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One stop shopping at FloraHolland Trade Fair IPHandlers New Aalsmeer-based company prepares to break freight forwarding monopoly

Turkey Yalova is one of the country’s epicenters of ornamental plant production

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FloraCulture l a n o i t a n r e t in The business magazine for worldwide floriculture

Table of Contents

April 2013 Volume 23 Number 4

One stop shopping at FloraHolland Trade Fair Naaldwijk The annual FloraHolland Trade Fair Naaldwijk was successfully held at FloraHolland’s Naaldwijk branch from March 13 to 15, 2013.

by Jaap N. Kras

Nursery stock and floristry are the stars at Gardenia

The seventh edition of Gardenia, which was held in Poznań on 22-24th February 2013, attracted approximately 30,000 visitors, including 8,300 industry professionals.

by Alicja Cecot

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Battle of Blooms takes its toll, Horti Fair collapses

The pace of Horti Fair’s move to Aalsmeer was frenetic and thoughtless and has now taken its toll. Mistakes, miscalculations, inflated egos, arrogance and fatigue allowed holes to open in the Horti Fair defences, providing opportunities for competing trade shows.

by Ron van der Ploeg

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IPHandlers prepare to break freight forwarding monopoly

Independent Perishable Handler (IPHandlers) is proud to announce the opening of its stateof-the-art cold storage distribution centre in Aalsmeer on June 1st , 2013.

by Jaap N. Kras

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Yalova epicentre of ornamental plant production

In December 2012, Flower Show Turkey/Eurasia Plant Fair founders and organisers Hakan Yuksel and Mustafa Gültekin Gökgül together with representatives of the Turkish Ornamental Plant Growers Association (Süsbir), welcomed a large group of international journalists from Italy, Spain, Russia and the Netherlands and invited them on the second day of the show to take part in a fast paced, wide ranging farm tour in the Yalova area where they visited a cross section of companies.

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by Ron van der Ploeg

Show time at 2013 TPIE

More than 5,700 industry folks from 46 countries descended on Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in January for the annual Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition (TPIE) show, where they saw 388 exhibiting companies from 10 countries— making TPIE the most international of North America’s January shows.

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by Chris Beytes

Looking for optimum light recipe for Lisianthus

Miracle Flowers, Philips and GST have teamed up in a trial to find the best light recipe for Lisianthus.

by Ron van der Ploeg

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Russia’s love for horticultural products

The economic powers in Europe continue to focus on America instead of looking to the East. However, it can no longer be said that the world is a bipolar system, but a multi-polar system, not only in terms of politics and economics, but also for international trade.

by Inge Boer

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Departments World News Prices International Events Science Monthly Advertising Index

12 27 29 32 35

Columns From the editor Miami Dutch Comfort Certifiable in California Happy Gardening India Update

07 11 23 25 31 37

April 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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Floraculture International encourages the pursuit of joint activities in areas of mutual interest with national and international societies, companies and organizations.

Agreements have been reached between Floraculture International and leading growers and trade associations in 24 countries. This unique partnership includes a complimentary copy for each member of the registered associations. Floraculture International is proud to announce the cooperation with the following associations.

FCI’s newest partner this month:

Partners of FloraCulture International

Make acquaintance with ...

Success through international collaboration The International Garden Centre Association (IGCA) is an independent not for profit organisation committed to the continuous improvement of the garden centre industry worldwide.

The IGCA administration office is located within the office of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, in Milton, Ontario, Canada, and is under the direction of Executive Director Victor Santacruz and IGCA Coordinator Julia Ricottone. There are currently 18 member associations that belong to IGCA, providing information to thousands of garden centres worldwide. Association administrators also benefit from the exchange of ideas and activities that can assist individual associations.

IGCA is now thrilled to partner with FloraCulture International to provide our members with more valuable information for the garden centre industry. For more information on IGCA, please visit www.intgardencentre.org, or contact Julia Ricottone at julia@cnla-acpp.ca. |||

It is dedicated to supporting national garden centre associations and their members by providing the forums to promote business and networking opportunities, including an annual Congress. The Congress sees over 200 of the best Garden Centre operators in the world meet together for one week, and visit the best garden centre retailing that the host country has to offer. This year’s Congress will take place October 6-11, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia.

IGCA exists to provide a forum for the mutual exchange of information and benefit of similar minded independent garden retailers on a worldwide basis. Membership in the association provides a communication platform for the young generation to establish them in the garden centre business, and take advantage of the IGCA network. Being part of the association is a great way for independent garden centre owners around the world to exchange information, and see first hand what the trends are in other countries.

Flowers Victoria

Blooming Breeders aims to advance Dutch breeding industry

Since its founding in 1955, the Victorian flower growers group has been recognised as the industry leader in developing and promoting the cut flower industry in Australia.

Blooming Breeders has been established to help the Netherlands plant breeding industry maintain its global competitive advantage. It is the industry’s voice to government, local authorities and industry related organisations.

Flowers Victoria aims to provide a coordinated entity to promote the status and opportunities for floriculture within Victoria and Australia.

The VFF is the strength behind Flowers Victoria providing members with: • Industrial relations support • Lobby with Government • Savings from sponsor partners Flowers Victoria aims to provide a coordinated entity to promote the status and opportunities for floriculture within Victoria and Australia. |||

A sustainable production is key to the future of the Dutch horticultural industry and especially breeders can play a vital role in sustainable development. Behind every crossing a breeder carries out is a set goal. With emphasis shifting toward demand-driven research encompassing the entire supply chain, the professional plant breeder increasingly focuses on consumer demands as well as those of growers.

Even when yield is one of the most important criteria in horticultural plant breeding, other factors such as ‘eco friendly’, shelf life and overall looks are also taken into consideration by growers.

Blooming Breeders serves as a platform for the exchange of ideas and research findings and looks at the possible conflicts between being a competitive and sustainable horticultural business.

The mission of Blooming Breeders is to advance the Dutch breeding industry and raise the value of horticultural plant breeding to the business community and economy.

Blooming Breeders aims to promote economic cooperation, to protect intellectual property

and valuable genetics, to gain in-depth, useful knowledge about the rapidly changing international business environment while enhancing the image of the breeding industry. |||

April 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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Colofon ‘Concordia res parvae crescunt’ Editorial & Administration Offices

Angie Duffree

FloraCulture International Business address: ECA Office 140-21, Legmeerdijk 313, 1431 GB Aalsmeer Postal address: Postbus 1081, 1430 BB Aalsmeer T (31) 297 769 095 F (31) 297 365 366 Circulation Administration: FBW Woerden P.O. Box 612, 3440 AP Woerden, the Netherlands T (31) 34 84 31 393 F (31) 34 84 32 552 info@fbw-woerden.nl Editors: Ron van der Ploeg (ron@floracultureinternational.com) Editorial team: Chris Beytes, Lotte Bjarke, Arturo Croci, Audrey Gerber, Marie-Françoise Petitjean, John Sutton and Jennifer Zurko Founding editor: Debbie Hamrick Publisher: FloraCulture International (jaap@floracultureinternational.com) Printer: Habo DaCosta Designers: SDA Print + Media, Dirk van der Burgh Copy correction and sub-editing: Vanessa Heinrich Cover photograph: Ron van der Ploeg

Advertising Sales Offices Europe, Africa, Asia/Pacific International Accounts Management: FloraCulture International, Business address: ECA Office 140-21, Legmeerdijk 313, 1431 GB Aalsmeer Postal address: Postbus 1081, 1430 BB Aalsmeer, the Netherlands T (31) 297 769 095 F (31) 297 365 366 M (31) 62 21 65 220 Dennis Seriese (dennis@floracultureinternational.com) Angie Duffree (angie@floracultureinternational.com) Miguel Mendes de Leon (info@floracultureinternational.com) M (31) 6 81543366 Italy, Southern France: Arturo Croci, (acearturo@yahoo.it) Scandinavia: Lotte Bjarke (post@lottebjarke.dk) LB Text & Idé, Søndervej 10, 8350 Hundslund, Denmark T (45) 21 48 75 30 USA, Canada, Central America: Dr. Sun Jing Xian Paul Black (pblack@ballpublishing.com) Ball Publishing, 622 Town Road, PO Box 1660, West Chicago, IL 60186, United States T (1)6 30 23 13 675 F (1)6 30 23 15 254 Miami: William Armellini (william@floracultureinternational.com) China: Dr Sun Jing Xian (consultingflower@yahoo.com.cn) Niranjan Deshpande India: Niranjan Deshpande (team@kisan.com) T (91) 20 302 52 000

FloraCulture International (ISSN1051-9076) is published monthly.

Worldwide distribution. ©2013 FloraCulture International magazine.

All rights reserved. No portion of editorial may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher.

Publisher is not liable for advertisements using illegally obtained images.

Send address changes to FloraCulture International magazine, Postal address: Postbus 1081, 1430 BB Aalsmeer, the Netherlands.

From the editor

by Ron van der Ploeg

Hor(ti)ribilis The news that the final curtain had fallen on a moribund Horti Fair was probably March’s biggest news story. While most of us knew Horti Fair faced challenging times, few were prepared for what Horti Fair’s CEO Willem Luuk Nijdam announced on March 20th.

In a press release he declared that Horti Fair 2013 had been cancelled.

Nijdam presented a grim picture of their finances, a failure to comply with the necessary safety regulations and potential exhibitors who fiercely protested against the move from RAI to the Aalsmeer auction as well as having exhibition tents outside the FloraHolland main building.

Horti Fair was once among the three largest horticultural trade exhibitions in the world, with a global reach extending from Chicago to Tokyo to Bogotá. Over the years it was reduced in size and is not expected to survive as it has been announced that the entire Horti Fair staff will be laid off.

“If we are ready to plan new things next year, we will look for different options. It would be irresponsible to continue operations in this way”, stated Nijdam.

Many of the causes for Horti Fair's troubles have often been cited: a sputtering economy, miscalculations, inflated egos, arrogance and fatigue.

What appears to have brought Horti Fair to its knees, however, is a failure of governance that allowed these challenges to spiral out of control.

Pages 14 and 15 give summary of the rise and fall of the show and explain how show’s competitors IFTF and IPM Essen in Germany will take full advantage of this dramatic situation.

“You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed.” By quoting the French aristocrat, writer, poet and pioneering aviator, Antoine de SaintExupéry, Ciopora’s chairman Andrea Mansuino introduces the 4th edition of the Ciopora Chronicle that accompanies this month’s issue.

Mansuino sees parallels between Saint-Exupery’s classic tale The Little Prince and the world of professional plant breeding. “By creating new plant varieties, we humans are forever responsible for the protection of the results of this human activity”, Mansuino said while adding that this year’s Ciopora Chronicle tries to answer the key question: how to really and effectively protect true innovation in the vegetal world?

Both Mansuino and I are pleased by the extremely high level of the contributions to this magazine, which has become a true 'manifesto' of the breeding industry. It is written by Ciopora’s member breeders, staff, external experts and renowned authorities from the world of Intellectual Property. A special thanks goes out to Ciopora’s secretary-general, Edgar Krieger and Ciopora’s press officer Anna Kaehne without whom this issue would not have been so exceptional.

In the Ciopora Chronicle you will find chapters covering policy, research&development, law, opinion and of course innovation. It also presents the indispensable global perspective.

From the same global perspective the opening of a new state-of-the-art cold distribution centre is breaking news as the new IPHandlers prepare to break the freight forwarding monopoly. FCI’s Jaap Kras sat down with IPHandlers’ newly appointed CEO, Simon Benard to find out what this new freight forwarding company is about. Page 16.

Ron van der Ploeg, editor ron@floracultureinternational.com

April 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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Trade Show Coverage The annual FloraHolland Trade Fair Naaldwijk was successfully held at FloraHolland’s Naaldwijk branch from March 13 to 15, 2013. The highly professional B2B event hosted 550 FloraHolland member-growers who presented over 4,000 attendees with fresh cut flowers, indoor plants, bedding plants, patio plants and nursery stock.

One stop shopping at FloraHolland Trade Fair Naaldwijk

by Jaap N. Kras

O

ccupying pride of place were the winners of the 2013 Glass Tulip Awards: the disbudded Chrysanthemum indicum 'Sombrella' (ArcadiA), Tillandsia 'Samantha' (Bromelia Specialist BV, Stofbergen Plant Company BV and Ronald Bunnik), Hebe Hebedonna Emma (Fa. Hkw C.M.A. Roozen & Zn, FlevoFlora, Fa. E. Hopmans, F.C. v.d Werf, Stefan Flore NV, Bloem. van de Casserie, S. de Jaeger, E. Boterdaele BVBA, The Globe, L.J. van der Meer BV and Boomkwekerij Out V.O.F.) and Tillansy (Zeurniet Nurseries). A FloraHolland Award, the Glass Tulip is designed to identify the best market introductions of the year.

New this year was the Patio Plant Inspiration Platform showcasing merchandising concepts for patio plants. The idea behind

the presentation is an inspiring environment for patio plants can increase the turnover rate on store shelves. Therefore new presentation tools have been developed for garden centres, DIY stores and supermarkets. The outcome of consumer research conducted by the Horticultural Product Board was used to present bespoke tailor made merchandising concepts for each sales segment.

The news that significantly more leading growers exhibited at FloraHolland’s Trade Fair Naaldwijk Expo reaffirmed that the sector remains buoyant despite the harsh economic climate and a quickly changing marketplace All in all, FloraHolland can look back on a successful and very well organized trade fair.

The three-day event served as excellent platform for the exchange

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | April 2013

of ideas and strengthening of business relations but also as a real marketplace where good business was done. Many orders were written and in the end this is what counts the most for the participating exhibitors.

The FloraHolland Trade Fair Aalsmeer is set for November 6-8, 2013.

QBox Koolhaas Flowers presented the QBox allowing Gerberas to travel comfortably stored in water.

‘Isano’ Best Plant Display Award The Best Plant Display Award went to pot gerbera grower JHL from Pijnacker.

This coveted award showcases the highest quality plants which are displayed in an innovative way to attract attention and provide inspiration. JHL (www.jhlgroup.nl) is a breeder, propagator and grower of potted gerberas. This family company is run

by Elly Lekkerkerk and her children who focus on core values such as respect, quality and transparency. JHL proudly presented its own bred, the brand new Sombrera line including bi-coloured, seed-raised pot gerberas which are grown in a 12 cm pot.

The Sombrera line is specially designed to be used indoors or on patio and balcony and is presented in its own trendy tray. Available in three mixes (yellow-orange, white-red and white-pink). If requested also available in individual colours. JHL has teamed up with PanAmerican Seeds and Florensis which sell Gerbera seeds and young plants respectively. www.colour-game.com

Veranda Nurseries teamed up with breeder and propagator Fides to obtain the exclusive right to produce the brand new mini Kalanchoe ‘Isano’.

The lavender coloured ‘Isano’ comes in a 8 cm pot and is presented in its own trendy sleeve.

For this year, De Veranda expects to market between 30,000 and 10,000 plants per week.

Coeur Parfumé Maarel Orchids introduced a fashionable Coeur Parfumé gift box which fits a Phaleanopsis in ceramic pot and a bottle of Colinnes de Provence perfume.

Easy Care Bonsai The Oriental Group from Bleiswijk presented its Easy Care Bonsai, including a bonsai tree which sits in a special nursing pot with a deepened core enabling water to be absorbed from the reservoir. Capillary action will make this happen automatically when the soil becomes dry. The root ball hangs over the water reservoir, causing the ball to remain airy and avoiding rot.

Van Woudenberg App Zevenhuizen-based Van Woudenberg Tuinplanten are a specialist grower of a vast range of perennials and announced the debut of the mobile version of its website.

Accessing Van Woudenberg’s range of perennials from a browser-enabled cellphone, PDA, iPad, or other mobile device is now a whole lot easier.

This brand new mobile application, very easy to access, makes it more convenient than ever to look up varieties or see what events are on the perennial calendar. |||

April 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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Poland The seventh edition of Gardenia, which was held in Poznan’ on 22-24th February 2013, attracted approximately 30 000 visitors, including 8,300 industry professionals*.

Although called ‘Garden and Landscape Architecture Trade Fair’ by its organizers, the Poznan’ International Fair Ltd, Gardenia’s main focus is on products for garden centres and DIY stores.

Nursery stock and floristry are the stars at Gardenia

by Alicja Cecot

Floral design competition.

N

o question: nursery stock took centre stage at Gardenia 2013 which was held in conjunction with Animal Market and Special Days (floral accessories, floral arrangements and design competitions).

International event

Helleborus ‘Ruby Glow’.

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | April 2013

Founded in June 2007, Gardenia has been transformed step-by-step into an international event, directly preceding the new spring selling season.

A lot of exhibitors claim that the present timing of the fair is the significant advantage of the event. Another, often emphasized, strong point of Gardenia, is its venue. The Poznań International Fair (Międzynarodowe Targi Poznańskie – MTP), ranks among

the country’s most modern and functional trade show facilities.

Side-by-side trade show concept

Gardenia 2013, thanks to its side-by-side trade show concept, occupied 6 modern halls. Around 600 exhibitors, representing 12 countries, covered an area of 13,500 m², i.e. 1500 m² more than last year.

Among the foreign participants the Dutch were the strongest contingent (nursery stock growers as well as wholesale traders such as Hamiplant and Vida Verde), followed by the Germans.

Gardenia’s general manager, Jakub Patelka, said that the fair hosted Chinese and Russian exhibitors for the first time. As for foreign visitors,

by William Armellini

Miami

Order Gatherers Since I am the owner and editor of an online floral forum I often get asked questions about the business and rightfully so. One of the most interesting questions is when someone asks me about starting a website to sell flowers.

Around 600 exhibitors, representing 12 countries, covered an area of 13,500 m2.

MTP paid special attention to promoting Gardenia in the Baltic States, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Optimistic about future

Patelka admits that he keeps a close eye both on Spoga+Gafa and the IPM Essen fairs. Following the example of the latter, he intends to transform “Gardenia” into a more varied horticultural trade fair – comprising nursery stock but representing other sectors of the plant production industry better.

According to Patelka the success of this year’s floristry event, Special Days attracted floral shop owners and will help gain producers of cut flowers as exhibitors next year.

Another sector that needs to be developed is that of professional growers. However, Patelka is optimistic about the future of Gardenia, which he describes as one of the three fastest developing fairs organized by the MTP. ||| * This figure includes consumers – mostly the citizens of Poznań, who were given free entrance to the fair except for the first day (“business day”).

This happens often and the questions come in many forms and from many people. The most common seem to be from women that own a flower shop and are having trouble with sales or procurement. They talk about these problems with their family and friends at dinner and before you can say, “pass the spinach” someone says, “you know your cousin Johnny just graduated with a degree in computer science”.

Enter Cousin Johnny or Jill who looks at the situation and declares, “I can write a program that will have you sell flowers all over the country in no time”. So off they go and in a matter of months there is yet another flower company offering the most amazing flowers and prices on the internet. All you need is a good domain name like flowersaregreat.com or reallyprettyflowers.com and you are on your way.

These situations do not always begin with a flower shop dilemma. Often they are just the new graduates looking for ways to put all of their newly learned talents to good use and the flower business looks like a train wreck that they can fix.

Today I received a good example ; a message from an individual that wants to start a website to sell flowers over the internet and have them shipped by a third party Fulfillment Company. How novel!

This person will never see the flowers, has no warehouse or cooler, no trucks, no floral experience and little or no employees, but intends to cast a net over the US and reel in some flower seeking consumers.

Sounds like a great business model, right? I have to admit that is does sound appealing and it must be, since there are, at last count, over 100 of these types of order gatherers on the web already.

The internet offers these tantalizing business models and florists, travel agents and realtors are all very aware of the effects. As we know, the problem with OG’s is that they take the cream off the top and then have to attempt to provide floral value with what is left over. For better or worse these companies end up representing the industry as a whole and that is not going to end well for most of us.

I cannot fault them for trying or succeeding and often wonder if I should have done the same thing a long time ago. This is just another reminder of the changes that are happening in the floral business and one can only wonder where this will lead.

KwiatyPolski

William Armellini. Editor Flowersandcents.com Williee@williee.com

April 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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World News Russia

Russia threatens import ban over EU plant products Union Fleurs, the international flower trade association, is reporting on possible import restrictions on EU plant products which are being considered by Russia. The restrictions would, in all likelihood, include potted plants with soil.

After contacting the European Commission (DG SANCO), Union Fleurs established that Russia notified the WTO on February 6 of its intentions to introduce temporary restrictions on EU seed potato imports, citing pest risks. The country feels the EU’s safeguards and sharing of information are lacking.

A meeting subsequently took place between

DG SANCO and their Russian counterparts to address the issue, with these outcomes: – T he enforcement of the import restrictions initially scheduled for 1 April has now been postponed to 1 June 2013.

– T he import restrictions would be extended from seed potatoes only to also include consumption potatoes, tree nursery products, planting materials and potted plants with soil.

– Restrictions would apply to the whole of the Russia - Belarus - Kazakhstan customs union.

– According to the information so far relayed

by DG SANCO, cut flowers have not been mentioned at all during the meeting.

A follow-up bilateral technical meeting between EU and Russian officials is scheduled

for 26 March. This meeting shall address in particular the proposal put forward by DG SANCO to provide more transparent and detailed information on pre-export certification of plant products intended for the Russian market and on areas free from organisms classified as quarantine in Russia.

The Russian officials have made it clear that the definitive lifting of the scheduled import restrictions would largely depend on the EU’s response to the Russian demands to open the EU market to imports of Siberian trees (Siberian pine seedlings, oak and spruce) and potato seeds. Russia claims that the EU has not been able to present sufficient evidence to justify the existing import ban of these products. |||

by Arturo Croci

The Netherlands

Van Marrewijk Maassluis BV appoints licensing agency Hortis Legal As of 1 July 2013, Hortis Legal has been appointed as licensing agency for the variety Felicia FeliciTARA® Blue. To this end Hortis Legal and the variety owner, the Dutch company Van Marrewijk Maassluis BV last month signed the representation agreement.

Felicia FeliciTARA® Blue is unique in many ways: it has a very compact growth habit, branches excellently and produces masses of flowers. Lush and heavenly blue, Felicias FeliciTARA® make ideal bedding plants for production in 10cm pots or larger.

Last year’s selling season saw more than one million finished plants being sold.

Growers who are in the possession of a propagation license for FeliciTARA® Blue from the former agent PLA International are informed that this license expires on 1 July 2013! If they wish a new propagation license, they are kindly requested to contact Marco Alderden from Hortis Legal: marco@hortis.nl / +31-70-3193566.

Incidentally, for companies having acquired a distribution agreement, it will also be possible to purchase unrooted cuttings from the Dutch company Pres-Tige Plants BV, 0174-670473, info@prestigeplants.nl Felicia FeliciTARA® Blue is protected by Community plant breeders’ rights and other countries. The EU protection number is EU29112 and the official variety name is ‘WIGETABLUE’. FeliciTARA® is a registered trademark, protected in the European Union and other countries.

The variety is a bred of Mr. van Marrewijk from the Dutch company ‘Van Marrewijk Maassluis BV’. |||

Buongiorno!

Put your future in good hands…your own Europe’s flower auctions and floral wholesale organisations are going through a tough time. Landgard in Germany ended the 2011 fiscal year with a €61.5 million loss, FloraHolland is considering a reorganisation, Ciccolella has collapsed under a mammoth debt burden (€50 million, the biggest loss ever in floricultural history) while the Marsala (Sicily)-based Florabella wholesale market has ceased operations.

Other major wholesale markets in Italy and the rest of Europe are facing an struggle.

As for Italy’s largest flower market in Sanremo, the situation is very uncertain too.

On December 6, 2012 UCFLOR (the cooperative that manages the Sanremo flower market) held its annual general meeting. Of the 2,000 members, only about a hundred were present and no more than thirty voted in favour of recapitalisation.

In September 2011, following a long-lasting legal dispute with Maltauro SpA, the company which built the wholesale market, the court ordered UCFLOR to pay a litigation of €568,000 to Maltauro SpA. Hence, UCFLOR needed urgent recapitalisation. Unable to meet its commitments, UCFLOR was driven towards bankruptcy.

At a shareholders' meeting, Cristina Banaudo, the departing president of the cooperative, Domenico Abbo, President of the Imperia Order of accountants and Paul Borea, treasurer and director of the Order of Sanremo accountants were appointed as the administrators.

In an attempt to avoid a permanent closure and to find a new governance structure, the owner of the flower market, the city council of San Remo, entrusted the interim management to ‘UCFLOR in liquidation’.

In mid-January this year, it seemed that one of the worst fears was unfolding: the final foreclosure of the business, but the city council found a last-minute way to ward off foreclosure agreeing to cover operating expenses until February 18 when the financial management came under the responsibility of Amaie Energia Srl. The standard procedure is that Amaie’s management will last a year during which it will be decided whether or not the Sanremo market should be offered for sale by international tender.

Another option could be to keep the management ‘in house’. Either way, Sanremo’s municipality awaits a daunting task as it has to reduce the workload for UCFLOR’s employees, while increasing membership fees and service prices at a very delicate moment with the economy still spluttering through recession.

If the aforementioned markets are vital to the industry, can anyone explain to me why Dutch growers are considering whether to allow their board of directors to merge with the Supervisory Board; leaving the daily management of the auction in the hands of the management and thus allowing a constant weakening of their own category? I also wonder why the Sanremo flower growers didn’t do anything to prevent the liquidation of UCFLOR? If the appointed CEO was a bad choice, why not look for a replacement or possible alternatives.

Whether it is the wholesale markets, garden centres or our own nurseries that are concerned, hoping for a miracle, good luck and automatic improvement of the situation and the belief that trade associations, the municipality or the authorities will solve our problems is foolish. The brightest future, at least that is the only future I know, is the one we have built with our own hands. It will not always be possible to achieve the wanted success but at least let’s try! Viva la vita.

Arturo Croci is the founder of Italy's leading horticultural business magazine Flortecnica and a walking encyclopedia of Italian horticulture. arturo@floracultureinternational.com

April 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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Hor(ti)ribilis The pace of Horti Fair’s move to Aalsmeer was frenetic and thoughtless and has now taken its toll. Mistakes, miscalculations, inflated egos, arrogance and fatigue allowed holes to open in the Horti Fair defences, providing opportunities for competing trade shows. Now that the final curtain has fallen on the moribund Horti Fair, the organisers of both the IFTF and the IPM Essen will most probably still be rolling on the floor with laughter.

by Ron van der Ploeg

Battle of Blooms takes its toll, Horti Fair collapses

(Photo: Horti Fair House of Plants).

F

The former CAV flower auction in Aalsmeer hosted one of the forerunners of the International Flower Trade Show.

(Photo credits: With special thanks to Dick Piet)

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | April 2013

or the record, back in 1992, the former NTV moved from Bleiswijk to Amsterdam RAI and was joined in 2000 by the former International Flower Trade Show Aalsmeer. As the black and white picture on this page shows though, Horti Fair’s history goes back much further than that.

Long-time Aalsmeer-area journalist Leni Paul recalls that her grandfather used to tell her stories about a flower show that was held in wintry conditions in 1937. In the snow covered streets of Aalsmeer it felt and looked like a Siberian winter, but inside the CAV flower auction (established in 1912) local growers

and buyers were greeted predominantly by flowering Cyclamen. This was one of the forerunners of the International Flower Trade Show.

As far as the NTV is concerned, this trade show is closely linked to the Westland area, where different predecessors of Horti Fair such as the Westlandse Handelstentoonstelling and the ATV took place in Westland and Delft respectively to finally settle down in Bleiswijk for many years.

Big trouble ahead

The fact that it took more than eight years to unite the NTV and the International Flower Trade

Participation in the combined shows reached its peak in 2008 with 50,000 visitors from 100 countries.

Show under one single RAI roof back in 2000, was perhaps already an indication that big trouble loomed ahead.

The truth is that Horti Fair never managed to become a globally recognised power brand such as the NTV, the Vaktentoonstelling Aalsmeer or the IPM Essen, though initially the mood was euphoric.

Participation in the combined shows reached its peak in 2008 with 50,000 visitors from 100 countries.

Then, despite all the marketing horsepower that was used to fuel brand awareness, the first cracks in the merger of the two trade shows emerged.

It is difficult to find the exact cause of the Horti Fair crisis, as a combination of so many different factors were contributors. Trade show dates were subject to constant change, differences in the characteristics of the Aalsmeer and Westland people turned out to be quiet pronounced and soon people build a particular impression when they heard the name Horti Fair: expensive, arrogant and traffic-congested.

Parking garage

In a vain attempt to turn the tide, Horti Fair announced that they were going to move from the Amsterdam RAI exhibition centre to the FloraHolland flower auction in Aalsmeer. The news left the industry with more questions than answers.

As regular readers will know, I had little sympathy for Horti Fair’s decision to move to FloraHolland’s

‘catacombs’ or as my fellow journa­ list Chris Beytes from our sister publication Grower Talks aptly describes it as a ‘parking garage’.

Earlier FCI issues warned about FloraHolland’s incapability to organise a world event without complicating and hindering the daily operation of its business, about the inevitable traffic congestion, the lack of parking space and room to host an extra 600 exhibitors, about safety regulations and so forth. As I stated in earlier editions: the most underplayed and ignored problem is the venue itself. Horti Fair promised that “the auction floor would be turned into a professional fair venue: one that does justice to the Netherlands leading position in horticultural business.”

I will never understand the strange paradox between an industry that is spending an awful lot of money to create the most beautiful feel-good products and an international trade show taking place in the absolute absence of daylight, leaving its visitors with a horrific feeling of claustrophobia while its visually attractive plants and flowers fade into the shade.

Final curtain

Now, only four months later, on March 22, 2013, the final curtain fell on Horti Fair. The show that once was the world’s leading horticultural trade exhibition has been cancelled this year. However, it’s obvious that this is the end of Horti Fair as the show’s organisers have announced that they will lay off their entire workforce. “If we are

ready to plan new things next year, we will look at different options. It would be irresponsible to continue operations in this way”, said Horti Fair’s managing director Willem Luuk Nijdam. He denied rumours of imminent bankruptcy. “We are not bankrupt. The 2013 Horti Fair is not feasible, but we will see how it goes in future. These rumours about bankruptcy are likely to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

Meanwhile, FloraHolland said that Horti Fair’s withdrawal came as a complete surprise. The initial reaction was positive; the fact that part of the fair would have to be located in exhibition tents was met with criticism. Some of the equipment companies that exhibit at Horti Fair are now exploring ways to set up a new technology show at the RAI. One option would be to merge with Crop World, which is set to take place at the RAI from October 29 to 30. It is also believed that the RAI has space available for a second event.

Full advantage

Show competitors IFTF and IPM Essen in Germany will take full advantage. The International Floriculture Trade Fair (November 6-8, 2013) has announced a doublein-size strategy. The IFTF is held at the Expo Haarlemmermeer (the former home of the 2002 Floriade) in conjunction with the FloraHolland Trade Fair Aalsmeer. It’s a nice venue offering natural daylight, a large number of free parking spaces and excellent accessibility by public transportation (20 minutes from Amsterdam Schiphol airport) as well as by car.

In turn, the IPM Essen is preparing for a multi million euro overhaul of its buildings. This massive, four year long renovation project has been dubbed as Messe Essen’s open heart surgery as it will not have direct impact on the day to day running of the exhibition centre.

Messe Essen will rebuild its east wing, a project that will make it the most modern and functional single level facility in the world, offering plenty of natural daylight. German Gründlichkeit (thoroughness) at its best!! |||

April 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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Logistics Independent Perishable Handler (IPHandlers) is proud to announce the opening of its state-of-the-art cold storage distribution centre in Aalsmeer on June 1st, 2013.

FCI sat down with IPHandlers’ newly appointed CEO, Simon Benard to find out what this new freight forwarding company is about.

by Jaap N. Kras

IPHandlers prepare to break freight forwarding monopoly T

he Netherlands is a great trading nation. Perfectly positioned for goods being imported into the EU, the country is bounded to the east by Germany,

to the south by Belgium and to the north and west by the North Sea. The Netherlands has an excellent infrastructure of ports, airports and motorways with distances to other European countries being relatively short.

Besides its well-oiled infrastructure, the Netherlands has built an equally strong reputation in horticulture, producing big quantities of premium quality fruits, vegetables and ornamental crops year round and has a loyal customer base in Europe.

Wealth of experience

With all this in mind, a group of leading South American and East African entrepreneurs decided to launch a new, independent shipping and freight forwarding company near Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport.

Industry veteran, Simon Benard was asked to take the helm of the new business, which will officially begin operating under the name IPHandlers as of June 1st, 2013.

Previously working as the CEO of refrigeration company Geerlofs, Simon brings a wealth of management experience, especially when it comes to human resources. He has a reputation as an honourable, straightforward businessman and knows the industry inside out.

While working for Geerlofs, Simon was responsible for setting up different branches and representative offices in countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, China, Singapore and Russia.

Tailored customer service After a long haul flight, consignments are carefully handled.

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | April 2013

IPHandlers is expected to receive fulsome praise from the market

Industry veteran, Simon Benard was asked to take the helm of the new business, which will officially begin operating under the name IPHandlers as of June 1st, 2013.

for its ‘bespoke tailored’ customer service. Simon and his team know the horticultural sector AND the perishables handling process like nobody else.

When asked about IPHandlers raison d’être Simon said, “The first two letters, I and P, stand for Independent and Perishable. There is a great need for an independent perishable freight forwarder (handler). At the moment, there is hardly any choice of logistics providers. The current situation, and in particular the lack of choice, can’t be good for the marketplace or potential customers. Both exporters and freight companies specialising in perishable horticultural crops should be able to choose a different freight forwarder if they are not happy with the service. IPHandlers’ primary focus is established and it differentiates itself in the marketplace with competitive prices, flexibility, reliable service and a quick turnaround time.”

Perfect in many ways

Proud of already having the support of future clients in Ecuador, Colombia, East Africa, Israel and Russia, IPHandlers will open the doors of its 10,000m2 state-of-the art facility on June 1st.

Its cold storage distribution centre at the Noordpolderweg 20 in Aalsmeer finds itself in close proximity (5km) of Amsterdam-Schiphol airport to the north and the world’s largest flower auction FloraHolland to the south. The fully chilled facility is more or less connected to the major motorways A4 and A9 (A10, A2 and A1) and is perfect in many ways. The building has 13 loading docks and is fitted with vacuum cooling, which is designed to help international flower growers reach the European market faster and keep their products fresh. After a long haul flight consignments are carefully handled in a controlled environment until ready for further dispatch. Rapid cooling will be one of their specialities: IPHandlers will be able to cool 24 tons of goods to 3°C in one hour.

Open approach

Simon attaches great importance to cutting operational costs by building simplicity and ease of management into the IPHandlers network.

“The costs of the building are low; we have opted for a simple organisational structure with low overhead costs and an open approach. Only one management layer, for example, separates the CEO from the work floor. Benard stresses that IPHandlers is always open for cooperation with partners from other countries.

Meanwhile the company has hired a team of employees who are highly experienced in the field of freight forwarding.”

Transport formalities

When asked about IPHandlers’ customers, Simon said. “To answer

Rapid cooling will be one of our specialities: at IPHandlers we will be able to cool 24 tons of goods to 3°C in one hour.

that question, I’ll have to explain our business activities first. We take care of different transport formalities: reception, clear through customs, delivery to our premises in Aalsmeer and all the necessary paper work.

The products arrive in bulk and are then broken down into customerready quantities and parcels ready for shipping to customers in Holland and across Europe.”

He added, “We work together with experienced companies that support us with the ELA, AEO, HACCP and ISO certifications. For the export to other countries we cooperate with our partners. Our primary customers are companies specialising in the transport of perishables such as flowers, plants, fruit, vegetables and propagating material from Africa and South America to Europe including Russia.”

IPHandlers will always strive to remain an Independent Perishable handler for all those perishable traders who use Holland as a logistic hub. “Independency will always be one of our core values. I hope that many customers will find their way to IPHandlers,” concluded Simon Benard. |||

IPHandlers For further information: IPHandlers b.v.

Noordpolderweg 20 1432 JH Aalsmeer The Netherlands sbenard@iphandlers.nl www.iphandlers.nl T +31 297 747 200.

IPHandlers will open the doors of its 10,000m2 stateof-the-art cold storage facility on June 1st .

April 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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Turkey In December 2012, Flower Show Turkey/ Eurasia Plant Fair founders and organisers Hakan Yuksel and Mustafa Gültekin Gökgül together with representatives of the Turkish Ornamental Plant Growers Association (Süsbir), welcomed a large group of international journalists from Italy, Spain, Russia and the Netherlands and invited them on the second day of the show to take part in a fast paced, wide ranging farm tour in the Yalova area where they visited a cross section of companies.

by Ron van der Ploeg

Yalova epicentre of ornamental plant production Y

alova is the epicentre of Turkey’s ornamental plant production. Located around 100 km southeast of Istanbul, the Yalova region is home to approximately 1,500 family run businesses covering a total area of 1,000ha.

Flower growers

Ornamental flower and plant growing in Yalova has come a long way.

This economic activity started in the 1940s when the first cut flower growers settled in Yalova and the Princess Islands. Büyük Çamlica, for example, was established in

Growth of the industry will only be possible when delivering top quality and healthy products.

1965 growing carnations and roses at that time. Nowadays the company grows conifers and deciduous trees on 340ha situated over 3 production sites in Çamlica, Alemdag (suburbs of Istanbul) and Yalova.

Main source of income

Mahmut Togan from Akdoga.

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | April 2013

The commercial production of ornamental plants expanded rapidly due to Yalova’s optimal climate conditions, good soils and ideal geographical position. Kadıköy, Koruköy, Akköy, Hacımehmet, Samanlı, Laledere, Safran Elmalık, Taşköprü and Çiftlikköy rank among the districts where ornamental plant growing is intensive and where this economic activity is the main source of income for its inhabitants. The sector employs around 10,000 people.

Plants are either field- or containerproduced and sold mainly on the home market. Yalova is also an important logistic hub for the ornamental plant business.

Finished plants

The lion’s share of nurseries produce finished plants and source part of their growing-on stock from contract growers and international plant suppliers. The average size of nursery stock companies is 3 to 4 ha, the greenhouses used by pot and bedding plant growers range from 0.5 to 2.5 ha. Larger companies in particular have successfully achieved higher levels of automation. Pot plants are the specialty of Akdoga where Mahmut Togan explained that the share of own production and imports is 50-50 and that he delivers most of his plants to the retail industry. He is an official supplier of the DIY store Bauhaus and the supermarket chain Carrefour. The same goes for Güney, where we saw a good quality of different indoor plants. They grow their own Dieffenbachia, croton and Ficus while Azalea, for example, is imported from Belgium.

Süsbir’s main task is to organise the country’s ornamental plant sector The establishment of the Turkish Ornamental Plant Growers Association (Süsbir) in April 2008 is a prime example of how to successfully join forces to strengthen and professionalise the country’s ornamental industry.

Trade show press conference, left to right Süsbir’s general secretary, Mr Adil Özbek, Süsbir’s President, Mr Abdullah Okul, Osman Bag˘datliog˘lu and Güls¸en Bay of the Central Anatolian Exporters Union.

Büyük Çamlica.

Any kind of nursery stock

Yalova’s climate allows production of practically any kind of nursery stock. Mention Yalova and everybody thinks of conifers and they would be right. Cedars and spruces can be found in higher altitude areas while Cupressus leylandi, cypress can be found at practically every nursery. The Yalova region also specialises in a wide range of shrubs such as Laurus, Pittosporum and bedding plants such as pansies, primroses, Geranium and Impatiens. A number of villages grow carnations and cut roses. One of the largest flower bulb companies in Turkey, Marla, is also established in Yalova. The production of deciduous trees is less mainstream.

Yalova growers supply landscape

companies, municipalities with İstanbul Ağaç A.Ş being one of the largest customers.

Cluster

As Yalova’s growers are both involved in import and exports of products, the area will become increasingly important as a production and trading cluster. Founded by 40 growers, the Yalova Garden Company has rented an area of 154 ha from the General Directorate for Agricultural Enterprises for 30+30 years to facilitate a growing and marketing centre. This is expected to have a positive effect on the quality and amount of plants grown and hence the exports. Another improvement is expected when the organised industrial area for the ornamental sector is realised. |||

Süsbir started working in the spring of 2008 and has held its 5th annual general meeting in July 2012.

According to Turkish law, Süsbir membership is compulsory for any individual or legal entity working as an ornamental plant grower.

The association has 231 members representing major growers, importers, exporters and landscape contractors. The association acts as a voice to government on behalf of the industry. It provides education and training and is campaigning to encourage the production, marketing and use of ornamentals. “Our main task is to organise the country’s ornamental plant sector and to improve the performance of its member growers by setting quality standards in order to gain competitive power and become worldwide recognised and reliable suppliers,” said Mr Adil Ozbek, general secretary of Susbir. He added, “One of our goals is a structured and very orderly horticultural cluster where top quality, marketing and education allow growers to sell their plants for the best market price. Growth of the industry will only be possible when delivering top quality and healthy products as well as growing the right varieties and the right quantities. What we need is an auto-control system that keeps the sector under record and forms a central and shared information base for growers. The growers that are making a profit will automatically invest in the growth of production and development. The registration, participation and contributions of the members are much needed to accelerate the growth of the industry as a whole and to find common solutions for sector related problems.”

April 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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United States More than 5,700 industry folks from 46 countries descended on Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in January for the annual Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition (TPIE) show, where they saw 388 exhibiting companies from 10 countries— making TPIE the most international of North America’s January shows.

Show time at 2013 TPIE

by Chris Beytes

B

ut TPIE is hardly the only show in January—the Ball Publishing website www.HortCalendar.com lists almost 50 different events you can attend, making it the busiest show month of the year.

IPM Essen in Essen, Germany, is the largest horticulture show of January and the entire trade show calendar, with some 60,000 visitors. But if you want a great show and great weather, TPIE wins out. And with flower trials taking place at Costa Farms, less than an hour away, it’s also a good opportunity to get a look at flower varieties for 2013 and 2014. (Alas, IPM and TPIE were held at the exact same time this year; organizers have communicated and assured us that the next three years they won’t overlap, so you won’t have to choose between the two—visit both!)

We hit the road to find out what’s coming down the pike for Spring 2013. Find out here what’s hip, trendy and new.

Chris Beytes is editor of Grower Talks based in Chicago, the United States.

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | April 2013

Color It started in 2011 with the debut of Blue Mystique phalaenopsis from Silver Vase, which caused an uproar among traditionalists and a buzz among retailers. Europeans have been dying plants for years (that’s where Silver Vase gets the technology); maybe we’re finally starting to accept the idea here. Both Costa Farms (www.costafarms.com) and Deroose Plants (www.derooseplants.com) showed off painted or dyed succulents, Deroose focusing on echeveria and haworthia (pictured), while Costa’s new “Desert Gems” line uses a proprietary dye process to color the spines of mammillaria.

Vines Vining plants remain hot, as evidenced by two award-winning mandevillas. Suntory (www.sunparasol.net) added yet another color to its Sun Parasol line, Pretty Deep Red, which earned TPIE’s Favorite New Flowering Plant award. And at the back of the hall, retailers discovered Fury Fire & Ice mandevilla by Hidden Acres Nursery (www.hiddenacresnurseryfl.com), which features rich red flowers on variegated foliage. It earned a Cool Products Award.

What’s old is new again Dish gardens have returned as premade Fairy Gardens at FloriDesign (www.flori-design.com). Everything is glued down for safe shipping. They also do a good business in terrariums and have combined the two into what they’ve dubbed the “Fairarium.”

Verticality While we didn’t see any expansion in green wall techno­ logy (just two exhibitors), we did see a pair of exhibitors offering stackable planters suited more for garden use, especially with vegetables, herbs and strawberries. The system by Verti-Gro (www.vertigro.com) uses dense foam square planters stacked on a post, with an integrated watering system; while Mr. Stacky (www.mrstacky.com) planters are plastic, four-lobe, that can hang or stack.

Succulents and easy-care foliage Trendy and easy, succulents and their cousins sansevieria continue to be hot here and abroad with interiorscapers, gardening magazine editors and anyone looking for architectural interest in a long-lasting plant.

Attendees were looking for pre-made succulent bowls, such as those shown

by Sunshine Tropical Foliage and Riverview Flower Farm. We especially liked the assortment of sansevieria from Denmark’s Greenex, which they produce in Brazil.

What didn’t we see at TPIE? Functional benefits of plants. Only a few exhibitors are actively promoting the many health and well-being benefits of plants, even though all the studies we’ve seen lately indicate that this is a feature the coming generation of consumers will respond to. |||

April 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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Lighting Miracle Flowers, Philips and GST have teamed up in a trial to find the best light recipe for Lisianthus.

Miracle Flowers, Philips and GST looking for optimum light recipe for Lisianthus

A

rtificial lighting is used extensively in Lisianthus cultivation. Lisianthus therefore offers opportunities for the application of controlled lighting in the near future. The idea is to use a (small) quantity of light, often with a specific color, to stimulate a particular development in the plant. To this end, Miracle Flowers, Philips and GST have set up a trial together on Miracle Flowers’ site in ‘s-Gravenzande, the Netherlands.

Promising results

by Ron van der Ploeg

In 2011, researchers from Wageningen University and Research Center (Herman van der Wekken and

Frank van der Helm) performed research with Philips LEDs into the use of a small amount of red, far-red and/or blue light in order to influence flowering. The aim was to control quality and growth rate in the summer and in the winter for a variety of cultivars. The results looked promising in the research environment: it was possible to delay flowering by adding red light.

This would mean that higherquality branches could be obtained in summer, and it was evident that earlier flowering could be achieved with far-red light.

These findings were reinforced by positive practical experiences with the Philips GreenPower LED flowering lamp in Lisianthus cultivation that was otherwise unlit.

Production has been going on for a year with low LED lighting levels, resulting in heavier branches and more blooms.

Combi lighting

Mariachi Yellow

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | April 2013

The principle has still to be proved in practice for growers with an existing high-pressure sodium lighting installation. The financial picture also needs to tally.

Philips has therefore decided to get together with Miracle Flowers and installer GST of ’s-Gravenzande to conduct a trial in which Wageningen University and Research Center’s results can be further confirmed and optimised in a practical situation. GST has built an installation involving two different types of Philips GreenPower LED flowering lamps, which have been burning since December alongside the new assimilation lighting (210 micromoles/m2/s).

Lighting strategy

In conjunction with Philips, a lighting strategy has been selected for the initial cultivation round in which the emphasis is on the use of far-red light for the purpose of speeding up the slower cultivars. In the first trial round the results were very encouraging: the branches that had received most far-red light were 3-4 days earlier, heavier, longer and had a few more flowers. The trial is to be monitored for a year so that the effects can be ascertained in different seasons. In this way a light recipe can be developed that will improve Lisianthus cultivation. |||

World News United Kingdom Floralife opens office and testing facilities in the UK In August 2012 Oasis Floralife Central Europe, manufacturer and marketer of Floralife postharvest care and handling products for cut flowers, has appointed Emma Bradford as the new Technical Support Representative for the UK market.

Dutch Comfort

by Jaap N. Kras

International Grower of the Year As soon as Valentine’s Day and other important floral holidays are around the corner, the flower industry is sure to receive its annual share of negative publicity with media telling untrue stories about the production of ornamental crops and flower-bashing by makers of products that compete with flowers.

What some journalists and media makers seem to forget is that flowers and plants bring joy to people’s lives and that everybody enjoys greenery in the areas they live and work in. In fact, the international Green City movement positions trees, shrubs, flower and plants as effective tools for social, economic and environmental improvements.

Therefore, it is in the interest of all producers of ornamental crops that the promotion of their industry is carried out in a professional way. Hard-working entrepreneurs produce year round premium quality flowers and plants in a socially and environmentally responsible way.

The annual International Grower of the Year Award, an initiative of the Association Internationale de Producteurs de l’Horticulture (AIPH) and the business magazine FloraCulture International designed to recognise grower’s hard work, sacrifices and risk taking worldwide, is now in its 5th year.

This year, the awards ceremony is set to take place in September at AIPH’s Annual General Meeting in Montreal, Canada. The exact date will be announced in May. The AIPH is proud to have a high number of industry organisations from different flower producing countries among its members. I am a strong advocate of international AIPH membership. The aim of the AIPH is to strengthen the position of its members to create a better business environment for growers that will ultimately lead to increased sales and higher incomes. Among AIPH’s key activities rank marketing and promotion.

At this moment, the AIPH has 21 members from Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Channel Islands, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Ms. Bradford will be based at the newest Floralife site which will serve as an office and vase life observation room. Located in Orton Southgate, Peterborough, UK, this facility was chosen for its proximity to our customers and was created to provide support, assess vase life, trial new products, and perform customer tests.

Ms. Bradford will be responsible for technical support, protocol development, audits, trialling and training in postharvest care and handling of cut flowers with customers in the UK market. Ms. Bradford will be working closely with our sales team in the UK and with technical managers around the world.

“The expansion of our business in the UK and our goal to provide full technical services to our customers is behind Ms. Bradford’s appointment.” noted Marco Marques, Managing Director, Floralife Europe. "Emma Bradford’s skilled background in horticulture and plant botany will greatly benefit Floralife, our technical network, and most importantly our customers.” |||

All member countries are invited to nominate growers for the 2013 International Grower of the Year Awards. In the past, the nominees were often the winners of national competitions. Nominations for the 2013 International Grower of the Year Awards are now being accepted and additional award information and guidelines are available by contacting the secretary, Mr Gerard de Wagt: dewagt@snelnet.net or by contacting FloraCulture International or the AIPH directly.

The overall winner will be awarded the Golden Rose, while the second and third placed will be presented with the silver and bronze rose respectively.

Over the years, the International Grower of the Year Award has been won by famous nurseries such as Sylva van Hulle from Belgium in 2009, Hillier Nurseries from the United Kingdom (England) in 2010, Byland from Canada in 2011 and last year Sheridan Nurseries also from Canada. These excellent winners had to compete with many other international candidates, growers from all around the world. In the finals we had the best growers from Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Colombia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom and South Korea.

Jaap N. Kras jaap@floracultureinternational.com

April 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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World News Norway EU warns Norway on Hydrangea trade barrier, says considering countermeasures

by Lone Taklo and Ron van der Ploeg Now that Norway still hasn’t reduced the custom duties on Hydrangrea macrophylla in larger pots, the EU has warned it is considering countermeasures.

Hydrangea Saxon Schneeball.

For the record. When in the summer of 2012 Norway put in place a trade barrier to protect its ornamental plant market, it announced that there had been a chance in its interpretation of Norwegian laws of customs. It caused a dramatic rise in import tax of 72% on Hydrangrea macrophylla in larger pots.

Over the last months, the Danish trade association Dansk Gartneri (Danish Horticulture) has followed the case closely, bringing the problem to the attention of the Danish Foreign Min-

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | April 2013

istry and the European Commission.

Now that Norway still hasn’t reduced the custom duties on Hydrangrea macrophylla in larger pots, the EU has warned it is considering countermeasures.

The action caused serious frustration among Danish and Dutch growers who have built up a substantial market for these products in Norway.

Over the last months, the Danish trade association Dansk Gartneri (Danish Horticulture) has followed the case

closely, bringing the problem to the attention of the Danish Foreign Ministry and the European Commission. Meanwhile, Norway also announced higher import taxes on meat and cheese.

Overall, Norway’s trade protectionism has created a great deal of frustration among several governments and within the EU. The strong political opposition has shown that a lot of effort has been invested in the matter. The Danish Minister for Trade and Investment Pia Olsen Dyhr and MEP Bendt Bendtsen have taken the offensive, and several Danish politicians have fought duties in the Nordic Council.

In October 2012, Danish growers took part in a peaceful demonstration in Oslo to protest against Norway’s decisions. Protesters gathered during a rally in front of the Norwegian parliament building to attract attention to the effects of new trade barriers which have been put in place to protect the Norwegian market.

It ended up with the EU demanding that Norway should withdraw the tariff increase not later than 1st January 2013. Since this did not happen, the EU started looking at which counter­ measures could be employed.

A memo with concrete proposals is expected to be presented at the beginning of this month.

At the same time the EU is preparing the next round of negotiations for the EØS countries. Norway's recent actions will be one of the key issue to discuss. |||

World News

Certifiable in California

The Netherlands/ Denmark FleuraMetz acquires Danish wholesaler Jens Holst A/S

Karma

FleuraMetz s entering the Scandinavian marketplace with the acquisition of Jens Holst A/S. Jens Holst A/S is Denmark’s one-stop-shop for flowers plants and everything in between. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

For nearly four decades, Jens Holst A/s has built upon a rich heritage of family-ownership that is reflected in their quality products, their talented people and the wide range of markets they serve, from florists to supermarkets and from gas stations to garden centres. Run by Karin and Jørgen Holst, Jens Holst A/S operates from their 3,000m2 cash and carry store at the Grønttorvet wholesale market in Copenhague’s Valby district, delivering their Danish and Swedish clients within a 200km radius The daily operations of Jens Holst will continue to be run by Karin and Jørgen Holst. Due to the strong brand recognition Jens Holst will for now continue to operate under its own name. The commercial activities will step by step be aligned with the FleuraMetz organization, with as a purpose to leverage the unique scale of the FleuraMetz group so as to be able to serve customers even better in the future.

With the opening of the first C&C in the Danish market, FleuraMetz has a strategic platform to further develop the Scandinavian market. With the expertise of Jens Holst, FleuraMetz has the capability to source top Danish quality for its other international markets.

Fleura-Metz has a revenue of around €300 million and supplies 40,000 florists through its network of 60 cash and carry stores across Europe and its online sales system for its customer base in Europe and North America. At FleuraMetz 1,000 people are employed. |||

by John Ingwersen

One of the curses of being an optimist is that on occasion you can actually be right. When this occurs it tends to engender a state of shock, because optimists are not optimists because everything goes well all the time. Being an optimist is more of a defensive mechanism in the face of continued adversity than anything else. I’ve also always reasoned that pessimists can afford to be pessimists because they have more going right for them than the optimists. I’m sure this last bit is delightfully debatable… though I’m also equally sure the answer matters not much at all.

How does this pertain? Quite simply, things are actually starting to change, and for the better. Some of the things I’ve been projecting/ hoping/dreaming about are starting to come true. Supplies of many kinds of plant material are indeed tightening, and rapidly. Prices are not only stabilizing, they’re beginning to go up. It’s not completely across the board, but I’ve raised prices on about half my product line by more than 10%, and where I’m not increasing prices I’m selling a smaller plant for the same amount of money.

In the auto industry this is called de-contenting. In the plant industry, I call it a return to profitable growing. You’re not making money when every plant you’re selling is overgrown. The ‘scary’ thing is that we’re still early in the season. Where will inventories be in 2-3 months?

This newfound selling environment has also produced a new kind of angst, that being the fear of selling something too soon for less than you might get later. Quite the opposite mentality of the past few years! This is actually kind of humorous, as it leads one to wonder if a grower can ever be truly happy. (That’s a rhetorical question, by the way. We all know the answer.)

All of this is the good news, but I feel that a little perspective is required.

How did we arrive at this point? Certainly not because things got better for everyone. Those of us who are benefitting are the survivors of a Darwinian process we’ve all been going through for the last five years.

The beginning of this return to prosperity has been paved on the backs of friends and neighbors in the industry who for whatever reason weren’t able to make it. Any sense of celebration is muted by this realisation. As a result, I don’t feel any particular sense of joy at this point, only a sense of (slight) relief combined with a gratefulness at being in a position to sit here and write about it at this point in time. It’s still a tough, competitive business, but now you can really see the light at the end of the tunnel, and finally it’s not the freaking locomotive.

It’s been a long time since this business has been fun. Karma is overdue… and being a true optimist, I can only pray that nothing else goes wrong…

John Ingwersen graduated with a degree in marketing from Georgetown University in 1990, and founded Jungle Jack’s, Inc. in 1995. sales@junglejacksthailand.com

April 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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Russia The economic powers in Europe continue to focus on America instead of looking to the East. However, it can no longer be said that the world is a bipolar system, but a multi-polar system, not only in terms of politics and economics, but also for international trade.

Russia’s love for horticultural products T

he world continues to change after the fall of the iron curtain in 1989.

Back then, nobody understood what impact it would have on the world and its future.

Take the Russian Federation, a country which is still in transition. It became a major player in the world market mainly due to its natural recourses like nickel, gas and oil.

Focus on agriculture

by Inge Boer

The Russian government has made agriculture a focus until 2020, because they are currently importing approximately 90% of their agricultural goods. The country wants to become more self-sufficient, while its population is changing and the middle class demand is growing.

A very good economic indicator of the growth of the middle class is the number of buyers of horticultural products like flower bulbs, pot and garden plants and of course cut flowers.

A very good economic indicator of the growth of the middle class is the number of buyers of horticultural products like flower bulbs, pot and garden plants and of course cut flowers.

In 2011, Russian imported €30 million worth of flower bulbs, €98 million worth of pot and garden plants and €460 million worth of cut flowers.

Imports

The top 5 countries that produce the horticultural products for Russia are the Netherlands, Ecuador, Columbia, Kenya and Israel. Russia itself is not found anywhere near the top 15 countries for the production of cut flowers and has a market share of less than 0.5%.

Surprisingly, non of the top-5 producing countries are represented in the top-5 exporters to Russia, as other countries act as transit countries to Russia. This is a role that Holland has gradually lost over the last 10 years. It went from complete market dominance to representing less than 6% of the total direct imports to Russia.

Flowers IPM One of the opportunities for the Dutch to regain their market is to participate in the international flower trade show, Flowers IPM at the All Russian Exhibition Centre VVC.

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | April 2013

One of the opportunities for the Dutch to regain their market is to participate in the international flower trade show, Flowers IPM at the All Russian Exhibition Centre

VVC. Flowers IPM is considered being the mother of all flower Russian flower show, being held in the country oldest yet most modern convention centre. Endorsed by the Russian Ministry of Agriculture and other important Russian trade organisations Flowers IPM is the place to be for Dutch and international horticultural entrepreneurs alike for being updated by the Russian government. Flowers IPM offers an excellent platform for the exchange of ideas and research findings and provides insight in the future horticultural projects in Russia. ||| For further information please contact Ms. Anna Grannass, project manager of Flowers IPM:, Tel.: +49 201 7244232, E-Mail: anna.grannass@messe-essen.de

Prices

World News The Netherlands

Moerheim and Van de Pol breeders announce revolutionary rootstock for roses Moerheim and Van de Pol are predicting a veritable revolution since the discovery of new rootstocks for roses. Higher production rates and roses of improved quality offer enormous economic prospects’, says Ton Witmer, Product Specialist, Roses at Moerheim.

After 20 years of plant breeding efforts, 7 of which were dedicated to trials, the new rootstocks are ready for the market. The result: 3 different rootstocks for which plant breeders’ rights have been applied: the ‘Pro 3’, ‘Pro 4’ and ‘Pro 5’. The ‘Pro 3’ rootstock provides an increase in production, in terms of numbers, of not less than 10 – 20% over the use of cuttings or ‘Natal Briar’ rootstocks.

The degree of increase depends on the variety in question and the cultivation conditions. The ‘Pro 4’ rootstock provides both an increase in production and heavier stems. The ‘Pro 5’ is particularly useful for improving quality, but stem weight can also increase by up to 20%.

Ton Witmer sees many opportunities for the rose production sector. He said, “This opens up possibilities for all kinds of combinations. What about rose varieties that used to be economically unfeasible due to their low production rates? They could now be grafted onto a ‘Pro3’ or a ‘Pro4’ rootstock. Sustainability is relevant as well: these rootstocks will make it possible to achieve the same yields at lower temperatures and using less artificial lighting. The use of ‘Pro 4’ or ‘Pro 5’ rootstocks produces a product of much heavier quality than was impossible to achieve before.”

Plant breeders Peter Van de Pol (Sr. and Jr.) discovered the rootstocks. Van de Pol and Moerheim have teamed up to market these products. Moerheim will assume responsibility for production and the introduction to the North and South American market. For more information about availability for the North and South American market, contact Ton Witmer: t.witmer@moerheim.com. For the availability of rootstocks in other countries, contact Peter van de Pol: pjc@pro-overberg.nl. Kordes Roses will be responsible for introducing the rootstocks in Europe; Stokman Roses is taking this on in Africa. |||

FloraHolland clock sales 2013 Weeks 1 to 11 Category Cut Flowers

Product Rose large Tulipa single flowered Chrysanthemum spray Lilium oriental Chrysanthemumdisbudded Rosa sweetheart Tulipa double flowered Gerbera mini Cymbidiumlargefloweredperstem Freesia single flowered Gerbera large flowered Chrysanthemum santini Hyacinthus orientalis Rosa spray Tulipa parrot

Total Top 15 Indoor Plants Phalaenopsis Bromelia Anthurium Kalanchoe Potted rose Potted Hyacinthus Potted Narcissus Miscellanousindoorplants Dracaena Hydrangea Total Top 10 Garden Plants Viola Buxus Camellia Helleborus Primula Total Top 5

Quantity % 13:12 Price 2013 Price 2012 425,978,089 -4.9 0.32 0.30 413,947,291 -22.8 0.16 0.12 110,729,774 -13.3 0.45 0.40 17,689,125 -3.3 0.88 0.87 25,573,685 1.5 0.61 0.62 33,121,399 -25.3 0.14 0.13 80,810,678 -20.6 0.19 0.15 85,525,080 -7.3 0.12 0.15 2,881,927 2.0 3.01 3.39 28,960,410 2.6 0.20 0.22 15,595,315 -13.9 0.30 0.32 23,349,378 -7.5 0.33 0.30 17,770,299 -8.1 0.30 0.27 22,237,471 30.8 0.29 0.31 26,910,500 17.6 0.20 0.17 1,331,080,421 -13.1 0.27 0.23 4,111,721

11.5

3.89

4.03

2,062,460

-7.8

1.43

1.52

1,293,249 5,363,161 3,153,061 11,956,530 11,004,194 658,636 1,397,372 804,638 41,805,022

-3.8 13.5 -0.0 -5.5 8.3 -12.8 -28.5 -18.8 0.3

3.07 0.61 0.96 0.39 0.49 0.72 1.41 2.45 1.04

3.00 0.70 0.94 0.38 0.48 0.71 1.27 2.32 1.05

3,214,691 302,190 172,008 499,100 2,600,534 6,788,523

-55.3 -39.5 -14.0 -44.9 -12.3 -42.3

0.20 2.94 2.98 1.72 0.30 0.54

0.24 2.28 3.26 1.27 0.30 0.47

Source FloraHolland April 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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World News United States What will the future bring for retail?

In January, the Association of Horticulture Professionals (OFA) hosted the first-ever New Vision Forum, which included garden center owners from the U.S. and Canada.

Retail consultants John Stanley and Sid Raisch facilitated the event.

“The future of many independent retail garden centers is an economic improbability,” stated Raisch. “This is a challenge and an opportunity. We can do better as an industry, and New Vision Forum provided in-depth exploration of our business model, which in reality is not one business model but a mixture of many,” said Raisch.

Attendee sentiments confirmed that John Stanley. the event struck a nerve and turned on a light to the future of IGCs, as noted

by Francine Landa of Boulevard Flower Gardens in Colonial Heights, Virginia.

“New Vision was truly that. It included speakers with knowledge and experience to lay out the past facts, the present situation, and the crystal ball into the future.

I left with a confidence of how to move our company forward.”

Through OFA, Raisch and Stanley provided this unique opportunity for North American retailers to further develop their business and set a new direction for the industry. Delegates were challenged to not only understand the consumer, but also the developing hyper-competitive “bricks to clicks” nature of worldwide retail in which a company integrates both an offline and online presence.

Participants were provided the opportunity to apply the challenges to their individual business models to focus plans on not just survival as the last man standing in the garden center business, but on mastering the possibilities presented in a new economy.

“Fairly quickly into the session I started finding key points and ‘ah-hah’ take­ aways,” said Art Vanden Enden from Sheridan Nurseries in Georgetown, Ontario.

Another delegate, Steve Mostardi from Mostardi Nursery in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, said, “The presentation provided unique information in a concise format, along with developing practical strategies for implementing changes to improve our success.”

Stanley and Raisch, two leading industry consultants, joined forces for the first time at the two-day New Vision Forum to share global ideas and national developments to help independent retailers respond to the future. The event was hosted

by OFA in Nashville, Tennessee just prior to the ANLA and OFA Next Level conference.

According to Stanley, the New Vision Forum was, “not a series of lectures by two consultants. Instead, the aim was to bring forward ideas, then allow the group to debate them and come up with new strategies for their business and the industry.” Attendees left with renewed focus and sense of urgency to not just prepare for the future, but to create the one of their own definition.

OFA intends to offer to retailers a New Vision Forum experience later this year.

Retailers that want to participate in the future should visit the event website at www.YourNextLevel.org/NVF. For questions about the conference and to receive an invitation to future offerings, contact Sid Raisch at Sid@AdvantageDevelopmentSystem or call at 888-339-7456. |||

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | April 2013

United Kingdom Visitor registration now open for HTA National Plant Show

Visitors are invited to register now to attend the UK’s only trade show dedicated to plants. The HTA National Plant Show (June 25-26, 2013) will be a superb showcase of plants and plant suppliers all together under one roof at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, UK. Those attending will have the opportunity to view thousands of plant varieties from over 100 UK growers. The New Plant Awards will once again be at the heart of the show and will showcase the best in new plant introductions from UK plant suppliers and a selection of international breeders. There will be six categories in the 2013 awards: hardy nursery stock, herbaceous perennials, climbers, annuals, house plants and breeder innovation. The award winners will be announced and presented by the judging panel on the morning of Tuesday 25 June.

Visitors will also get the opportunity to have their say in the Visitor Vote, sponsored by Floramedia, where an additional award will be presented for the Best New Plant on Wednesday 26 June at 3pm.

Other features at the show include: • New Plant Area which hosts the New Plant Award entries and winners • Seminar Area which will be home to three inspirational seminars with guest speakers • British Plant Fair Marketplace with shelf after shelf of stock to buy at the show • ProVaR area which will highlight new varieties for 2014 • International Breeders Area displaying plants which will be available from UK growers in the future To register for your place and for the latest show news, exhibitor list and other features visit www.nationalplantshow.co.uk By registering prior to the show, visitors will receive an electronic barcode to gain quick and easy entry and avoid any queues. The barcode also works on smart phones so no need to print out emails. |||

International Events April 2013

May 2013

6 to 11. United States California Spring Trials www.ofa.org/springtrials

7 to 9. United States National Hardware Show May in Las Vegas, NV. www.nationalhardwareshow.com

9 to 11. Ukraine Flowers & Hortech, 8th international trade exhibition for the ornamental horticulture and gardening industry.

T (31) 55 534 1140 F (31) 55 534 0168 info@bto-exhibitions.nl www.flowers-hortech.com 11 April. United States OFA Interior Plantscape Sympo­sium in Kennett Square, PA. www.ofaconferences.org 16 to 18. South Africa 2nd Cool Logistics Africa at the Vineyard Hotel & Spa, Cape Town, South Africa www.coollogisticsafrica.com 17 to 20. China 15th Hortiflorexpo IPM Shanghai, organized by the China Flower Association, Intex Shanghai and China Great Wall International Exhibition Co Ltd. and to be held in the Shanghai World Exhibition Centre. www.hortiflorexpo.com 19 to 21. United Kingdom RHS Show Cardiff in the parklands of Cardiff Castle. www.rhs.org.uk 22 to 25. France Annual General Meeting of CIOPORA in Angers, France. www.ciopora.org week 17. The Netherlands 2013 European Spring Pack Trials in the Aalsmeer area and the province of North Holland. The open days will be held on various dates in week 17. Check the Fleuroselect website for more information. www.fleuroselect.com 24 to 25. Kazakhstan Astana Flora Expo 2013, at Astana’s international exhibition centre “Korme”.

T (7) 495 221 1251 M (8) 915 185 7903 mail@flowers-expo.ru www.flowers-expo.ru 27 April to 5 May. Korea International Horticulture Goyang Korea show 2013 in Goyang’s Ilsan Lake Park. sales@flower.com www.flower.or.kr

14 to 15. United States Floriculture Field Days at the Epcot Theme Park, Orlando, FL. www.fngla.org 9 to 11. Thailand HortiAsia in Bangkok. Now in its second year, HortiAsia will focus on the entire supply chain of fruits, vegetables, flowers and plants.

Venue: Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC). hortiasia@vnuexhibitions.com www.hortiasia.net 21 to 24. The Netherlands 2013 Spring Mechanisation Fair, the premier trade show for the bulb industry featuring the latest breeding breakthroughs in lilies and cutting edge machinery. www.springmechanisation.com

11 to 14. The Netherlands Flower Trials in the Aalsmeer, Westland and Rheinland Westfalen (Germany) areas. www.flowertrials.com 16 to 21. Costa Rica Iberiada 2013, the fourth international gathering of floral design schools in Antigua, Costa Rica. roxanabarrientos06@yahoo.com/ alberto.zaverio@gmail.com www.alyrofloralevents.com 17 to 21. The Netherlands Grosci 2013, international symposium on growing media and soilless cultivation. growing media and soilless cultivation at the Holiday Inn in Leiden.

Grosci2013.symposium@wur.nl 18 to 19. United States International Floriculture Expo at the Miami Beach Convention Centre. www.floriexpo.com

21 to 24. The Netherlands Dutch Lily Days www.dutchlilydays.com

18 to 21. United States International Floriculture Expo (IFE) at the Miami Beach Convention Centre.

21 to 25. United Kingdom Chelsea Flower Show. www.rhs.org.uk

19 to 21. Brazil 20th Hortitec at the Holambra Convention Centre, Holambra/SP. www.hortitec.com.br

22 to 24. Azerbaijan The 7th Azerbaijan international agriculture exhibition, Agrihort at the Baku Expo Centre.

Show founders and organisers: Iteca Caspian LLC (Azerbaijan) and ITE Group PLC (UK) T +994 12 404 1044 F +994 12 404 1001 agro@iteca.az www.agrihort.az www.iteca.az 30 May to 3 June. Ireland Bloom 2013 is Ireland’s most important flower show which will take place in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. www.bloominthepark.com June 2013 5 to 7. Kenya International Floriculture Trade Expo (IFTEX) at the Oshwai convention centre, Nairobi. www.hpp.nl 6 to 8. Tanzania Food Agro Africa 2013. Africa’s premier international food, hotel and agricultural products, equipment and machinery trade show at Dar-es-Salaam. www.foodexpo.expogr.com

25 to 26. United Kingdom The National Plant Show at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, Warwickshire, CV8 2LZ, UK T +44 (0)118 9303132 F +44 (0)118 9323453 enquiries@nationalplantshow.co.uk www.nationalplantshow.co.uk 26 to 28. Italy Vestire il Paesaggio (Dress up the Landscape) landscaping conference in Pistoia. vestireilpaesaggio@ provincia.pistoia.it www.facebook.com/ vestireilpaesaggio.provpt July 2013 13 to 16. United States The annual OFA Short Course, U.S. horticulture’s premier convention and marketplace.

The OFA Short Course was named the 150th largest trade show in the United States by the Trade Show News Network. Venue: Greater Columbus Convention Centre in Columbus, Ohio. www.ofashortcourse.org

August 2013 14 to 16. United States Plantscape Industry Expo is a interior plantscape conference and trade show bringing nature indoors through living plant. South Point Hotel Las Vegas. www.piagrows.org 15 to 17. United States Nursery Landscape Expo at the Dallas Convention Centre. www.txnla.org 16 to 19. Russia SibFlower 2013, 17th International exhibition of flowers, planting material, floristic accessories, garden tools and technologies.

Venue: Novosibirsk Expo Centre, Novosibirsk, Russia. www.novosibexpo.ru 20 to 21. Belgium Florall Autumn Fair at the Flanders Expo, Ghent.

T + 32 9 241 5091 F +932 9 241 5095 info@florall.be www.florall.be 20 to 22. United States The Independent Garden Center Show at the Navy Pier in Chicago. info@florall.be www.igcshow.com 21 to 24. The Netherlands Plantarium, international trade fair for nursery stock at the international trade centre Boskoop-Hazerswoude. info@plantarium.nl www.plantarium.nl 22 to 24. United States Pondemonium, the water garden industry’s premiere business and networking event. Held in St. Charles, Illinois, Pondemonium will dovetail with the Independent Garden Center in Chicago, allowing participants the opportunity to attend both events. www.pondemonium.com 22 to 24. United States Farwest Show at the Oregon Convention Center and organised by the Oregon Association of Nurseries.

T (1) 800 342 6401 F (1) 503 682 5099 info@oan.org www.farwestshow.com 30 august to 1 September. Poland 21st edition of Green is Life trade exhibition. A nursery stock and gardening focused show.

Agnieska.zukowska@zszp.pl www.greenislife.pl

April 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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World News United States

World Floral Expo introduces world’s best floral offerings

by Dottie Harrigan* With the World Floral Expo in New York City having just come to completion it was incredible to see that show organizer, HPP has implemented winning strategies to take their event successfully into the future.

For the second year HPP partnered with the Jacqueline Boerma of the Boerma Instituut to preform enlightening floral design demonstrations from the stage throughout the three-day show. Visitors who perused exhibits on their way to the stage, were kept in house by the presentations, and then enticed back to the exhibitors’ booths - by the use of their floral materials on stage.

In addition HPP had the Boerma Instituut conduct free hands-on workshops that were filled to capacity each day – giving visitors a far more valued experience than they expected from a trade show.

Also new this year, HPP arranged to have Flowerhandlers create consumer designs made with volunteer exhibitor flowers.

The designs were photographed and returned to the donor booths. The pictures will be used in The Flower Godmother consumer outreach program from month to month and exhibitors will be mentioned in Progressive Floristry industry blog once published - thus extending the exhibitor exposure and publicity from this three day show well into the year.

The World Floral Expo is more and more becoming a breeder / grower exhibition which introduces the newest offerings of fresh cut flowers, foliages, and organics to distributors and their retail clients with a focus on showing the retailer how the new products can be used.

First time Japanese exhibitor Naniwa Flower Auction Co. Ltd had so much activity in their

booth every day they had a hard time getting sample flowers to the Flowerhandlers booth.

But, tenacity prevailed and their consumer design was completed and put on display.

With over 13 countries being represented it is hard for a visitor not to find unique and unusual products at this show that can set their business apart from the competition. One vendor expressed that they had made a sale within the first hour of the opening. The World Floral Expo will again take place in March 2014, Chicago, USA. ||| * Dottie Harrigan runs a consumer outreach program, encouraging people to enjoy more flowers, via The Flower Godmother. Dottie@Flowerhandlers.com.

Happy Gardening

by Anthony Tesselaar

France

A fairy tale setting for Piverdie Fashion Flower event The Piverdie Fashion Flower show will open its castle gates on from April 11 to 15, 2013. The highlight of the show’s first two days, open only to flower professionals, is a tension-filled floral design competition.

The magnificent setting of Brissac Castle, which is located near Angers, (Loire Valley) will provide the most spectacular backdrop for one of the country’s most important floral rendez-vous. Packed with ideas on how to make the most of your own bouquet or floral arrangement, the show combines specialty flowers and creativity.

Piverdie’s floral fashion design show – an initiative of the floral design school institute with the same name – will be held for the eight year in a row.

Over the last seven years, Piverdie’s managing director and event organiser, Mr Philippe Lamy has developed strong ties with the Duke and Duchess of Brissac, the present inhabitants of Brissac Castle, with seven floors the tallest castle in the country. It has been a long journey from the modest contest in 2005 to the present international gathering which prestigiously ranks among Frances top flower shows in spring time.

Visiting the event in the village of Brissac Quince, a little village just south of Angers located in the Maine Loire area means enjoying an unforgettable flower experience. The 28ha estate includes forests, vineyards and a castle park.

Inside, the lavishly decorated drawing rooms provide an intimate atmosphere that makes Brissac unlike any other shows.

No less than eighteen teams of novice designers and fifteen teams of professional designers are invited to compete, each in their own division and create a fresh flower arrangement along with an innovative bouquet, both revolving around this year’s theme, ‘Flowers, perfume and haute couture’.

Fresh cut flowers and floristry materials will be provided

by Bouchemaine-based floral wholesaler Floris, a division of the Belgian Agora Group. Hydrangea specialist Sicamus and Floralife Oasis, Horticash, Salon du Végétal and Chrysal France will also be among the sponsors.

For further information: www.piverdiere.fr |||

Straightening your forks Do you know anyone who makes time to stand back and take a good look at how things are going? I sense that many people don't do it in their personal lives unless prompted by a crisis. And I wonder if it's the same at work? I mean, honestly, how many of us make time each quarter to carry out a general review when we're already flat out and have enough work waiting for us to tackle in the next quiet moment?

Well here's my tip – make the time.

We all should because we all need to.

And I've come to this realisation after a slightly odd dinner out with Sheryl recently...

We were travelling and found a very nice restaurant (hence the photo).

Nice atmosphere (lovely lighting and not too noisy), nice staff (friendly and helpful with our menu selection) and very good food. And so Sheryl and I congratulated ourselves on having found a lovely place to eat – which isn't easy when you're on the move.

We talked some more, about the day's happenings, about the business, about our children, and we sipped our wine. And then we looked around again at the nice restaurant and commented again on how good the entrée had been...and whether the next courses would prove to be as good. And then we spoke about the weather... and then there was a lull in the conversation because we were both aware that we were… waiting... for the next course.

And that's how the night progressed. Long pauses between increasingly laboured conversations as we sat like prisoners trapped between courses. The staff oblingingly took our instructions that we were ready for the next course, and each time, the food arrived just before we were about to lose patience. And the food was very good. So when we were asked on departure whether we had enjoyed the dishes we'd selected, we kept it simple (we were travellers after all and unlikely to pass by again soon). We said the food had been very good. Because it had been.

And the point I'm making? That the owner of that restaurant is probably busy beyond belief. Of course he eats from the menu and he sees that his food is good. But unless he makes time to step back and review things - taking a look at the complete picture – how will he spot the flaw in his business? And in this particular case it's a nasty one because it's well hidden. The goodwill will fall away, and possibly not even the diners will understand why they move elsewhere. And then there will be a crisis, and anyone knows it's much easier to tweak the course of a slighting straying ship than to throw it into reverse when you're about to strike the rocks.

This experience has convinced me that there is everything to gain from treating your business (and your personal life) like a small child near water. Take whatever steps are necessary to keep your eyes open and stay alert.

Anthony Tesselaar hails from Anthony Tesselaar International, an international project management company dealing in plants, horticultural research & development and strategic water management. www.tesselaar.com / ATesselaar@tesselaar.com

April 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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32

Science Monthly Your source for the latest horticultural research news

Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture is a leading research institute in the international greenhouse horticulture. Experience in both greenhouse horticulture and research allows the institute to develop and implement innovations for and in partnership with the horticultural industry. Research is focused on the development of a sustainable and competitive greenhouse horticulture. This section provides the readers of FloraCulture International with a comprehensive review of the latest research and the provisional results.

For further information please contact: José Frederiks, T +31 317 48 38 78 jose.frederiks@wur.nl

The importance of good irrigation water The propagation industry attaches great importance to the quality of irrigation water to prevent growth inhibition and diseases. Discharges and emissions are sometimes used to avoid risks. The project Good Irrigation Water aims at the development of sustainable water technology for propagation enterprises.

This should minimise emissions of nutrients and crop protection agents.

The work package has focused on the description of the quality of the irrigation water. The established quality requirements relate to: • the nutritional levels for irrigation water • t he organic substances and contaminants in the different water types and water • prevention of plant diseases • ‘resilient means’ • ‘ toxins’ like cleaning and growth regulators With a literature review and interviews with experts, the quality has been quantified as

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | April 2013

much as possible. When knowledge was lacking about quality requirements, the following proposals have been made for further research in work package 2 ‘Irrigation water quality and growth performance’.

The quality of the feed water in the organic cultivation, as well as the reuse of the nutrient solution in organic cultivation are points of attention. The application and efficacy of ‘resistance’ inducers against diseases and plant pests still raises many questions. ||| For further information: bram.vandermaas@wur.nl

Crop transpiration Growers who follow the principles of The Next Generation Cultivation (Het Nieuwe Telen) often wonder what the critical limit is with regard to transpiration of a crop and moisture removal from a crop a greenhouse. They want to know what the air exchange rate should be in forced ventilation using an air treatment unit.

Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture is therefore launching a new study into transpiration. The research is being funded by the programme Kas als Energiebron (‘Greenhouse as Energy Source’).

In theory, we know a lot about crop transpiration. However, the ability to translate that knowledge into practice in The Next Generation Cultivation is still lacking. The project being launched now aims to take of existing knowledge and to translate it into practice.

Transpiration is necessary for the transport of calcium and to ensure adequate nutrient uptake from the substrate. It also keeps a crop cool during the daytime. If transpiration is high, relative air humidity (RH) increases, which may result in a climate that is not conducive to growth. Water transpired by the plant therefore has to be removed. But the more you remove, the more the plant transpires and the more energy this takes. Transpiration is therefore an issue of optimization: it is about finding the right balance. That balance needs to be right both during the day and at night.

The project is intended to generate practical guidelines on crop transpiration. The aim is to stimulate transpiration in an energy-efficient way. Tools that growers can use in this respect include forced ventilation and an adjusted watering and feeding strategy. ||| For further information: arie.degelder@wur.nl or call +31 317 485 448.

Classifieds Spraying techniques in potted plants Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture has investigated the different spraying techniques in the cultivation of potted plants.

HELP WANTED Florasearch, Inc. In our third decade of performing confidential key employee searches for the horticulture industry and allied trades worldwide. Retained basis only. Candidate contact welcome, confidential, and always free.

1740 Lake Markham Rd., Sanford, FL 32771 USA Phone (1) 407 320 8177, Fax (1) 407 320 8083, E-mail: search@florasearch.com, Website: www.florasearch.com rental Once upon a time there was a beautiful place in the world where one could sit all day just looking out at the bay. A Tiki Hut providing shade from the bright sun while the clear saltwater beckons you to just dive in. Eagles fly overhead and the fish are jumping…

I am spinning this tale to bring to your attention a unique offer that I hope might interest just a select few of you.

My family owns a lovely vacation property in the Florida Keys and we have decided to open it up for weekly or monthly rentals. It is a very special laid back place where time is only what you make of it. Relaxing and private this casual property is surrounded by the best sport fishing in the US. We can accommodate from 2 to 5 couples.

Check it out at www.lost-habor.com. If you are interested please contact me Williee Armellini, Williee@lost-harbor.com, US: 786-255-3335

Spraying techniques are a major concern in the cultivation of potted plants. Two types of potted plant cultivation can be distinguished: crops on the ground/concrete floor (immobile culture), or crops on roll containers (mobile culture). Each type requires a different approach. The research was funded by the Product Board of Horticulture.

Pot plants on a mobile container (Calathea) For pot plants in mobile containers (mobile culture), two spraybars with air support, were compared to a conventional spraybar. The spraybars with air support were the high pressure system from Arend-Sosef and the Pieton system from Van der Ende Pumps. The deposition of liquid on the untherside of the leaves increased with with both spraybars compared to the conventional spraybar. The coverage rates rose from 15 to 30% for large plants (50 cm high) to 60% for small plants (30 cm high). Spraying back and forth improved coverage by 7 to 14% for all methods compared to a single spraying. It should be noted that this was only performed with large plants. The spray was applied at an angle of 45 degrees during the trials, however this angle was too large for large plants. The droplets passed over the crop, rather than through it. Reduction of the angle to 35 and 25 degrees improved the deposition on the untherside of the leaves.

Pot on concrete floors (Musa) For potted plants on concrete floors (immobile culture) spraylances with two spray nozzles were added to a conventional spraybar. The crop was sprayed from below (spraying underneath) with the lances. The covered area on the untherside of the leaves was 0.5 to 5% with the conventional spraybar, whereas the coverage percentages achieved went up to 50% by spraying from below.

The project has been funded through the Dutch Product Board for Horticulture. ||| For further information: marieke.vanderstaaij@wur.nl

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Anthony Tesselaar Int..............................................................30.................................................................. www.tesselaar.com Best Select..................................................................................Insert...............................................................www.bestselect.be Danziger ‘Dan’ Flower Farm................................................... 6.....................................................................www.danziger.co.il Dutch Lily Days............................................................................ 2.........................................................www.dutchlilydays.com FCI India..........................................................................................34................................................................................www.kisan.in Florasearch Inc............................................................................33.............................................................www.florasearch.com Floricultura B.V............................................................................12.............................................................www.floricultura.com Flowers & Cents .........................................................................30...................................................www.flowersandcents.org Flower Trials...............................................................................Insert.........................................................www.flowertrials.com Graines Voltz................................................................................35.........................................................www.graines-voltz.com IPHandlers B.V..........................................................................16-17................................................................www.iphandlers.nl Jungle Jack’s.................................................................................12...........................................www.junglejacksthailand.com Market News Services.............................................................30..........................................................www.intracen.org/mns Pindstrup Moesbrug A/S.......................................................36................................................................www.pindstrup.com Takii & Co., Ltd..............................................................................35........................................................................... www.takii.co.jp VWS Export-Import Flowerbulbs......................................33...................................................... www.vws-flowerbulbs.nl Williee Armellini.........................................................................33.............................................................www.lost-harbor.com

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April 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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Kashmir all set to expand their 'tulip garden' with newer varieties.

Floriculture an alternative means of income generation.

March 23 .

February 21

Srinagar: Kashmir gear's up to

KIRTIPUR:: Floriculture is gradually

give final touches to the

developing into an alternative means

picturesque Tulip Garden, which

of income‐generation in the southern

is the largest in Asia, as they

belt of Kathmandu district.

introduced 26 new varieties of

Farmers in the area are attracted

tulips, kick starting the sowing

towards floriculture and they are

season in the valley.

cultivating a variety of flowers

The tulip bulbs are being sowed

by different methods to meet the

on time, so that the flowers

increasing demand for flowers.

blossom on time and the

Farmers in Chalnakhet, Talku

pristine beauty of the garden

Dude Chour, Sheshnarayan

attracts the tourists.

and Dakchhinkali have adopted

Read more

floriculture as an alternative means of

Source: NEWS TRACK India

income‐generation.

Kathua farmers take to floriculture to boost their incomes February 24

Kathua, J & K: Farmers in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, are taking to floriculture in a bid to boost their incomes. Kathua in Jammu is witnessing a surge in the demand for flowers.

“It is a good means of livelihood.

I pray to God that whoever takes up this business of floriculture, should get full bloomed flowers.

It all depends on the growth of flowers. If the farmers get good plants and flowers, then people will surely profit from this

Read more

business. Money invested in this

Source: The Himalayan Times

business matters. If you invest around Rupees 1000‐1500 for around 50 kilograms, then they will surely make a good profit from it”, said Rakesh Sharma, a farmer of Kathua.

Read more Source: Truth Dive

248 nurseries developed.

March 20

JAMMU: While replying to a question by Naresh Kumar Gupta, the Minister of State for Floriculture,. Nazir Ahmed Gurezi informed that 248 nurseries have been developed in the state under the private sector.

The minister said that the funds received by the centre during last three years under the centrally sponsored schemes Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States (HMNEH) are being provided as assistance to the farmers/flower growers as per the guidelines of Mini Mission‐ II of Centrally Sponsored Scheme (HMNEH) at the ground level. However, in case any person is interested to establish a factory/processing unit/cold storage he can avail assistance under Mini Mission‐III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (HMNEH).

Read more Source: State Times