On March 21, the first day of spring, 30 semi-trucks left Costa Farms in Miami filled with Sun Parasol mandevilla plants headed for retailers throughout the country. The Spring Launch Event began with music played by a local high school marching band and was followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony by Costa Farms vice president Jose Costa, Suntory Flowers managing director Shigeru Sarada and Dade County Farm Bureau exec. director Katie Edwards. The truck convoy received an escort to the freeway by local police.
Sayaka Ishikawa at Suntory’s R&D and International Business Division said the event was similar to celebrating the annual release of Beaujolais Nouveau wine on the third Thursday of November. Beaujolais Day is when producers of this popular French red wine race to get the first bottles to different markets. No word yet on whether March 21 will become known as Sun Parasol Day.
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