KB English Classes

Here is an update on a program spearheaded by Stuart Kitayama.  This is Stuart in his own words.

“We’ve been thinking about an English class for our employees for a long time, just never sure how it would work and who would be interested.   I know from living in Mexico how difficult another language can be, and how important it is to understand what is being said.  So when Genie Dee from the Literacy Program of Santa Cruz County said she could help us, I was intrigued.  

Genie was very positive and helpful, and it took several months before anything got going.  We started in the spring with 5 students, all foremen or higher level employees.  They were motivated and wanted to try the class.  Now they attend class twice a week for 2 hours. 

The best part is seeing the student’s excitement and satisfaction with the class and their teacher Bonnie Ott.  We see their confidence grow and they are more comfortable speaking English.  It’s very obvious that the students (Juana, Artemio, Brenda, Wilbert, and Jose Luis) enjoy the class and each other’s company.”

(Sitting: Juana and Wilbert. Standing: Brenda and Jose Luis. Center: Bonnie)

What is very gratifying to read is how well they are doing; this is an email from their teacher.

Dear Stuart,

Artemio, Juana, Brenda, Jose Luis and Wilbert are all excellent students – something I have never experienced in 30 years of university teaching!  Jose Luis has come the farthest. He was at Alfredo’s level when we began, and now he is near Juana. I think I know why:  one of their fill-in-the-blank exercises included “I am always _________.”  Jose Luis put ‘thinking’.

Such a delight your folks are.

Bonnie

Kitayama Brothers

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KB Annual Benefit Event

This year, 40 Kitayama family members hosted over 1,000 people at our family business's 4th Annual Open House event on June 15, 2013. This free-admission event was open to the public as a one-day opportunity to see the behind-the-scenes workings of our flower farm and shipping warehouse. 

The day was filled with greenhouse tours, a professional flower design contest, food & wine, games, informational tables, and an abundance of local flowers and produce offered at great prices. Proceeds from all sales at this event benefited the Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks (501c Nonprofit, www.thatsmypark.org). Palm, Sunset, Manresa, and Nisene Marks state parks are our nearby neighbors and we at KB are happy to work with FSCSP to put on a community event that can support the efforts to keep our local state parks and beaches clean, safe, and staffed with rangers and lifeguards. 

Since 1948, our company has been growing and shipping a variety of cut flowers to wholesale and large event florists. Our farm is located at 481 San Andreas Road in Watsonville, California. Please feel free to contact us at 800-472-4184 or visit us at www.kitayamabrothers.com.

Thanks for attending, and we hope to continue to improve this event. See you and your friends at the 5th Annual Open House in June 2014! 

Short film created by: Daniel Kitayama (footage and interviews) and Eileen Kitayama (footage & editing) at the 2012 and 2013 open house events. On-screen speakers: Robert Kitayama, Scott Kitayama, David Kitayama, and visiting members of the public. Background music: "Flor de Capomo" by Carlos y Jose.

THIS FILM IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES AND PROMOTES A NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY EVENT.

Family Business

Fun N Sun N Family: (NORCAL’s Family Business Seminar)

This week is NORCAL’s Fun N Sun Floral Convention in Santa Barbara. The rooms are all sold out and the tours are full. It's great to hear that so many customers have come to California to see what flower growers are up to out here.  

Kitayama Brothers is such a fan of Santa Barbara that we are holding our annual shareholder meeting in conjunction with Fun and Sun and approximately 35 of our shareholders will attend. And because most flower businesses are family businesses, NORCAL has developed a Family Business Seminar for Saturday 7/20 from 8:30am. It will include an amazing panel of Bob Wilkins (Delaware Valley Wholesale), Michael A Mellano (Mellano Company), Laura Shinall (Syndicate Sales), Ed Van Wingerden (Ever-Bloom) and Richard Armellini (Armellini). The panel will be led by Kurt Glassman of Leadership One.  

We believe there is no better way for our shareholders to understand family flower business than listening to the wisdom and experiences of the other leading flower families. Kitayama Brothers is sponsoring the event because we believe family business education is crucial to the future health of our company and many other flower companies. Please attend if you are at Fun N Sun. Flowers, family and business can be challenging, but when it works it can be incredibly rewarding.

KB at Santa Cruz County Fair

KB grown flowers at Santa Cruz County Fair

At Kitayama Brothers we try to maintain a strong profile in our local community. This week we donated flowers through the R.O.P program in one of our local High Schools to be used in demonstrations of the work they do with budding designers at the Santa Cruz County Fair. We also had our own beautiful exhibit at the fair (thank you Carol K.)

~ Tony Scalisi

KB grown flowers at Santa Cruz County Fair

Greg Lum & KB in Signature Weddings

Greg Lum, the Kitayama Cup winner (open division) 2 years in a row - 2011 & 2012 published in Signature Weddings Asia Magazine - The FASHION Issue 07/12 (starts on page 242)! Way to go Greg and thank you very much for using California grown KB products including our gorgeous Callas!

Greg supplied us with some details of this lovely event: "The concept for the wedding was to create an Asian inspired wedding using both Asian and European design styles. Many of the flowers used were grown in California. Such products as the deep purple calla lilies and purple lisanthus grown by Kitayama Brothers in Watsonville. Phalaenopsis orchids, Dahlias and Aeonium succulents were among the many other flowers grown in California."

Greg Lum's designs featured in Signature Weddings

He continued with more details about the designs he created for the event: "The bridal bouquet was a symmetric, decorative design with the stems arranged in a parallel fashion adorned by a jeweled pin, that was chosen by the bride herself. The ceremony flowers consisted of long, arching sprays of white Phalaenospsis orchids arranged inside of a construction armature of white mistusmata branches atop a tall clear glass vase."

"The cocktail table centerpieces were designed in different sized black square ceramic containers with maroon Dahilias, magenta Phalaenopsis orchids and small spheres covered in dried purple seeds."

"The centerpieces for the dinner were 5ft tall and consisted of fresh manzanita branches (The orange man - Gerry Gregg) decorated with spheres of purple lisanthus blooms; purple calla lilies (Kitayama Brothers). Sprays of dozens of magenta Dendrobium orchids also decorated the branches at varying heights."

Congratulations to the bride & groom, and Greg, for creating this beautiful wedding.

UC Davis Students Visit KB Farms

At KB Farms it seems there is always something  going on. Here are 2 busloads of post-harvest Ag students from UC Davis spending a beautiful summer’s day touring our facilities and learning what growing and selling flowers is really like.

~ Tony Scalisi