables."
"Imported flowers and foliage bring into
Hawai`i a wide range of invasive pests and plant diseases," said Carol Okada,
manager of HDOA's Plant Quarantine Branch, "By selecting locally grown flowers,
we can reduce the amount of imported flowers and reduce the risk of hitchhiking
pests and diseases."
Once an
invasive pest or disease becomes established in Hawai`i, it may have a
devastating impact on Hawai`i agriculture by causing damage to crops and is
often costly for the state and growers to control. Invasive species also may harm Hawai`i's
unique environment.
"We are
hoping that wedding planners and brides-to-be will become more aware of the
exciting and beautiful floral options that are available from local growers,"
Okada added. "In the process, newlyweds can feel good about helping to sustain
our local economy and protect our unique agriculture and ecosystem for the
future."
Copyright 2012 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
