Climate is a critical flavor in cultivating flower seeds and cut flowers. The Lompoc Valley is said to have one of the most consistent temperate climate in the world. The valley's cool, moist summers have attracted growers of these colorful crops for almost 100 years.
The flower industry in the Lompoc Valley dates to the early 1900s when mustard was harvested for seed. Fragrant sweet peas, one of the valley's first flower seed crops, were introduced for export to England.
The Sunflower bouquets presented to Olympic medallists at the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta came chiefly from the Lompoc Valley.
The total acreage planted to cut flowers and to flower seeds enables Lompoc to continue to be heralded as the leading flower producer of the world.
For information on flower tours contact the Lompoc Chamber of Commerce.