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Arcata, CA, July 4, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Arcata, CA, October 6, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Arcata, CA, September 6, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Arcata, CA, February 4, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Arcata, CA, January 4, 2005
SPECIAL NEWS RELEASE
Arcata, CA, January 4, 2005
PRESS RELEASE
Arcata, CA, August 1, 2001
PRESS RELEASE
Arcata, CA, July 4, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [read more press releases]
Creating a World of Color in Sun Valley's Hometown
Thanks to a last ditch effort by Sun Valley Floral Farms President and CEO Lane DeVries, it looks as if pyrotechnics might light up Arcata's Fourth of July sky after all.
"I'm so excited right now, it's unbelievable," DeVries said Thursday evening, moments after hearing the news that he might have saved Arcata's fireworks.
Earlier this month, the Arcata Chamber of Commerce, which runs the annual July Fourth Jubilee, announced that it had come up short in raising funds for the event's pyrotechnics. To make matters worse, Pam Godwin, president of the chamber's board of directors, said that the deadline for a deposit on the fireworks had passed in April and the situation appeared hopeless.
Apparently, DeVries didn't get the memo, saying he only found out about the situation Wednesday.
"I was stunned by that announcement and thought, 'This can't be true,'" he said. "Arcata without fireworks -- that's not right."
Initially, Godwin said DeVries offered to have Sun Valley Floral Farms front the approximately $8,000 expense. When Godwin told him deadlines had passed, DeVries started calling pyrotechnic companies on his own. His calls to the company that has provided the city's fireworks for the past 25 years didn't go anywhere, DeVries said, but another company was more than willing to step to the plate.
"The folks we're talking to right now are very willing to accommodate us," DeVries said, adding that the city agreed to issue him a permit today and that only the fire marshal's approval remains. The new development came just days after the Humboldt Crabs issued a press release critical of the Chamber of Commerce's handling of the fireworks situation. Randy Robertson, volunteer president of the Crabs' board of directors, said the organization was upset by the lack of communication from the chamber. Robertson pointed out that the fireworks are an important part of the Crabs' holiday, which features two games and historically has culminated in families taking to the field to watch the show. He said it is inexplicable why the chamber didn't approach the team in April when it knew of the financial problems.
"Nobody approached us," Robertson said. "There was virtually no communication back to us saying this is not going to happen." Robertson said the board of directors requested that the chamber repay the team's $500 donation to the festivities, which has traditionally gone toward the purchase of fireworks. After learning that DeVries may have saved the pyrotechnics, Robertson said he thought the board would be more than happy to contribute that $500. Godwin agreed that communication has been a problem. "It's one big, fat misunderstanding that they are very upset with," Godwin said.
The chamber also has some other problems on its plate. Strapped with a $1,700 bill for plaza law enforcement for the event, Godwin said she still doesn't know where those funds will come from. She said the chamber has been actively soliciting donations, but hasn't gotten far.
"We've made absolutely no headway at all," Godwin said. "There's more of an uproar about the fireworks not going off than anyone worrying about that."
She said the chamber is prepared to front the money with the hope that the event will bring in enough funds to pay the chamber back after the event.
"We have to go forward with it, so we're going to put out the money and hope for the best," she said.
DeVries said he has much the same hope. Sun Valley Floral Farms will purchase the fireworks, he said, but hopes not to pay the whole tab. "We'll just guarantee that the funds are there, and in the meantime we can do a 'Save the Fireworks in Arcata' fund," DeVries said. "Anybody who wants to contribute to that, I'm certainly not going to say no."
Arcata, CA, October 6, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [hide]
The Sun Valley Group has once again successfully completed fundraising efforts to support the relief effort for the devastation in the southern United States. "Hurricane Katrina left a path of destruction that will be remembered for a long time," said Lane DeVries, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Images of the pain and suffering of our citizens left us with a sense of frustration on what to do and how we could help those affected by this horrible turn of events."
"Only nine months ago, our customers overwhelmingly supported our efforts for the Tsunami relief in the devastated areas of South East Asia," DeVries stated. This time, Sun Valley decided to donate all the revenues for the month of September from the sales of the Iris variety New Orleans. The color is very distinct - gold colored petals with a purple center (the school colors for Louisiana State University).
"We owe much gratitude to our customers supporting us in this fundraising event." said DeVries, "I am also very impressed with the tremendous outpouring of giving by our own team members. 184 team members voluntarily had money deducted from their paychecks to help the relief effort in the devastated areas."
Lane DeVries will present Sun Valley.s check to Barbara Caldwell, Executive Director of the Humboldt County Chapter of the American Red Cross, on Friday, October 7 at 8:30 AM at the farm at 3160 Upper Bay Road, Arcata.
Arcata, CA, September 6, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [hide]
Dear customer,
Only 8 months ago we asked for your help in our fundraising efforts for Tsunami Relief in Southeast Asia. This turned out to be an overwhelming success, when $37,294 was generated from the sales of our Sumatra Lily. We are once again asking you to join us in supporting the relief effort for the devastation in the southern United States.
Hurricane Katrina left a path of destruction that will be remembered for a long time. Images of the pain and suffering of our citizens leave us with a sense of frustration on what we can do and how we can help those who have been affected by this horrible turn of events.
As a company, Sun Valley decided to donate all the revenues from the sales of our Iris variety New Orleans for the month of September. We have been growing this variety for several years and planted them for production in the fall months. The color is very distinct - gold colored petals with a purple center (the school colors for Louisiana State University). We ask you for your generosity when you purchase New Orleans iris from Sun Valley. Every penny of the sales of this variety for the entire month of September will go to the relief effort.
The money will again be donated to the American Red Cross, just like we did with the proceeds from the Sumatra lilies for the Tsunami relief effort.
We are convinced that with everyone.s generosity, we will be able to do our share in helping out with this national disaster.
Sincerely,
Lane Devries
President & CEO
Arcata, CA, February 4, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [hide]
The Sun Valley Group has successfully completed its fundraising efforts for Tsunami Relief in Southeast Asia. According to Lane DeVries, President and Chief Executive Officer, 100% of the January revenue from the sales of Sun Valleys Sumatra Lily was slated to be donated to the American Red Cross Tsunami Relief Fund.
DeVries stated, "We are very pleased at the generosity of our customer base and partners. Initially we anticipated raising approximately $30,000. At the conclusion of this effort, $37,294 was generated toward helping out the victims of the Tsunami. Our customers paid as much as $10 per stem for the Sumatra Lily to join us in supporting the relief effort."
"Our flower wholesalers and distributors have been very responsive to this innovative way to raise funds for those afflicted by this disaster. We are very proud of our industry coming together to make a difference."
Lane DeVries will present Sun Valleys check to Barbara Caldwell, Executive Director of the Humboldt County Chapter of the American Red Cross, on Wednesday, February 9 on the farm at 3160 Upper Bay Road, Arcata at 8:20 am.
Arcata, CA, January 4, 2005
SPECIAL NEWS RELEASE [hide]
In response to the devastating Tsunami in the Indian Ocean originated by the epic 9.0 earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, The Sun Valley Group is donating 100% of total sales of the SAF Award Winning SUMATRA lily for the month of January, 2005. Proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross International Response Fund.
Our partners in Holland who supply the SUMATRA bulbs have graciously offered to donate the bulbs.
Should your company wish to join us by adding to your purchase price of SUMATRA lilies, this additional money will be included and all be donated (100%) to this relief effort.
With your concurrence, we would like to recognize those customers making a contribution above and beyond the market price. We would like to emphasize that making a contribution by paying more is strictly voluntary.
We expect to donate at least $30,000 but this total could be much larger depending on the outpouring of generosity amongst our customers.
Together as an industry, we can make a difference.
Sincerely,
Lane DeVries
President and Chief Executive Officer
Arcata, CA, January 4, 2005
PRESS RELEASE [hide]
Debbie Hartman and West Coast Evergreen join The Sun Valley Group.
After over 30 years of offering quality floral greens to the wholesale floral market, Debbie Hartman and has joined The Sun Valley Group as the West Coast Evergreen Division Manager. Sun Valley is pleased to have Debbie join the Sun Valley team and to offer quality floral greens and to include West Coast Evergreen in its "family of quality floral brands".
Lane DeVries, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sun Valley said: "Debbie has provided quality green products to the floral industry for many years and we are pleased to have Debbie and the high quality floral greens of West Coast Evergreen as part of Sun Valley."
The Sun Valley Group is a quality grower of fresh cut flowers that include Sun Valley Floral Farms, Pleasant Valley Flowers, Sun Pacific Bouquet and other quality brands to the floral market.
Arcata, CA, August 1, 2001
PRESS RELEASE [hide]
On August 1 2001, Lane DeVries, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Sun Valley Group, Inc. announced the merger of Pleasant Valley Flowers, Inc. into The Sun Valley Group, Inc.
Pleasant Valley Flowers is located in Oxnard, one hour north of Los Angeles, on a coastal plain surrounded with strawberry and vegetable production. Pleasant Valley grows flowers under 1.3 million sq. ft. of cover and 55 acres of fields and employs 110 team members. Besides bulb crops, Pleasant Valley grows liatris, larkspur, delphinium, lisianthus, hypericum, snapdragons and other flowers. The Oxnard location will help increase Sun Valleys production of iris, French tulips and Asiatic lilies in the winter months. Sun Valley Floral Farms, located in Arcata, CA is the leading grower of tulips, iris and lilies in the U.S.A. The merger with Pleasant Valley will help in offering a broad mix of floral products.
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