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Salon du VĂŠgĂŠtal The colour factory Gerbera growing in Poland

California Spring Trials Wild, Wild West

Spring is in the air!

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March 2013

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

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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.

Partners of FloraCulture International KwaZulu Natal Flower Grower's Association

Turkısh FONT HARRİNGTON

FCI’s newest partner this month: 

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Table of Contents

March 2013 Volume 23 Number 3

The colour factory

Karol Kłósek from Trzciana in the Krakow area has been growing Gerberas for over 20 years. A large number of competitors went out of business and this has strengthened Klosek’s position on the domestic market while exports to Slovakia are also going strong.

08

by Ilona Sprza¸ czka

Ellepot system is being successfully used at Algen Tarim Algen Tarim, a specialty propagator of fruit tree rootstocks produces large volumes of high quality plants which are being successfully grown in Ellepots. The results have been extraordinary.

by John Sutton

12

Wild, Wild West

Well, if you thought you’d skip out on Spring Trials this year because it’s the same old thing, you’d be missing the boat.

by Jennifer Zurko

16

Florist Holland pot gerberas conquer U.S. market

At the forthcoming California Spring Trials (April 6 to 11), Dutch gerbera breeder and propagator, Florist Holland, will advise its customers on how to choose the best pot gerbera and will reveal a variety of novelty items.

by Ron van der Ploeg

18

PKM/AS strive for excellence

Cold tolerant pot Anthuriums

In mid-March, RijnPlant Breeding BV will be introducing a new range of cold-tolerant varieties. If they fulfill their promise, they could quickly become a patio favourite in countries with cool summers, in Northern Europe and elsewhere.

24

by John Sutton

Industry not ready to work together for promotion

Unlike other agricultural pursuits which receive media attention the commercial cut flower industry is little acknowledged.

The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) offers the perfect opportunity to get better acquainted with the latest trends and developments in floriculture worldwide.

by Rennae Christensen

34

After 15 years Colombian and US flower growers have decided that there is no longer a valid reason to fund the Floral Promotion Organisation. Here’s a rundown of what was tried and in the end broke down.

by William Armellini

Salon du Végétal

26 Departments

The mood at the Salon du Végétal surrounded visitors and exhibitors with a very pleasant atmosphere. The show felt very optimistic and that boosts the general economic trend.

by Ron van der Ploeg

PKM/AS try to put quality into everything they do. A continuous search for new and improved products has taken the Danish nursery around the globe while providing deep insights into the kingdom of plants.

by Lotte Bjarke

MIFGS set for March 20-24

32

World News Prices International Events Advertising Index

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

22

15 27 29 35

07 11 15 25 31

March 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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the editor In my opinion In From my opinion In my opinion In my opinion In my opinion Spring With compliments With compliments With compliments

FloraCulture International (ISSN1051-9076) is published monthly.Worldwide distribution.

FloraCulture International (ISSN1051-9076) is published monthly.Worldwide distribution. © 2009 FloraCulture International magazine.

All rights reserved.

No portion of editorial may FloraCulture International (ISSN1051-9076) is monthly.Worldwide distribution. © FloraCulture International (ISSN1051-9076) is published published monthly.Worldwide 2009 FloraCulture International magazine.

All rights reserved.

No portion of editorial may distribution. © reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. Publisher is not liable be ©2009 FloraCulture International magazine. All rights reserved. No portion of editorial may FloraCulture International magazine.

All rights No portion of editorial may e reproduced infor2009 any form withoutusing written permission of the publisher.

Publisher is not liable advertisements illegally obtained images.

Sendreserved. address changes to FloraCulture be reproduced in any without written permission of the publisher. is FloraCulture International (ISSN1051-9076) is changes published monthly.Worldwide distribution. be reproduced inobtained any form form without written permission of publisher. Publisher Publisher is not not liable liable “You have to know your customers and get your name or brand out there or advertisements using illegally images.

Send address tothe FloraCulture International magazine, P .O.Box 82, 1850 AB Heiloo, theNetherlands. © advertisements for using illegally obtained images.

Send address changes to FloraCulture Quality, innovation, sustainability and logistics are words that 2009 FloraCulture International magazine.

All rights No portion of editorial may for advertisements using illegally obtained images.

Sendreserved. address changes to FloraCulture nternational magazine, P.O.Box 82, 1850 AB Heiloo, theNetherlands.

FloraCulture International (ISSN1051-9076) is published monthly.Worldwide distribution.

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RonPloeg van T (31) 72 53 23 522Woerden F (31) 72 53 23 521 potappearance andyour bedding plant growers with the spring sunshineas having der Circulation FBW P.O. 612, madeshows a well-timed in isthe 20% own benefit and 80% the experienced industry a whole.” der Ploeg Administration: P .O.Box 1850 ABtheHeiloo, the Box Netherlands market isondiffi cult, butEurope. a glimpse of relief isfor being by FloraCulture International B.V. Circulation Administration: FBW Woerden P.O. Box 612, 3440 AP82, Woerden, Netherlands focused “what can be” rather than “what isn’t”.

The cut flower made aa for well-timed appearance in Europe.

Circulation Administration: FBW Woerden P.O. Box 612, made well-timed appearance in Europe.

3440 AP Woerden, the Netherlands Ron van T (31) 72 53 23 522 F (31) 72 53 23 521 the pot and bedding plant growers with the spring sunshine having P .O.Box 82, 1850 AB Heiloo, the Netherlands 3440 AP Woerden, the Netherlands T (31) 34 84 31 393 F (31) 34 84 32 552 info@fbw-woerden.nl market is diffi cult, but a glimpse of relief is being experienced by Working backwards in this issue; in East Africa, Ethiopia’s der Ploeg Woerden, the552 Netherlands T (31) 34 84 313440 393 FAP(31) 34 84 32 info@fbw-woerden.nl Working in this in Eastvice-chairman Africa, Ethiopia’s Withbackwards this message theissue; departing of Keukenhof, Jan Ron van Circulation FBW Woerden P.O. Box 612, made appearance Europe.

T (31) 72 53 23 522 (31) 72 53 23 34 84Administration: 31Evans 393 F(anabel@fl 34 84 32 521 552 info@fbw-woerden.nl Editors: Anabel oracultureinternational.com) the pota well-timed and bedding plant growers with the spring sunshine having Working backwards in this issue; in Africa, Ethiopia’s explosive floriculture isin being reined back, but in another FloraCulture T (31)(anabel@fl 34 84International 31 oracultureinternational.com) 393 F (31) 34 84 32 552 info@fbw-woerden.nl der Ploeg Working backwards ingrowth this issue; in East East Africa, Ethiopia’s Editors: Anabel Evans explosive floriculture growth is special being reined back, but in another Dennis Pennings introduces the Keukenhof supplement which 3440 AP Woerden, the Netherlands Circulation Administration: FBW Woerden P.O. Box 612, Editors: Anabel Evans (anabel@fl oracultureinternational.com) Ron van der Ploeg (ron@fl oracultureinternational.com) made a well-timed appearance in Europe. explosive fl oriculture growth is being reined back, but in another snippet of news received from David Gray it appears that Dennis Business address: ECA 140-21, Legmeerdijk 313, Seriese Editors: Anabel EvansOffice (anabel@fl oracultureinternational.com) explosive floriculture growth isitbeing reined back, butisinpacked another Ron van der Ploeg (ron@fl oracultureinternational.com) snippet of news received from David Gray appears that Dennis accompanies this month’s issue.

The Keukenhof edition Seriese T (31) 34der 84 31Edward 393 F (31) 34Chris 84 32 552 info@fbw-woerden.nl Working backwards in are this issue; in aEast Africa, Ethiopia’s 3440 AP Woerden, the Netherlands Dennis Ron van Ploeg (ron@fl oracultureinternational.com) Editorial team: Bent, Beytes, Lotte Bjarke, Arturo Croci, snippet of news received from David Gray it appears that logistics in East Africa receiving boost.

He writes that if with 1431 GB Seriese vanAalsmeer der Ploeg (ron@fl oracultureinternational.com) snippet of news received from David Gray it appears that Editorial Edward Bent, Chris Beytes, Lotte Bjarke, Arturo Croci, logistics in East Africa are receiving a boost.

He writes that if Seriese team: Ron the latest news and in depth feature educating thein bulb industry’s Editors: Anabel oracultureinternational.com) explosive floriculture is articles being reined back, but another T (31) 34 84Postbus 31Evans 393 1081, F(anabel@fl (31) 34Chris 84 32 552 info@fbw-woerden.nl Editorial team: Edward Bent, Beytes, Lotte Arturo Croci, Hans De Vries, David Gray, Kerry Herndon, HelenBjarke, Moody, Working backwards ingrowth thisreceiving issue; in aEast Africa, Ethiopia’s logistics in Africa are boost.

He writes that infrastructure, and are the key toif Postal address: 1430 BB Aalsmeer Editorial team: Edward Bent, Chris Beytes, Lotte Bjarke, Arturo Croci, infrastructure, logistics in East Eastcommunications Africa receiving atransport boost.

He that ifthe Dennis Hans De Vries, David Gray, Kerry Herndon, Helen Moody, communications andaretransport are the key towrites the breeders, bulb farmers, flower growers, retailers and service technicians.

Ron van der Ploeg (ron@fl oracultureinternational.com) snippet of news received from David Gray itin appears that Editors: Evans (anabel@fl oracultureinternational.com) Hans DeAnabel Vries, David Gray, Kerry Herndon, Helen Moody, Petitjean, Marta Pizano, Leaora Policar, Jennifer White Marie-Françoise explosive fl oriculture growth is being reined back, but in another infrastructure, communications and transport are the key to the development of horticulture and economies general the news Seriese T (31) 297 769 095 F (31) 297 365 366 Hans De Vries, David Gray, KerryPolicar, Herndon, Helen Moody, infrastructure, communications transport are the key to Kingdom the Petitjean, Marta Pizano, Leaora Jennifer White Marie-Françoise ofishorticulture andthis economies inand general the news Dennis Pennings thrilled with year’s Keukenhof ‘United – Editorial team: Edward Bent, Chris Beytes, LottePolicar, Bjarke,Jennifer Arturo Croci, development logistics East Africa are receiving aGray boost.

He writes that ifnew Ron van der Ploeg (ron@fl oracultureinternational.com) Petitjean, Marta Pizano, Leaora Marie-Françoise Founding editor: Debbie Hamrick snippet ofinnews received from David ittheme, appears that development of horticulture and economies in the of: new roads linking Addis Ababa with Nairobi; a proposed Seriese editor: FBW Woerden P.O. Box 612,Jennifer White Circulation Administration: Petitjean, Marta Pizano, Leaora Policar, White of: new Marie-Françoise development of horticulture and to economies in general general the news newsmarkets Founding Debbie Hamrick Claudia roads linking Addis Ababa with Nairobi; a proposed new Land of Great Gardens’.

It’s a tribute one of the major export Hans De Vries, David Gray, Kerry Herndon, Helen Moody, infrastructure, communications and transport are the key toifnew the Editorial team: Bent, Chris Beytes, Lotte Bjarke, Arturo Croci, Founding editor:Edward Debbie Hamrick Cover: California Pack Trials logistics in East Africa are receiving a boost.

He writes that of: new roads linking Addis Ababa with Nairobi; a proposed railway line on the Kenyan Coast from Addis Ababa to Lamu; a Claudia Stokreef 3440 AP Woerden, the Netherlands Founding editor: Debbie Hamrick of: newKenyan roads linking Addis Ababa with Nairobi; aa(July proposed new 10/11) Cover: California Pack Trials Claudia line Europe. on the Coast from Ababa to Lamu; within Theon total value ofAddis Dutch flower bulbs tonews June Stokreef Petitjean, Marta Pizano, Leaora Policar, Jennifer White railway Marie-Françoise development of horticulture and economies in general the Claudia De Vries, David Gray, Herndon, Helen Moody, Cover: California Pack Trials Publisher: FloraCulture International B.V. infrastructure, communications and transport are Airlines thetokey to the railway line the Kenyan Coast from Addis Ababa Lamu; aa new railway line from Tanzania to Uganda; Delta about Stokreef T Hans (31) 34 84 31 393 F (31) 34Kerry 84 32 552 info@fbw-woerden.nl Angie FloraCulture Cover: California Pack Trials railway line on the Kenyan Coast from Addis Ababa to Lamu; Publisher: International B.V. Stokreef new railway line from Tanzania to Uganda; Delta Airlines about is worth €623 million of which the UK takes a share of €50 million.

Founding editor: Debbie Hamrick Duffree of:start new roadsline linking Addis Ababa withand Nairobi; aAirlines proposed new In Petitjean, Marta Pizano, Leaora Policar, Jennifer White Marie-Françoise Publisher: FloraCulture International B.V. (jaap@fl oracultureinternational.com) development of horticulture and economies in general the news new railway from Tanzania to Uganda; Delta about to direct fl ights between Nairobi Atlanta; a deal between Editors: Ron van der Ploeg (ron@floracultureinternational.com) Publisher: FloraCulture International B.V. Claudiaoracultureinternational.com) new railway line from Tanzania to Uganda; Airlines about to the (jaap@fl to start direct flaights between Nairobi and Atlanta; a dealDelta between addition, large proportion of the approximately 800,000 visitors Cover: Pack railway line onlinking the Kenyan Coast from Addis Ababa Lamu; a Founding editor: Debbie Hamrick (jaap@fl oracultureinternational.com) T (31) California 20 61 Chris 82 666 FTrials (31) 20 61Bjarke, 81 333Arturo Croci, of: new roads Addis Ababa with Nairobi; afor proposed new Stokreef to direct fl ights between Nairobi and Atlanta; aato deal between Kenya’s Astral and Etihad Crystal Cargo the NairobiBeytes, Lotte oracultureinternational.com) to start start direct flAviation ights between Nairobi and2012, Atlanta; deal between Claudia T (31) 20 61 Editorial 82(jaap@fl 666 Fteam: (31)FloraCulture 20 61 81 333 Kenya’s Astral Aviation and Etihad Crystal Cargo for the NairobiKeukenhof each year, come from the UK. In some 70,000 Publisher: International B.V. new railway line from Tanzania topositive Uganda; Delta Airlines about Cover: California Pack T (31)Gerber, 20Hollandia 61 82 666 FTrials (31) 20 61 81 333 Printer: Printing, Heerhugowaard railway line on the Kenyan Coast from Addis Ababa to Lamu; aBrits Kenya’s Astral Aviation and Etihad Crystal Cargo for the NairobiAbu Dhabi route; should all have eff ects on the economic Stokreef Audrey Marie-Françoise Petitjean, John Sutton and T (31) 20 61 Heerhugowaard 82 666 F (31) 20 61 81 333 Kenya’s AstralallAviation and Etihad Cargo for the NairobiPrinter: Printing, Abupassed Dhabi route; should have positive eff ectsCrystal onand theAtlanta; economic the Keukenhof gates!

Arturo Hollandia (jaap@fl oracultureinternational.com) to start direct fl ights between Nairobi a deal between Publisher: FloraCulture International B.V. Printer: Hollandia Printing, Heerhugowaard Designer: Hollandia Media Productions new railway line from Tanzania to Uganda; Delta Airlines about Abu Dhabi route; should all have positive eff ects on the economic development of East Africa in the medium to long term.

Jennifer Zurko Arturo Croci Printer: Hollandia Printing, Heerhugowaard Dhabi route; should all have positive effects on the economic Designer: Productions developmentAbu of East Africa in the medium to long term.

Arturo Hollandia Croci T (31)Media 20 61 82 Kohler 666 F (31) 20 61 81 333 Kenya’s Astral andin Etihad Crystal Cargo for the Nairobi(jaap@fl oracultureinternational.com) Designer: Hollandia Productions Cartoonist: Bas to start direct flAviation ights between Nairobi and Atlanta; a deal between development of East Africa the medium to term.

Arturo Founding editor: DebbieMedia Hamrick Croci Designer: Hollandia Media Productions development of East Africa in the medium to long long Cartoonist: Bas Kohler Croci Also celebrating spring is the United States where the term. positive impact of

& Administration Editorial Editorial & Administration Offices Offices Editorial Editorial & & Administration Administration Offi Offices ces Editorial & Administration Offices ‘Concordia res&parvae crescunt’ Editorial Administration Offices

With With compliments compliments

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Show is an indication in itself about the pride the takes in its orchid innovations, in particular for their phalaenopsis exports.

Printer: Habo DaCosta Croci Africa, Show isabout anin indication inafor itself about the pridethe the California nation takesSpring in Europe, Asia/Pacifi c its orchid particular their phalaenopsis exports. otherinnovations, people it.presidential From sales perspective, Trials Lotte In eTaiwan, the opening of the International Orchid Cartoonist: BasAccounts Kohler Europe, Africa, Asia/Pacifi c Dirk van der Burgh International Management: its orchid innovations, in particular for their phalaenopsis exports.

Th Breeder Open Days in the Netherlands for the number one in Designers: SDA Print + Media, Lotte Bjarke Europe, Africa, Asia/Pacific its orchid innovations, in particular fornumber their phalaenopsis exports.

International Accounts Management: The can Breeder Open Days in the Netherlands forless the onenation inpotential be highly cost-effective — it costs to contact a buyer at Lotte Bjarke Show is an indication in itself about the pride the takes in International Accounts Management: Dennis Seriese (dennis@fl oracultureinternational.com) In Taiwan, the presidential opening of the International Orchid Th e Breeder Open Days in the Netherlands for the number one in cut fl owers were, conversely, very low key; quality is the renowned Lotte Copy correction and sub-editing: Vanessa Heinrich Bjarke International Accounts Management: Thethan Breeder Open Days in thequality Netherlands for the number one in Dennis oracultureinternational.com) cut flthis owers were, conversely, very low key; is their thevisits renowned event through traditional field sales and calls!

BjarkeSeriese (dennis@fl Europe, Africa, Asia/Pacifi c its orchid innovations, in particular for phalaenopsis exports.

Dennis Seriese (dennis@fl oracultureinternational.com) Angie Duff ree (angie@fl oracultureinternational.com) Show is an indication in itself about the pride the nation takes in cut fl owers were, conversely, very low key; quality is the renowned selling point, however, especially for those Dutch rose growers Cover photograph: Ron van der Ploeg Dennis Seriese (dennis@floracultureinternational.com) fltoowers were, conversely, very lowZurko key;growers quality is thesister renowned Angie oracultureinternational.com) selling point,cut however, especially for those rose LotteDuffree (angie@fl According Chris Beytes and Jennifer from our publication International Accounts Management: Th eorchid Breeder Open Days in theDutch Netherlands for therose number one in Africa, Asia/Pacifi c61 81 333 M(31) 62 21 65 220 Angie Duff oracultureinternational.com) T(31)20 61ree 82(angie@fl 666 F (31)20 its innovations, in particular for their phalaenopsis exports. selling point, however, especially for those Dutch whose existence is being threatened by current economic conditions.

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Offi cePizaManager: Claudia choice when comes to new breeding and merchandising Marta Angie Duff ree (angie@fl oracultureinternational.com) selling point, however, especially for those Dutch rose growers Dennis Seriese (dennis@fl oracultureinternational.com) Offi ce Manager: Claudia Stokreef (claudia@fl oracultureinternational.com) cut fl owers were, conversely, very low key; quality is the renowned Quality is also the overwhelming message of our substrates Europe, Asia/Pacific Marta Piza- node Office Africa, Manager: Claudia Stokreef Marquezoracultureinternational.com) (claudia@fl Quality is also the you overwhelming message of ourbyon substrates concepts.

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Th e RHP Foundation is guiding the “will to improve” of 50 affi liated companies.

And where substrates control of growth FloraCulture International, FloraCulture International B.V. special.

The And RHP Foundation is guiding the “will to improve” of plan P.O. Box AB Heiloo, the Netherlands 50 affi liated companies. where substrates control of growth Marta Piza-82, 1850 trial sites has been in the full effect during the last few months, so if you (claudia@fl Quality isfrom also overwhelming message of our substrates Offi ce Manager: Claudia P.O. Box 82, 1850 AB Heiloo, the23 Netherlands T (31)72 53oracultureinternational.com) 23 522 F (31)Stokreef 72 53 521 M (31)313, 63 03 99 450 50 affi liated companies.

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Marta PizaFloraCulture International special.

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And where control ofinin growth FloraCulture International B.V. Italy, Southern France: Arturo Croci (arturo@fl oracultureinternational.com) special.

Th e RHP Foundation is guiding the “will to improve” of Labuschagne focuses on sustainable programs to assist optimum control above the ground.

Sustainability also goes hand hand Postal address: Postbus 1081, 1430 BB Aalsmeer, the Netherlands William Italy, Southern France: Labuschagne focuses on sustainable programs to assist in optimum Armellini Arturo Croci (arturo@fl oracultureinternational.com) control above ground.

Sustainability also goes hand inseries hand details—visit www.springtrials.com William T.O. (31)72 53 23 522Bjarke F Heiloo, (31) 72 53 521 M (31) 63 03 99 450 is the hidden from our sight, the crop protection

by Louise Armellini P Box 82, 1850 AB the23 Netherlands Arturo Croci (arturo@fl oracultureinternational.com) Scandinavia: Lotte (lotte@fl oracultureinternational.com) 50 affithe liated companies. where substrates control ofin growth control above the ground.

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Sustainability also hand inoptimum hand Italy, Southern France: LB Text & Idé, Søndervej 10, 8350 Hundslund, Denmark T(45) 21 48 75 30 South America: Marta Pizano de Marquez (marta@fl oracultureinternational.com) Labuschagne focuses on sustainable programs to assist inis of Priva, whose accomplishments have been rewarded with the Businesswoman of the Year award.

Angie Duffree (angie@floracultureinternational.com) Armellini LB Text & Idé, Søndervej 10, 8350 Hundslund, Denmark T(45) 21 48 75 30 of Priva, whose accomplishments have been rewarded with the South America:Scandinavia: Marta PizanoLotte de Marquez (marta@fl oracultureinternational.com) Businesswoman the Year award. spring event.

Here, RijnPlant BV, one of thePrins, world’s leading breeders and William Bjarke (lotte@fl oracultureinternational.com) withof the vision and hard work of Meiny managing director ArturoMendes Croci Ltda., (arturo@fl oracultureinternational.com) South America: Marta Pizano de Marquez oracultureinternational.com) Horti Tecnia Calle 85 No20-25 Of. (marta@fl 202B, Bogotá, Colombia control above the ground.

Sustainability also goes hand in hand Businesswoman of the Year award.

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Auctions around the world also Arturo Croci, (acearturo@yahoo.it) Miami: William Armellini(William@fl oracultureinternational.com) eCommerce since the streamlining of shipments is a key outcome USA, Central America: resulting from using this tool.

Auctions around the world also PaulCanada, T Europe and elsewhere.

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China: Dr33 Xian Eyal T (81) 33Sun 32 Jing 75 756 F (consultingflower@yahoo.com.cn) (81) 33 32 27 933 are another another institution thatproducts. havequality long history history in East Africa: David Gray (gray@africaonline.co.ke) Niranjan presenting innovative ideas and quality EMS Inc., Matsubara, Setagaya-ku,Tokyo 156-0043, Japan California Pack Trials, which, like the auctions, Japan: Eiji2-22-8 Yoshikawa (callems@world.odn.ne.jp) Policar East Niranjan Africa: David Gray (gray@africaonline.co.ke) South Africa: Cilla Lowen (cilla@fl oracultureinternational.com) Beytes has a well-penned article bringing to life the presenting innovative ideas and quality products.

Deshpande India: Deshpande (team@kisan.com) EastLowen Africa:(cilla@fl David Gray (gray@africaonline.co.ke) presenting innovative ideas and quality products.

EyalAfrica: Cilla South oracultureinternational.com) T (27) (81)Inc., 33 4857058 32 75 756 (81)(cilla@fl 33Setagaya-ku,Tokyo 32 27 933 are anotherPack institution have a long history in 2-22-8 Matsubara, 156-0043, Japan South Africa: Cilla Lowen oracultureinternational.com) T 22 FF(27) 22 4857415 California Trials, that which, like the auctions, Policar T EMS (91) F20 302 52 000 South Africa: Cilla Lowen (cilla@floracultureinternational.com) Eiji 22 4857058 T (27) (27) 22 4857415 East Africa: David Gray (gray@africaonline.co.ke) presenting innovative ideas and quality products.

T (81) 75 756FF(27) (81)22 334857415 32 27 933 (27) 33 22 32 4857058 are another institution that have a long history in Eiji Anabel Evans, Editor Yoshikawa T (27) 22 4857058 F (27) 22 4857415 Eiji FloraCulture International (ISSN1051-9076) is published monthly. Anabel Evans, Editor oshikawa Eiji SouthAfrica: Africa: Cilla Gray Lowen (cilla@floracultureinternational.com) East David (gray@africaonline.co.ke) presenting innovative ideas and quality products.

Anabel Evans, Editor FloraCulture International (ISSN1051-9076) isispublished monthly.

Yoshikawa Worldwide distribution. ©2009 FloraCulture International magazine.

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8

Poland The contemporary Gerbera is firmly among the top ten cut flowers grown around the world.

In Poland, though, following years of very strong sales, demand has decreased and growers have gradually given up on producing them due to low profitability.

However, those who remained faithful to Gerberas, are doing quite well. Among them is Karol Kłósek from Trzciana in the Krakow area, who has been growing Gerberas for over 20 years.

A large number of competitors went out of business and this has strengthened Klosek’s position on the domestic market while exports to Slovakia are also going strong.

The colour factory

by Ilona Sprza¸ czka

Gerbera ‘Bandola’ a bred by Terra Nigra.

T

Karol Kłósek, the owner of nursery.

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | March 2013

he flower farm in Trzciana is now run by the third generation of growers, but historically it has not always focused on cut flowers. Before the war, the current owner’s grandmother, Aniela, founded the nursery which produced fruit trees and shrubs. Over time, the company expanded to 6 hectares.

In 1970, Karol’s father, Bronisław, decided to earn his living in horticulture and erected his first 900m2 greenhouse where he began to grow vegetables (mainly tomatoes) which were soon replaced by carnations as these guaranteed higher yields. The economic boom for cut carnations in Poland lasted until the 1980s. In 1980, Bronislaw and his son Karol Kłósek (the current owner) owned 6,700m2 of greenhouse space and

decided to expand their range of Gerberas as these flowers had become fashionable and in high demand. In addition, Karol said, “They yielded a higher price than carnations so their production was more profitable.”

Karol Kłósek took a preferential loan for young farmers in 1998 and built a new 7,200m2 greenhouse, a new venture that created some headaches as the building plot is located on a slope (see photo).

This greenhouse is entirely devoted to Gerbera cultivation.

Many, many varietes

The cuttings are purchased from several companies: Schreurs, Florist, Terra Nigra and from the Polish breeder Pętoś. Each of these has a different focus when it comes

The greenhouse is located on a slope.

The newly built section is entirely devoted to gerbera production.

to Gerbera breeding. The most important criteria to consider are: commercial appeal, productivity, vase life and disease resistance,” explained Mr. Kłósek.

He grows over 50 Gerbera varieties, half of the greenhouse is used for standard Gerberas while the other half is devoted to Germinis.

Over the last ten years, Klosek has seen a growing demand for minis which are grown in a wide range of shades to add colour to mixed bouquets and floral arrangements.

The pink inflorescences of Lila Wonder ® and Twinkle Star ® are two of the most interesting, while

in red, the Red Star ® is a real attention grabber. Also noteworthy are the bicolour varieties: 'Bandola' with yellow-orange flowers, Decora® (yellow-red), Disco® (red-orange) and High Society ® (creamy petals with a reddish margin).

As for the standard Gerberas, Klosek outlined that these are mostly used for Valentine’s Day and decorating wreaths and funeral bouquets, hence the red and softly coloured varieties are the most popular. Among them are the ‘Samuraj’ ®, followed by the orange 'Mary-Joly', Dune ®, the yellow Paradiso ®, Kayak ®, Cabana ® and the pink 'Professor. Lisiecka', Ambiance ®, Raffinee ® and Fiorella ®.

Interesting varieties are the bicoloured creations, such as Entourage ® featuring orange petals. or ‘Big Ben’ with orange-yellow inflorescences.

The demand for specific varieties depends largely on the season. For example during winter, Gerberas with dark inflorescences (red and dark red) are real bestsellers.

Polish-bred varieties usually develop a larger diameter of inflorescences in comparison to those bred in The Netherlands (the Polish average, is 14-16 cm, while the Dutch average is about 12 cm), but the plants

are less prolific. ‘However, my observations show that the size of inflorescences of Dutch varieties corresponds to the demands of the Polish market,” said Mr. Kłósek.

Growing techniques

Gerberas are planted in 3.5-liter containers that hang on racks.

Crop density is 8 plants per m2.

For two years, the plants are grown in a mixture of perlite (50%) and coconut fiber (50%). Previously, many other substrates were tested, including peat moss (in the winter this was too wet), mineral wool

>>>

Gerbera ‘Lila Wonder’a bred by Florist.

March 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

9

10

Poland

Standard Gerbera, ‘Samuraj’ is a creation of Polish breeder Petos.

grow cubes (a good effect was obtained, but this substrate was quite expensive), and perlite fraction of 3–6 mm (this substrate was too dry for gerberas). Individual plantings are exploited for 2 or 3 years.

Plants are fertilized using a drip system with each container equipped with its individual dripper. These provide the prepared medium with a single fertilizer (such as magnesium nitrate, calcium, ammonium, potassium, phosphate potassium).

Iron is added in the form of chelate (Fe-EDTA) and micronutrients (e.g. in the form of sulphates copper, manganese and zinc).

EC medium is 1.8 mS / cm, and pH 5,5-5,8.

Karol Kłósek attaches great importance to the quality of the water used for fertigation. “Fertilising is one of the major factors, if not the most important one determining the quality of plants,” he said.

For watering, rainwater is primarily used, which is stored in three tanks (with a total capacity of nearly 4 million litres). When running out of rainwater, water from a nearby stream is added. But before mixing them, the stream water is treated in a reverse osmosis filter system.

Challenges

Gerberas are grown in 3.5-liter, plastic containers hanging on racks.

Drip to drip irrigation/fertilization.

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | March 2013

Gerberas in Trzciana are grown all year round. According to Mr. Kłósek, one of the major challenges in greenhouse production is the rising costs of electricity and heating. As the prices obtained for Gerberas, have remained stable over recent times, rising costs result in a decrease in yields.

Therefore, Mr. Kłósek stopped supplementary lighting in the winter season. In this period the yield of flowers was smaller.

The yields also depend on the size of the Gerberas inflorescence.

In the case of miniature varieties an average 300-400 flowers per m2 are obtained during the year, while for the large ones 160-220 flowers per m2 are obtained.

In the greenhouse the temperature is maintained at around 21°C during the day and 17°C at night (in winter, respectively, 18°C and 15°C). In order to prevent excessive temperature rises, the greenhouse

is aired (fans are used for this purpose) and shading curtains are used. Additionally, the greenhouse’s surface is covered with a preparation for shading, ‘Shadefix’ which is usually done in June, and the substance is washed off in September).

This modern greenhouse is also equipped with an installation for CO2 addition.

Crop maintenance and harvesting

The maintenance work merely consists of removing old, dried leaves.

Spider mites are causing the biggest problems, especially when the temperature in the greenhouse is increasing while humidity is decreasing. The company has a good track record in fighting pests and diseases by using biological plant protection products such as Phytoseiulus persimilis or Amblyseius californicus which feed on every stage of development of spider mites. In order to reduce the occurrence of powdery mildew sulfur is evaporated. When needed, plants are sprayed with a chemical crop protection product, Score 250 EC. The flowers are harvested (pulled) every day except Sunday. Their packaging and the shortening of stems to the appropriate length is done directly on the plantation.

Standard varieties are placed on cardboard in groups of 25 units (on one - of the same colour), while Germinis are grouped in bunches of 25 flowers. Delicate Gerbera flowers are also protected against damage by foils. After harvesting, stems are put in a solution of Florissant 500 which is located in special tanks (at a concentration of 1 gram per 10 litres of water). This preparation extends the vase life of cut flowers.

Sales

Most of the gerberas from this farm are sold on the domestic market.

Karol Kłósek rents a stall in the two flower wholesale markets in Krakow and Tychy. Some gerberas also go to Slovakia. Currently around 25% of the harvest is sold there.

Mr Kłósek considers the Gerbera market ‘reasonable’ but sometimes asks himself whether he

by William Armellini

Miami

Consolidate or get bigger After watching and being a part of the Miami flower business over the last 30 years I have seen many changes. In the beginning back in the late 70's most companies used third party companies to handle their products.

They focused on sales and sourcing and let others do the logistics.

As the business grew and those early companies did as well most of them decided to buy big buildings and manage their own logistics. This made sense as they had more control and the profits to support some pretty grand buildings. As more and more production in South America created the need for more and more importers this process continued. Ah yes, those grand old days of exotic cars, bigger building and even bigger egos!

Germinis in bunches of 25 flowers.

should continue the crop or give it up and grow roses instead (which are already grown on the farm in older greenhouses). So far however, he has no concrete plans to switch as he said, “cut Gerbera flowers with large blooms are some of the more commonly used flowers for funeral wreaths and bouquets, hence the demand for them in this regard is stable. While miniature varieties are still not popular enough in Poland, they are now more frequently bought and used in bouquets.

Overall, Gerberas are available in a wide spectrum of colours so it is possible to create various compositions.

He concludes by saying that Gerberas also stand out also for having a good vase life. |||

Fast forward to today and the picture has changed and continues to evolve. Today we see that midsized importers (less than 5 million in sales) are struggling to survive. The competition is everywhere and the ability of a small or medium importer to survive doing all of the services required in-house is fading.

Recently we have seen some of these companies fail and it makes me wonder how others are surviving. One way is the return to the third party logistics companies which are offering more and more complete service for local or national importers. Many companies have seen the light, and their balance sheet, and chosen to give up the building, coolers, staff, trucks, drivers, maintenance, and all of the other expensive cost that go with doing you own thing. There are a growing number of these logistics companies and perhaps logistics are where the growth is. In general if you're not importing about 1,000 full boxes per day then the cost will begin to eat all our profits.

On the other side the larger import companies have be keen to get bigger and bigger and use that volume to strengthen their market position. We are seeing this play out in South America as well. Large and small plantations are closing but for the most part these distressed farms are being taken over by larger growers thus the overall production is not changing drastically. This is a trend that I see increasing but, despite my argument here, even those big companies can get into a financial mess fast.

BIG companies often rely on BIG customers and if that lovely young buyer or moody produce manager decides you're out for some reason many importers cannot scale down fast enough to survive. All in all I find the importing community here to be in flux but overall stable‌ at least for now!

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

After harvesting, the tips of the stalks are immersed in a solution of Florissant 500.

March 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

11

12

Automation Algen Tarim is a specialty propagator of fruit tree rootstocks.

The state-of-theart tissue culture and greenhouse facility in Silivri near Istanbul enable the company to produce large volumes of high quality plants which are being successfully grown in Ellepots. The results have been extraordinary.

Ellepot system is being successfully used at Algen Tarim

F

ruit tree rootstock propagation began at the Turkish biotechnology company Algen Tarim in 2009. By 2012 annual production was approaching 6 million a year, and further expansion is planned. Algen Tarim’s rootstocks are produced from tissue culture, a far cry from traditional field methods of growing.

A formidable team

by John Sutton

Partner and managing director Yusuf Ustun is backed by a formidable team. Altogether his staff is now 95-strong, and includes two Ph.D.s, four holders of master’s degrees, and five other biotechnology graduates. Yusuf himself is an engineering graduate who began to work in the agricultural field in 1995. He modestly claims for himself ‘fairly good expertise’ in automation and mass production systems.

The company’s staff has at their disposal full state-of-the-art facilities located in Silivri, near Istanbul.

Algen Tarim is active in genetic marker-assisted breeding and other biotechnological work. Propagating of ornamentals and some herbaceous flowers and medicinal plants

Ellegaard’s H111 model is capable of producing Ellepots up to 50mm in diameter, which is the size Algen Tarim wanted for their rootstock plants.

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | March 2013

High quality plants successfully grown in Ellepots.

was also started last year. Currently, though, fruit rootstock multiplication is the lead activity. Peaches, nectarines, pears, cherries and plums are the fruit types concerned.

Most of the trees that ultimately result are destined for planting in Turkey, but there is also export to some of the CIS countries.

The world’s largest producer of cherries

The domestic market for the fruit trees produced on Algen Tarim rootstocks is very large. Turkey is the world’s largest producer of cherries, and is also an exporter of pears, peaches and nectarines. The country’s economy has seen transformation in the last fifty years, and now has the fifteenth largest Gross Domestic Product in the world.

Home demand for commercially produced fruit has burgeoned, as the size of the country’s urban middle class has grown by leaps and bounds. In terms of population, Turkey is a match for Germany, with both countries at around 80 million inhabitants.

At present, Algen Tarim propagates existing rootstock varieties, but breeding work is in hand

with a view to improvements and providing wider diversity. Testing for infection by viruses and other diseases is routinely carried out, and stock that is infected but still required is cleaned by heat therapy.

Mother plants, originating from rigorously selected material, are grown in screenhouses where insect virus vectors cannot enter.

Tissue culture of explant material from mother plant shoot tips is carried out in the fully controlled sterile environment of growth cabinets. The plantlets that eventually result are acclimatized during the weaning process, when they are grown on to a suitable size and condition for potting. The final production phase for the company is the growing on of the young rootstock plants in greenhouse conditions for spring (April/May) delivery to the company’s customers, specialist nurseries in Turkey.

There they will be planted out in the open, and budded in August.

Algen Tarim is also able to supply budwood if required.

Ellepot system

When production first began, the hardened-off plants were grown in

and others affected needed special aftercare. Ellepot-grown plants, in full and well-packed boxes, suffer very little in transit.

Further efficiencies

There may well be scope for further efficiencies. Brian Damkjaer Schmidt of Ellegaard said that this season there will be trials of smaller Ellepot plugs – 35mm and 20mm, with paper sleeving of shorter durability. ‘In collaboration with Algen Tarim’s customers, we will try to optimize production and bring costs down.’

Automation and mass production are among Yusuf Ustun’s fields of expertise. Handling the output of his company’s micro-propagated plant material presents him with interesting challenges. Continued success should also bring big opportunities. Modern technology at Algen Tarim is already making a potentially huge contribution to more efficient production of fruit and other plants, in many lands. |||

Greenhouse facility at Algen Tarim.

a peat:perlite mix in cell trays. The results were not entirely satisfactory, and Yusuf Ustun and his colleagues decided to move over to the Ellepot system.

Their choice of machine from the range produced by the Danish company Ellegaard was the H111 model. This is capable of producing Ellepots up to 50mm in diameter, which is the size they wanted for their rootstock plants. All Ellegaard machines are customized, but Algen Tarim has made a start on producing other plant types, and the machine is versatile. Its range of optional Ellepot diameters goes down to 15mm.

Using the same growing medium as before, they found that root development was swifter. Because of the properties of the paper sleeving used in the Ellepot system, the root environment is better aerated than is possible using conventional cell trays, and root development is accordingly more rapid.

Ellepot paper

Ellegaard offers a choice of over ten types of paper, all of them decomposable and ecofriendly, to meet the different needs of their customers.

Algen Tarim has chosen a paper which decomposes between eight and twelve months after potting

and allows easy root penetration.

Even with the high standards of culture, a small proportion of the young plants fail to establish in the greenhouses after potting. Ellepots containing failed plants can easily be pulled out, whereas the same work for plants grown in cell trays is often a more time-consuming process.

Reducing logistics costs

Algen Tarim’s system is to grow 45 plants per tray. In the earlier days of rootstock production, the plants were dispatched to customers in the trays in which they had been grown, just as they had been in the greenhouse. Now, the Ellepotgrown plants are removed from their trays, a job that is quickly and easily done, and laid horizontally in delivery boxes. In a box of the same length and width as the growing tray, 175 plants placed in layers occupies the same volume in the delivery vehicle as an old-style tray of just 45 plants. Transport and box costs are of course greatly reduced.

There is a further benefit, especially important in a country where the surfaces of minor roads are often poor. At the end of the plants’ journey in cell trays it was not uncommon to find plants shaken out of position. Some were damaged,

Tissue culture of explant material from mother plant shoot tips is carried out in the fully controlled sterile environment of growth cabinets.

March 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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World News United States US blizzard causes major damage to Connecticut’s green industry

Greenhouses around the state collapsed under the weight of heavy snow and added rain, including Vaiuso Farms in Branford as pictured. At latest count, 51 companies/farms are reporting nearly 300 greenhouses either heavily damaged or totally destroyed.

Dutch Comfort

by Jaap N. Kras

Culture

The author and philosopher, Charles Handy is one of the most interesting management thinkers over the last 50 years. Just google Charles Handy and find out more about his model of organisational structures. Handy argues that that the culture of an organisation or company is more important than its corporate structure. You can merge two companies but if the company cultures don’t match the merger is doomed to fail. Everybody can think of examples in their own country and industry but I would like to narrow it down to the flower industry.

Cooperation is a clever thing as the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Originally, the business model of cooperation is organised horizontally; farmers are gathered in farmers’ unions and cooperatives, breeders and propagators adhere to their own industry body and this also goes for wholesalers and retailers. A handful of illuminated spirits knew better and organised themselves vertically. One good example would be the Society of American Flowers (SAF).

To face the agricultural crisis in the 1880s, farmers started to team up in cooperatives. This resulted in powerful business conglomerates such as cooperative insurance and procurement companies or sales cooperative banks and flower auctions.

For many years now the flower industry has been undergoing dramatic changes with a series of business foreclosures and the shortening of the supply chain being high on everybody’s agenda.

Many companies have been taken over. All this is part of a normal life cycle of an industry passing from a pioneering stage to absolute growth and finally to the mature stage.

In this process, the total production remains at the same level, while but the number of companies goes down drastically. The pertinent question is: who survives?

A few years ago, Ciccolella acquired Zurel, Topflora, Springflower, FPP Bloemen, Diskoflora, Disva Garden Venter and BBE Bloemen and became the second biggest floral wholesaler in the Netherlands.

The company culture, at a stage of absolute growth, is often optimistic and full of hope.

Cultural differences between business partners can easily be overcome because of this overall positive mindset. But it gets more complicated if mergers are born out of necessity. Here the old rule counts: by putting two sick chickens in a single cage you will end up having one cage with two sick animals. No chicken on earth will become healthier from that type of ‘merger’.

If business cultures don’t match, you can change structures as often as you like but this will never result in an improved, united culture of the merged companies.

The Connecticut Florists Association (CFA) estimates replacement costs alone for those structures to be anywhere from $12-$20 million.

Beyond that are costs for the plants inside, equipment like furnaces, benches, etc., and potential loss of income as we approach the critical spring season. A federal emergency declaration for the state could make available low-interest loans. But one portion of the green industry, Connecticut's landscapers, were busy racking up billings for plowing, coming off a snowless 2012. |||

Is the management of bankrupt companies which failed to see the cultural blockades to blame? The answer is sometimes “yes” but more often “no”. Let’s put it the other way around.

Can one praise the management for being successful? Yes, in some cases you can, but more than 50% the a company’s success is related its business environment. Those managers who keep a firm eye on the environment and have a proactive approach deserve great respect.

A few of these highly respected ‘managers’ originate from the USA. In this context I would like to mention presidents such as Washington, Lincoln, the Roosevelts. Truman, perhaps also, as he was the one who decided not to throw atom bombs on China.

The culture in the flower industry has to change, its entrepreneurs should think more vertically. The consumer pays around 170% more for a flower than the grower receives. This profit margin should be enough to sell a consumer-ready product. But not if after the grower has sold his flowers, at least five or six different companies have to make a profit before the flowers end up at the consumer’s dresser. Of course, production survives but we see more and more often that only the edges, breeder and retailer, make money in the flower industry.

Commercial thinking is vertical thinking.

Jaap N. Kras jaap@floracultureinternational.com

March 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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16

Spring Trials

Wild Wild West

by Jennifer Zurko

Well, if you thought you’d skip out on Spring Trials this year because it’s the same old thing, you’d be missing the boat. The round of musical trial sites has been in full effect during the last few months, so if you plan on going to Spring Trials,

don’t use last year’s map!

Which is why we go through all of the trouble of contacting each and every Spring Trials exhibitor A

C E

B

so we can provide you with accurate (as of press

D

time, at least) location and contact information so you can plan your trip to California.

F

Of course, the

Bobbleheads will be there—

jamming down the coast and staying up late in semicomfortable hotel rooms in order to get the word out to those who couldn’t make it to Spring Trials. We’ll have exciting new variety information in our daily Acres of BuZZ e-newsletters and you can catch our shenanigans on video via our YouTube channel at G

www.youtube.com/growertalks. Plus, we’ll have additional coverage in our July and August issues of GrowerTalks and Green Profit.

H

If you’d like more Spring Trials I

information—like hotel and restaurant K

APRIL 2013 www.FloraCultureInternational.com | March 2013

J

details—visit www.springtrials.com.

L

NORTHERN A Proven Winners (at The Chaminade Resort & Spa) NEW LOCATION April 6-11 1 Chaminade Lane Santa Cruz, CA 95065 Contact: Kerry Meyer E-mail: kerry@provenwinners.com Tel: (573) 477-9420

B Syngenta Flowers, Syngenta Crop Protection & Syngenta Horticultural Services April 6-11 2280 Hecker Pass Road Gilroy, CA 95020 Contact: Melanie Fernandes E-mail: springtrials@syngenta.com Tel: (408) 847-4573

Danziger ‘Dan’ B Flower Farm

(at Headstart Nursery) April 6-11

4860 Monterey Road Gilroy, CA 95020 Contact: Sharon Israel E-mail: Sharon@danziger.co.il Tel: (408) 842-3030

C Ernst Benary of America, Inc. NEW LOCATION April 6-12

8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

195 Paulsen Road Watsonville, CA 95076 Contact: Ann Robson E-mail: arobson@benary.com Tel: (831) 288-2803

C Pacific Plug & Liner April 6-11

8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Includes Cohen, Hishtil, Jaldety, McConkey, MPS, Schwartz and Sunset Western Garden Collection 750 Casserly Road Watsonville, CA 95076 Contact: Erin Dumller E-mail: packtrials@ppandl.com Tel: (831) 768-6330

D Speedling, Inc. April 6-11

2640 San Juan Highway San Juan Batista, CA 95045 Contact: Kathy Enders E-mail: kenders@speedling.com Tel: (630) 391-2832

ABZ Seeds

Contact: Adri Gillissen E-mail: info@abz-strawberry.nl Tel: (31) 622-740-196

Greenex USA, Inc.

Contact: Jecki Moshav E-mail: jecki@greenex.com Tel: (831) 623-7800

Hem Genetics

Contact: Rudy Westenberg E-mail: r.westenberg@hemgenetics.com Tel: (813) 645-3221

Plant Source International, Inc.

Contact: Alan Zaeske E-mail: azaeske@sbcglobal.net Tel: (517) 381-8708

Thompson & Morgan

Contact: Andrew Spencer E-mail: aspencer@thompsonmorgan.com Tel: (831) 623-7800

Vista Farms

Contact: Jerome O’Neill E-mail: jerome@vistafarms.net

E Golden State Bulb Growers April 6-11

CENTRAL G Dümmen USA, Inc.

(at Edna Valley Vineyard) April 7-11, by appointment only 2585 Biddle Ranch Road San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Contact: Diane Surette E-mail: d.surette@dummenusa.com Tel: (630) 212-1276

HGTV Home Plant Collection

Contact: Randy Hunter Email: rhunter@agricolamanagement.com Tel: (615) 457-0000

Floranova H April 6-11

I Skagit Gardens

8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Includes MasterTag and Western Pulp 103 Boronda Road Salinas, CA 93907 Contact: Elaina Ross E-mail: eross@sakata.com Tel: (408) 782-5382

Athena Brazil Contact: Paul Gaydos E-mail: Paul@athenabrazil.com Tel: (941) 750-8885

Flamingo Holland Contact: Crystal Moncada E-mail: crystal@flamingoholland.com Tel: (760) 734-1033

Florist Holland

Contact: Martine van Went E-mail: martineW@gerbera.com Tel: +31 (0) 651-759-479

4760 Calle Camarada Santa Barbara, CA 93110 Contact: Barb Young E-mail: byoung@skagitgardens.com Tel: (360) 424-6144 ext. 4302

PlantHaven

335 South Briggs Road Santa Paula, CA 93060 Contact: Mary Long E-mail: mlong@panamseed.com Tel: (630) 588-3187

F Sakata Ornamentals April 6-10

4107 West Gonzales Road Oxnard, CA 93036 Contact: Adri Howe E-mail: adri@grolink.com Tel: (800) 451-6319 ext. 309

Hort Couture

April 6-10, by appointment only

American Takii F April 6-11

Contact: Dave Barcel E-mail: dbarcel@ohp.com Tel: (262) 392-3004

April 6-11

(at Hidden Oaks Clubhouse)

Ball Horticultural J Company

OHP, Inc.

Includes Florensis

New Location

8:00 a.m-5:00 p.m.

222 North A Street Lompoc, CA 93436 Contact: Ashley Ransbottom E-mail: aransbottom@floranova.com Tel: (574) 594-9284

3060 Hilltop Road Moss Landing, CA 95039 Contact: Angela Woolem E-mail: angelawoolem@ goldenstatebulb.com Tel: (831) 728-0500 ext. 254

301 Natividad Road Salinas, CA 93906 Contact: Julia Paul E-mail: springtrials@takii.com Tel: (831) 443-4901

K GroLink Plant Company, Inc.

Includes Ball FloraPlant, Ball Ingenuity, Ball Ornamentals, Darwin Perennials, Kieft Seed, PanAmerican Seed & Selecta

April 6-11

Contact: Jennifer Hatalski E-mail: jenniferhatalski@ hortcoutureplants.com Tel: (517) 542-4585 Contact: Denise Frey Email: denise.frey@planthaven.com Tel: (805) 569-9179

SOUTHERN L Plug Connection

Includes America in Bloom, Beekenkamp, Cultivaris, Elsner-PAC, EuroAmerican Propagators, Morel, Schoneveld, Suntory Flowers, Terra Nova and Westhoff

April 6-11

Fides Oro, Inc. J April 6-11

2627 Ramona Drive Vista, CA 92084 Contact: Christine Labrador E-mail: christine@plugconnection.com Tel: (760) 631-0992 ext. 119

15245 Telegraph Road Santa Paula, CA 93060 Contact: Amy Lyons E-mail: a.lyons@fides-oro.com Tel: (805) 525-7125

J GreenFuse Botanicals NEW LOCATION April 6-11 15245 West Telegraph Road Santa Paula, CA 93060 Contact: Lorena Castro-Craven E-mail: lcc@green-fuse.com Tel: (310) 458-3580 Register online at www.green-fuse.com

March 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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18

Spring Trials With North American production costs continuing to rise, shorter crop times and a uniform product are a major source of savings for the US-based pot gerbera grower.

At the forthcoming California Spring Trials (April 6 to 11), Dutch gerbera breeder and propagator, Florist Holland, will advise its customers on how to choose the best pot gerbera and will reveal a variety of novelty items.

Florist Holland pot gerberas conquer U.S. market F

ive years ago, Niels Kuiper, was appointed as the company's sales manager for the United States, with a mandate to build sales in the American market.

With a wealth of experience in establishing sales and distribution networks, Kuiper is now sure to carve a niche in the field of pot gerberas.

Positive momentum

by Ron van der Ploeg

The company’s positive momentum started with the introduction of three lines of great new pot gerberas, Flori Line, Patio Gerbera

and Garvinea. It was also carried forward by an innovative and effective marketing programme that matches buyers and sellers based on their specific needs. “Developing the buyer-seller relationship is becoming increasingly important”, explained Kuiper.

Florist Holland wants to present the story behind their products and presentations at retail and grower level, not only to provide an overview of the pot gerberas available, but also to inform, motivate and inspire. “It’s not without reason that we call our Garvinea, the line of perennial gerberas, ‘Power Flower’ as it flowers from early spring to the first frost. In Florida and California it even produces flowers almost all year round. Independent trials at universities in North Carolina, Michigan and Colorado and at large greenhouse operations in Florida and North Carolina create brand awareness.”

Last year, Florist Holland and the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens teamed up to run a Garvinea trial programme in the sixty-six acre display garden.

“Rising Stars” are plants that have survived every vagary of the Dallas weather conditions. “We were delighted to see enthusiasm about our Garvineas. The same goes for a US plant expert, writer, speaker and researcher who conducted his own successful Garvinea trial”, enthused Kuiper.

Multilevel marketing Niels Kuiper, sales manager for the United States at Florist Holland.

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | March 2013

In the USA, Florist Holland sells its pot gerberas through multilevel marketing, relying on a network of four distributors: Express Seed

Company, Flamingo Holland Inc., the recently recruited Gloeckner and Northern Innovators. Plant material is also available at rooting stations. “This system leads to healthy and competitive prices and allows us to cover the whole country offering each grower the possibility to buy from their preferred supplier”, said Kuiper.

He expects the customer experience to be further enhanced with Florist’s breeding department in the Netherlands constantly planning significant upgrades to their existing assortment. “One of the best things about breeding gerberas is the vast array of available colours ranging from vibrant bold tones to soft pastels”, said Kuiper. He added, “They allow us to respond quickly to changes in consumer demands. Last year, by taking over Preesman’s cut Gerbera breeding activities, Florist Holland was able to add some exciting new pastels and bi-colour blends to its already impressive portfolio of cut gerberas. Although cut gerberas is a completely different business, the Preesman genes can be used in our pot gerbera breeding programme.

We are proud to say that our pot gerberas represent the most modern genetics including flowers in all kind of colours, shapes and sizes.”

California Spring Trials

Florist Holland will kick off the 2013/2014 selling season in early April with a spectacular show for the trade and press. The Venue is Grolink in Oxnard, which is one of the many locations of the 2013 California Spring Trials. This event offers Florist Holland the ideal

Garvinea coloured mix.

FloriLine Halloween mix.

platform to showcase the latest breeding breakthroughs and to shake hands with an industry-wide audience.

“At this professional event, we welcome big box retailers, representatives of supermarket chains and numerous other local growers, wholesalers, distributors and retail florists”, said Kuiper.

The event is always extremely well-attended. “All brokers are there and large growers normally travel in groups. Some broker delegations includes over a hundred people arriving simultaneously! Like its European counterpart Flower Trials, the California Spring Trials is a truly international event attracting industry professionals from Australia, Canada and Asian countries.”

Florist Holland will treat its guests to a stunning indoor and outdoor display of its four types of revo-

lutionary pot gerberas including the brand new Sundayz (see box).

The company is also excited to announce another showstopper, the lavishly decorated veranda and border garden created by a Dutch flower designer who will also create a specialist US section to cater for customers request for pot gerberas with large flowers and bold colours that don’t fade.

There is hardly an event that can rival the California Spring Trials.

“The California Spring Trials as well as the OFA Short Course in Ohio have enabled us to gain market share while also strengthening our brands, a must for long-term success in the pot plant business,” stressed Kuiper.

Patio Gerbera.

but steadily making its way up the ladder to the number one position.

“This year, Garvinea will make its major breakthrough. The industry knows how Garvinea must be grown, handled and marketed.

Garvinea is a high end patio and garden plant targeting impulse buyers. It is highly important that these impulse buyers are informed about the difference between a cheaper, seed-raised pot gerbera with short shelf life and a vegetative Garvinea with perennial beauty.”

Branding

Speaking of branding, the Flori Line brought more customers to the brand, while Garvinea is slowly

>>>

March 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

19

Spring Trials Sundayz Florist Holland has launched a new sturdy, seed-raised gerbera, specially designed for use on patio and balcony. They are launching it with the Bring Sunny Colours Outside tagline.

Sundayz pot gerbera features double flowers and is a cool crop which can be grown at lower temperatures. Available in 4 mixes: maxi, midi mini and micro. The minis are available in 7 individual colours.

Changing market

Commenting on the overall economic outlook, Kuiper sees a rapidly changing market. “By now we all know that we are going through tough economic times.

But in some ways people are getting used to the crisis. Meanwhile we see an interesting new trend towards ready container plants for instant impact. People have a busy schedule nowadays and spend less time on gardening. As a result the container market continues to grow and that’s good news for us as Garvinea, for example, makes the ideal patio plant.”

Overall the outlook is promising.

“In January, I returned for the third year in row to the USA where the experience and the insights of our partners have greatly improved the quality of our product. In Flori Line, for example the liners are now 6 to 7 weeks old at delivery instead of eight weeks. Eight weeks is far too late to deliver and it made the crop flower unevenly. The result now is a perfectly uniform crop which looks much better. We also provided the growers with tips for growing in paper pots and solved

the problems caused by PGR’s. As the crop time for our pot gerberas is on average one week shorter compared to the competitors, the plants don’t need PGR’s.

Huge step forwards

Aesthetically, technically and genetically speaking, the new Garvinea Sweet series including disease and pest resistant large flowered Garvinea marks a huge step forwards. Sweet Garvineas are now available in purple (Sweet Dreams), golden yellow (Sweet Honey), pink (Sweet Sixteen) and orange (Sweet Glow). In Garvineas we also extended our range of spiders which are now available in red, white, peach, orange, light yellow and deep yellow.

“As for the vegetative line of Patio Gerbera, the number of flowers per plant has dramatically increased while we have added the new ‘Grand Canyon’, a pompon type in the same colours as the famous ‘Everglades’”, announced Kuiper by adding that the new Patio Gerbera varieties are early flowering and therefore quick to market.

Home market

After the U.S.A events, Florist will participate in the Dutch/German Flower Trials from June 11 to 14.

It will be the 9th time that Florist Holland will organise a promotional event there. The Dutch home market for pot gerbera is important with Florist. Talks with Holland’s world famous spring garden are underway to once again set up a Garvinea garden display which really triggers the demand.

“Garvineas made their debut there a few years ago, just before they hit the market. By then we had already received an awful lot of phone calls from people asking where they could buy our Garvineas. Following this success, large garden centre chains embraced the Garvinea and nominated it for their annual Garden Awards. Now in its second year, the Garvinea Road Show is set to take place once again when a hippie Volkswagen bus with colourful Garvinea flowers will drive to the local garden centres to explain the ins and outs of Garvinea to its customers. Kuiper: “On the spot demonstrations are one of the best methods to boost sales. Word of mouth will do the rest.” |||

March 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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22

Breeding PKM/AS try to put quality into everything they do. A continuous search for new and improved products has taken the Danish nursery around the globe while providing deep insights into the kingdom of plants

PKM’s strive for excellence through continuous improvements T

by Lotte Bjarke

he long history behind Fairytale Flowers® from Danish PKM A/S is the story of two generations of growers with one common goal: To achieve the best possible results in plant quality as well as assortment.

Today the brand Fairytale Flowers® is synonymous with high quality, but the search for even better quality and new, exciting products is ongoing.

“We will always try to do even better,” said company owner Kristian Madsen of PKM A/S quoting his father Poul Madsen who founded the company in 1948.

Planting of mother stock at Fairy Flowers.

Creating new plants

Breeder Christian Hald: “Hundreds of wild species worldwide mean a large potential for making a real difference through the breeding work.”

Facts and figures 190,000 m2 greenhouses in Odense, Denmark 60,000 m2 open air fields in Denmark 30,000 m2 greenhouses in Kenya 200 employees 22 million plants per year Campanula, Schlumbergera, Rhipsalidopsis, Lavandula, Helleborus MPS-A www.pkm.dk

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | March 2013

The breeding department’s strong effort has brought brand new plant products on the market in recent years. Christian Hald, who is in charge of the breeding, promises that there is more to come. A deep insight into the kingdom of plants is the basis of the excellent breeding results in Schlumbergera, Rhipsalidopsis and – of course – Campanula.

“We are implementing the same breeding concept for all our crops but Campanula is special. Hundreds of wild species worldwide mean a large potential for making a real difference through the breeding work,” explained Christian Hald.

Fairytale Flowers® is famous for Campanula Get Mee® and even though this variety has proven to be top of the market for many years, PKM’s breeders work tirelessly to improve the brand.

“Seen from the outside the improvements we can achieve with Get Mee® are small. But we have a strong focus on further minimising the risk of loss during transport and in the shops and have achieved considerable improvements as demanded by our clients,” said Christian Hald. He added, “Last year, the novelty Dark Get Mee® with darker blue flowers hit the market. Dark flowers that don’t fade have extended the shelf life of Get Mee® considerably.”

Longer shelf life and less need for chemicals in the production are top priorities for the breeding department at PKM A/S. But the breeding activities also aim at bringing brand new products onto the market. The goal is to launch one outstanding novelty each year, but 2013 is a special year with several exciting novelties being introduced.

New Fairytale Flowers 2013

Campanula Lovely Mee® is a C. poscharskyana type. Formerly known from the perennial border but now tamed by PKM as a nice, compact pot plant product.

Fairy Flowers Kenya. Flemming Schmidt from Denmark on visit to discuss the effect of the biological pest control in the greenhouses with Grace and Sylvester who are in charge of packing and shipping respectively production at Fairy Flowers.

Expanding in Kenya

Breeding is important in order to create new and better plant products. But breeding alone does not the trick. This is why a constant focus on optimizing cultivation techniques and production facilities also is a key target for PKM A/S. And this is why PKM A/S is expanding not only in Denmark but also in Kenya.

“The climate in Kenya is highly suited for the production of high quality cuttings of Schlumbergera and Rhipsalidopsis thanks to high light intensity and temperatures between 10oC and 27oC degrees Celcius,” outlined Erik Moes, who is production manager at PKM. In 2008, PKM A/S established the nursery Fairy Flowers in Kenya in a joint venture with a Kenyan partner. It includes 10,000 m2 of

Campanula Magic Mee® is an interspecific hybrid with pollen free flowers. This means that the flowers do not wither after pollination as normal Campanula flowers do. The flowers are open like blue stars and the clone is naturally compact meaning no need for growth retardents.

greenhouse space for the production of MPS certified cuttings of Shlumbergera and Rhipsalidopsis from Elite plants grown in Denmark.

The results of the Kenyan production proved to be so satisfactory that PKM A/S decided in 2012 to initiate a new nursery project in Kenya. Hadithi Plants Ltd will be erected over three years the first 10,000 m2 in 2012, 10,000 m2 more in 2013 and 5,000 in 2014.

Thanks to the production facilities in Kenya it is now possible to produce large amounts of quality cuttings not only for the production of Fairytale Flowers® Schlumbergera FLAME® and Rhipsalidopsis FIRE® at PKM A/S in Denmark but also for fellow growers around the world requiring the well-known PKM assortment and quality. |||

Campanula Charming Mee® is an interspecific hybrid belonging to the C. rotundifolia group. It brings the atmosphere of the wilderness into the garden thus matching new garden trends perfectly. Light purple flowers and a natural grace are characteristics of Charming Mee®.

March 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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Potted Plants In the international pot plant league, Anthurium is already very big. Last year, along with Phalaenopsis and Kalanchoe, it was one of the top three product lines at the FloraHolland clock auctions. Soon it might become more important still. In mid-March, RijnPlant Breeding BV will be introducing a new range of coldtolerant varieties.

If they fulfill their promise, they could quickly become a patio favourite in countries with cool summers, in Northern Europe and elsewhere.

by John Sutton

Cold tolerant pot Anthuriums

T

he most important parental species of the modern pot Anthurium is A.andreanum, native to tropical forests in South America. 15ºC is the minimum temperature maintained by European growers of the plant in their glasshouses. RijnPlant has been working for years to produce plants and flowers that will thrive in sheltered outdoor conditions for as long a period in the year as night temperatures stay above 10ºC.

ISO 9001

Last year, no fewer than twenty-five new RijnPlant varieties performed successfully in cold tolerance trials conducted by the FloraHolland Knowledge Centre. Rijnplant’s Maurice van Leeuwen said plants of these varieties will be sold with special labels, so that everyone knows that they are importantly different. The test conditions were carefully designed, in procedures that satisfied the high standards of the ISO 9001 quality management system.

In-the-shop-simulation

Maurice van Leeuwen

The testing protocol included an in-the-shop simulation and a consumer appraisal. Each variety was tested for at least five weeks.

The successful varieties were also put through a transportation simulation, and the outcome showed that they could be safely transported in 9.0ºC cold chain conditions.

This is a great advantage because it means that they can be delivered in vehicles along with a wide range of other pot plants and cut flowers.

of 9ºC. In the second group – of six varieties – there was a fully satisfactory performance at 6ºC. The appearance of the flowers is almost identical to that of normal varieties. They are just as longlasting, too. The critical difference is the tougher, thicker spathes. The colour range is wide, and includes the hugely popular red as well as orange and white. Examples include ‘Bugatti Red’, ‘Nano Red’, ‘Baby Cherry’, and ‘Prince of Orange’.

Two groups

FloraHolland Trade Fair

The twenty-five varieties have been divided into two groups, as some have proved even more cold-tolerant than others. All of the varieties performed well at a test temperature

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | March 2013

At the next FloraHolland Trade Fair at Naaldwijk, to be held 13-15 March, a selection of these newcomers will be on show. The real test, though, will come on patios

and balconies throughout Europe in the summer this year.

RijnPlant BV is one of the world’s leading breeders and propagators of Anthurium, both for pot plants and for cut flower production. At their Westland nurseries the company has twenty hectares of modern glasshouses.

As well as Anthurium, Bougainvillea and Heliconia are also important specialisms for RijnPlant.

Every year many millions of young plants are dispatched to growers in the Netherlands and in other countries all over the world.

These include the USA, Brazil, The People’s Republic of China, India and South Korea. |||

World News

Certifiable in California

Ireland

Déjà Vu

A new Irish primrose for Whitehouse garden Spring is in the air and some of the more brave wild Irish primroses are peeping through their winter foliage.

On St Patricks Day 2013 a new primrose will herald springtime in Washington. A special Irish primrose has been named in honour of the maternal ancestral village of USA President Barack Obama.

The first plants of the primrose named Primula Moneygall are already growing locally in USA and now waiting for introduction to the Whitehouse garden. This new Irish primrose variety will be gifted to President and Mrs Obama, during their state visit, by An Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Mr Enda Kenny and his wife Mrs Fionnuala Kenny on St Patricks Day 2013.

For millennia in Ireland flowering of the wild primrose has been one of the first natural signs of progression from winter to spring. The humble primrose has given rise to positive and varied primrose folklore.

Primula Moneygall has similar flower, colour and habit as our native Irish primrose. Along with a number of other new Irish primroses now available worldwide Moneygall has been raised from old Irish varieties through many years of conservation, breeding and selection work by Joe Kennedy and Pat FitzGerald. This variety through its natural simplicity and profuse combination of single, poly and hose-in-hose flower formations is a natural spring treat in garden containers, borders or other planting situations. The Moneygall Primrose is ideal for mass planting in garden, park, village or town planting schemes. This new primrose variety is winter hardy and can be planted in autumn or spring and will look well with spring flowering bulbs such as crocus and snowdrop.

The breeder of Primula Moneygall, Fitzgerald Nurseries, hopes this selected primrose variety heralds a new spring for us all in 2013 and enhances the joys of spring in the Whitehouse garden for generations to come. Primula Moneygall will be available as an addition to the current range of Irish primroses from autumn 2013.

For further news keep up to date at www.facebook.com/ IrishPrimrose or http://fitzgeraldnurseries.blogspot.com or contact pat@fitzgeraldnurseries. com Twitter @patfitzgerald. |||

by John Ingwersen

I was driving my car the other day, when the oil change light came on.

A small moment to be sure, but significant in a small kind of way. That light on the dash signifies so many more kilometers (or miles) under your belt, meetings made, customers visited, another quarter or so of trips to work. Odd trips to the post office, the dentist, the zoo, the airport to pick up relatives, and the beat goes on… The main thing is that the little light never fails to come on and remind you about something, in this case, yet another errand.

I think columnists need a similar tool. It should be attached to our favorite writing instrument (i.e. laptop, desktop, mac. etc…), and come on when we start to rehash material we’ve already covered at some time in our columnar existence. (Isn’t there an app for that???) This would spare the writer the pain of having to laboriously open and review what can become a fairly long list of previous efforts, in order to avoid duplication.

Which reminds me of the definition for redundant….’under redundant, see redundant’ …All that being said, if anything you read below sounds familiar, it probably is.

So yes, where were we? 2013 to be sure… so what’s going on out there?

Here in California January was a fairly typical cold winter month. A four day cold spell put everyone on edge, and did some damage, but not enough to complain about. Business was slow, but as we head into February, the term that seems to describe the mood in the local industry is ‘cautiously optimistic’. How much is caution and how much is optimism remain to be seen, but it’s the first time in several years that one can use those terms in the same sentence without being in some state of inebriation. The housing market is stabilizing, the political scene is settling (whether you agree with it or not, life must go on), and any sense of crisis is fading into the background. I’d like to sound more happy about this, but in a way I’m thinking it’s partially just an acceptance of a ‘new normal’. It’s not necessarily good, but it’s not overtly bad. Given where we’ve been, I suppose that’s some kind of moral victory.

On the international front, it looks like Europe has begun pulling back from the brink vis a vis the debt crisis, or at least that’s how the media here are portraying it. I hope so… Asia is slowing down, China only looking at 7.5% growth this year. Gosh, that’s terrible.

Beyond the big picture, it’s just another year, getting ready to change the mental and physical gears in the switch from the slack winter season to the hyper-frenetic spring and summer. Lots to do, and the usual not enough time to do it. And only three more months or so til that light on the dashboard pops off again…

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

March 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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26

United States After 15 years Colombian and US flower growers have decided that there is no longer a valid reason to fund the Floral Promotion Organisation. Here’s a rundown of what was tried and in the end broke down.

by William Armellini

Industry not ready to work together for promotion

T

he FPO began in 1998 as a project to funnel the legal funds that were being spent to battle antidumping and countervailing duty law suits brought on by the California growers to combat Colombian imports. This battle had raged on for years and as we now know the only winners were the attorneys.

After a long fight the two sides decided to lie down their litigation and use the money in more productive ways. Thus the FPO was formed to do just that. The funding contributions were voluntary from Colombian and US flower growers.

The total amount received and spent remains a secret but we can

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | March 2013

assume it was substantial since they had $900,000 to distribute from the kitty. My research implies that the Colombian growers supplied around 90% of the total funding for the FPO.

Main focus

Phil Nowers and Will Carlson were the founding management of the FPO. Later Stanley Pohmer (Pohmer Consulting) was chosen to run the FPO whose mission was to promote flowers and floral education to the public. According to Stanley: “The main beneficiaries of the FPO were the consumers and the cut flower industry. While we worked with SAF and FMRF, (Floral Marketing Research Fund) they were not the main focus over the years. And yes, these two organisations were the major recipients of the latest $900,000 contributions.”

He added, "In addition to the SAF PR Fund and the FMRF projects, the major portion of the FPO funds were focused on direct to consumer activities including fully integrated marketing campaigns (including TV, radio, print, supporting POP and PR) in major markets, national PR to consumers on the benefits of flowers as well as C&H, creating our consumer website populated with design ideas for making flowers an important part of the viewers lives and lifestyles, and helping educate our industry on the need for and ways to communicate more effectively with our consumer in publications and trade event sessions.”

It should be noted that the AFE was the coordinator of the FMRF programme. In my opinion the most notable example of these programs is Flowerpossiblities.com.

Funded by the FPO to promote flowers and floral education to the public. This site is stocked with lots of floral information designed for

Stanley Pohmer

the consumer. There are educational kids program and tons of other data that needs to be available to consumers so they can better enjoy the products that the industry sells.

Not yet ready to work collectively

After 15 years the two sides have decided that there is no longer a good reason to fund this project.

A recent press release stated the cause as follows: “However, we’ve also learned that the cut flower industry is not yet ready to work collectively towards achieving a sustainable industry-wide funding and marketing effort, so the FPO Board has decided to work through other floral organisations to help expand their marketing and research activities. The Board of Directors of the Flower Promotion Organisation (FPO), an alliance of Colombian and US cut flowers growers and a 501c6 organisation, has authorized the donation of $600,000 to the Floral Marketing Research Fund (FMRF) and $300,000 to the PR Fund at the Society of American Florists to fund market and consumer research and PR activities that will help increase the consumption of cut flowers in all retail channels.”

Prices

FloraHolland clock sales 2013

Category Cut Flowers

Was the FPP considered a success?

According to the press release, “The FPO as an organisation will continue to exist, along with their current Board of Directors, for the purpose of being a forum where Colombian and US cut flower growers can continue to discuss and promote industry issues and goals.”

Was the FPO considered a success? Stanley stated, “Yes, from the standpoint that we tested and measured consumer purchase behavior in response to different communication approaches and learned from it. Yes, from the standpoint that we raised industry awareness on the need and ways to reach our customer. And yes from the standpoint that we were able to bring the Colombian and US cut flower growers together to work collectively on common goals (though they continued to compete in the marketplace). But no, from the standpoint that our industry still isn't ready to work as an industry to communicate as an industry to the consumer.”

No surprise

So in the end I believe that stopping the legal fight was productive and the formation of the FPO a good alternative. The fact that lots of money was donated for the good of the industry as a whole is impressive and a much better use of the funds being wasted on litigation.

The fact that these programmes will end based on the above comment that the industry is not ready to work together for promotion is no surprise. There have been many attempts to do this and each time it fails for the same reasons.

Basically, these initiatives break down when deciding: who has to pay to promote what?

In the end these were funds could have been wasted somewhere or taken as profits so to those that were part of the giving should be applauded since the money was spent on something positive.

Finally as of today the Colombians still enjoy a large market share and the California growers have for the most part moved on to products that better suit the weather and logistics. |||

Product Rose large Tulipa single flowered Chrysanthemum spray Lilium oriental Rosa sweetheart Gerbera mini Chrysanthemum disbudded Tulipa double flowered Cymbidium large flowered per stem Gerbera large flowered Chrysanthemum santini Freesia single flowered Hyacinthus orientalis Alstroemeria Hippeastrum

Total Top 15 Indoor Plants

Weeks 1 to 7 Quantity % 13:12 Price 2013 Price 2012 260,683,725 -7.1 0.31 0.29 245,303,567 -22.2 0.15 0.11 68,892,643 -11.9 0.39 0.37 10,533,445 -3.9 0.83 0.82 17,996,747 -29.3 0.13 0.12 47,700,220 -3.1 0.14 0.20 15,844,845 1.5 0.58 0.62 36,383,610 -24.2 0.18 0.14 1,653,169 2.6 2.89 3.21 8,893,170 -8.4 0.32 0.37 14,371,832 -7.7 0.30 0.28 16,758,450 5.0 0.19 0.21 10,454,315 -7.4 0.30 0.27 13.645.540 -0.7 0.23 0.23 5,683,483 20.7 0.58 0.89 774,798,752 -13.5 0.26 0.23

Phalaenopsis

2,657,020

23.5

3.66

3.79

Bromelia

1,233,932

-4.6

1.38

1.45

791,986 7.245,937 1.891,796 3,048,381 406,328 5.160,723 821,253 429.358 23,686,714

-1.4 -1.5 -1.2 19.4 -9.9 15.9 -25.9 -29.8 4.4

3.04 0.38 0.86 0.56 0.72 0.52 1.45 2.52 1.06

2.93 0.38 0.78 0.65 0.71 0.52 1.41 2.06 1.06

295,785 66,440 1.254,784 77,931 355,276 2.050,198

-44.3 -17.2 42.8 -37.2 -47.0 -10.3

1.75 3.10 0.27 2.99 0.87 0.78

1.18 3.30 0.26 1.91 0.49 0.74

Anthurium Potted Hyacinthus Potted rose Kalanchoe Miscellanous indoor plants Potted Narcissus Dracaena Ficus Total Top 10 Garden Plants Helleborus Camellia Primula Buxus Decoration material Total Top 5 Source FloraHolland

March 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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YOUNG PL ANTS • Euphorbia milii • Cupressus Wilma • Ficus varieties • Fuchsia varieties • Impatiens N.G. • Pelargoniums • Petunia A wide selection of cutting raised bedding and patio plants.

Handelskwekerij M. van Veen BV Aalsmeerderweg 725, Rijsenhout, Holland P.O. Box 73, 1430 AB Aalsmeer, Holland Tel.: 0031 297 326516 Fax: 0031 297 328001 info@mvanveenbv.com www.mvanveenbv.com

The orchid professionals

®

since 1933

Leading producer of young orchid plants orchids@floricultura.com

www.floricultura.com

A

International Events March 2013 5 to 6. Belgium Florall Spring Fair at the Flanders Convention Centre in Ghent.

T (32) 9 241 5091 F 932) 9 241 5095 info@florall.be www.florall.be

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 9 to 18. Taiwan Taiwan International Orchid Show International Exhibition Co Ltd. and to be held in the Shanghai info@tios.org.tw World Exhibition Centre. www.tios.org.tw www.hortiflorexpo.com 13 to 15. United States World Floral Expo 2013 at the 19 to 21. United Kingdom Jakob K. Javits convention centre, RHS Show Cardiff in the New York. parklands of Cardiff Castle. www.hpp.nl www.rhs.org.uk 13 to 15. The Netherlands FloraHolland Trade Fair Naaldwijk. www.floraholland.com/tradefair

22 to 25. France Annual General Meeting of CIOPORA in Angers, France. www.ciopora.org

13 to 17. Switzerland Giardina, the country’s leading home and garden show at the Messe Zurich convention centre. www.giardina.ch

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

15 to 24. Canada Canada Blooms March 15 to 24 Toronto, Canada www.canadablooms.com 20 to 22. Ethiopia Hortiflora at the Millenium Hall, Addis Abeba. www.hpp.nl 20 to 24. Australia Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show at the Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton Gardens. info@melbflowershow.com.au www.melbflowershow.com.au 21 March to 21 May 21.

The Netherlands Keukenhof, the world famous spring garden at Lisse. www.keukenhof.nl April 2013 6 to 11. United States California Spring Trials www.ofa.org/springtrials 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

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

21 to 25. United Kingdom Chelsea Flower Show. www.rhs.org.uk 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 11 to 14. The Netherlands Flower Trials in the Aalsmeer, Westland and Rheinland Westfalen (Germany) areas. www.flowertrials.com

27 April to 5 May. Korea International Horticulture Goyang Korea show 2013 in Goyang’s Ilsan Lake Park.

17 to 21. The Netherlands sales@flower.com Grosci 2013, international symposium on growing media and www.flower.or.kr soilless cultivation. growing media and soilless cultivation at the Holiday Inn in Leiden.

May 2013 Grosci2013.symposium@wur.nl 9 to 11. Thailand HortiAsia in Bangkok. Now in its 18-21. United States second year, HortiAsia will focus International Floriculture Expo on the entire supply chain of fruits, (IFE) at the Miami Beach vegetables, flowers and plants.

Convention Centre.

Venue: Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC).

19 to 21. Brazil hortiasia@vnuexhibitions.com 20th Hortitec at the Holambra Convention Centre, Holambra/SP. www.hortiasia.net www.hortitec.com.br 21 to 24. the Netherlands 2013 Spring Mechanisation Fair, 25 to 26. United Kingdom the premier trade show for the bulb The National Plant Show at industry featuring the latest breeding Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, breakthroughs in lilies and cutting Warwickshire, CV8 2LZ, UK edge machinery.

T +44 (0)118 9303132 F +44 (0)118 9323453 www.springmechanisation.com 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 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 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 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 September 2013 9 to 11. Russia FlowersExpo 2013 at the Crocus Expo in Moscow.

T (7) 495 221 1251 Cell phone (8) 915 185 7903 mail@flowers-expo.ru www.flowers-expo.ru 11 to 13. Italy Flormart at the PadovaFiere exhibition centre. www.flormart.it 10 to 12. Russia Expo Flora Russia at the Gostiny Dvor convention centre, Moscow. www.hpp.nl October 2013 2 to 4. Colombia Proflora, the premier trade show for worldwide floriculture, will be held at the Corferias convention centre in Colombia’s capital, Bogotá, from October 2-4, 2013. www.proflora.org.co

March 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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World News

Ukraine Ministerial support for Flowers & Hortech Ukraine

The organisers of Flowers & HorTech Ukraine 2013 today announced that the Ministry of Regional Development, Civil Engineering, Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine has confirmed its official support and participation in Flowers & HorTech Ukraine 2013.

The Ministry expresses gratitude to the Flower Council of Ukraine for its involvement in the greening of urban areas of Ukraine and in the promotion of environmentally responsible management of flower and landscape business.

The greening of modern urban areas as well as gaining knowledge in this field and the possibility to personally assess the quality of planting material, machinery and equipment for greening are important issues nowadays.

The Ministry underlines the necessity of

M A R K E T

NEWS SERVICE

owerCents_54x124.indd 1

NEW

(MNS)

22-01-2009 15:35:52

Up-to-date price and market information

MNS ON THE WEB!

WEEKLY: Fresh cut flowers 93 varities in selected European markets 30 varieties in selected North American markets 65 varieties in selected Asian markets FORTNIGHTLY: Tropical ande Oriental Plants 45 varities in selected European markets PRICE TRENDS: Available on request for the past 3-5 years on specific products Web subscribers can access ITC/MAS product maps (72) For subscription and further information contact: MARKET NEWS SERVICE ITC, Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10 Switserland Tel: +41-22-730 0531 Fax +41-22-730 0906 E-mail: MNS-subs@intracen.org

www.intracen.org/mns

supporting Flowers & HorTech Ukraine as the leading platform for the Horticultural sector in Ukraine. The exhibition will also host an important conference which is targeted to all topics relating to Municipal Greening.

Besides the Ministry the Ukrainian State Company Ukrzelenbud also confirmed its official support and participation in Flowers & HorTech Ukraine 2013. Ukrzelenbud is the association of communal services of Ukraine which provides landscaping and maintenance of Ukrainian cities. |||

The Netherlands Ciccolella collapses under debt burden Floral wholesaler Ciccolella has filed for bankruptcy as it struggles under a mammoth debt burden of €50 million.

On Monday February 18th, the trustee for bankruptcy, Mr. Jongepier, said that plans for restart or take-over failed due to a lack of time and interested buyers.

FloraHolland has informed its members as follows, “In the current situation, the majority of the trade is handled by other companies. The so-called "Sierex"-portfolio will be continued by Paul Jong. Other buyers/ orders will be continued by other exporters.

This has mainly been initialized by Ciccolella.

The remaining trade is being redirected on initiative by growers and other exporters.

The role of FloraHolland Connect employees is supporting the growers and exporters in these transactions. Though FloraHolland had an outstanding trade credit of 5 million, this is sufficiently guaranteed and therefore the impact, on FloraHolland, is limited.”

The collapse of a firm employing over 250 personnel has shocked the flower industry, raising fears over Ciccolella’s creditors.

Ciccolella was one of the largest players in the European flower and plant trade with a turnover of € 346 million in 2010. It has been active in both the retail and wholesale segments of the marketCiccolella International consists of FPP Bloemen, Diskoflora, Top Flora International, Disva Garden Center, BBE Bloemen and Zurel Flowers Ciccolella’s parent company is listed at the stock exchange of Milan. After the announcement that the company’s international division in Holland had filed for bankruptcy, the exchange rate of Ciccolella in Italy went up from € 0,375 to € 0,41, an increase of nearly 10% based on a trade of 340.000 shares. |||

Happy Gardening

by Anthony Tesselaar

India Koppert Biological Systems sets up a base in ‘Incredible India’ Koppert had previously already opened branches in China and South Korea. The company has tapped into a new market full of opportunities in ‘Incredible India’. India is playing an increasingly prominent role in the export and biological markets in particular.

In addition, professional covered greenhouse horticulture is developing strongly in the country of more than 1.2 billion inhabitants.

Assume nothing When I took this shot at the main Amsterdam railway station a few years back, I was overwhelmed by the mass formed by these bikes. And in a strange way this image illustrates how I think many people feel about air travel, because to fly is to place yourself in close proximity with many other travelers... which brings me to this column’s topic.

Sheryl and I have regularly travelled to Bali to relax and unwind.

It all began many years ago when we were newly-weds with very little money, and the love affair - with Bali and with Sheryl - has continued over the years since.

And so there I was yet again, preparing to book our end-of-year holiday.

As I gathered together the various options - flights, accommodation - I stumbled onto a very nice deal. We could fly with an upmarket carrier in economy and stay in our preferred accommodation for the same price as flying with a cut price outfit, but in business class. At this point, if you look again at the bicycle image above, I think you’ll guess the decision I made.

Managing director Henri Oosthoek congratulates manager Udayanarayana Bhat with the establishment of Koppert India in front of the India Gate, the national monument of India.

Managing director Henri Oosthoek refers to India as one of the BRIC countries, a very important and promising market for Koppert. 'There is a huge demand for natural and biological solutions in a market in which the majority of the population is vegetarian.'

By taking this step, Koppert is also supporting the efforts of the Indian population to improve food security and safety, public health, and biodiversity within agriculture and horticulture.

Koppert India's operating base is Bangalore, the capital of the state of Karnataka. Here, the climate conditions are favourable for horticulture, and the number of greenhouse projects is increasing rapidly.

The sales focus will be primarily on natural enemies and microbiological products for greenhouse cultivation of vegetables and flowers. A number of states around Karnataka - such as Kerala and Maharashtra - are also in the picture.

The expectation is that biological crop protection below ground and above ground will become available for the whole of India over the coming years. |||

We booked the business class combo deal only to learn a lesson in life that I sometimes feel I have been reminded of throughout my life. It’s as simple as this - assume nothing; maintain a healthy cynicism; and do your research before you make your decision.

But back to the flight to Bali. The staff were fabulous, so was the food and the seats were roomy. But despite all this, we hadn’t managed to escape the packed in feeling because the space between each business class row was as tight as those in economy. We discovered this when we’d wined and dined and then (as you do), needed to use the facilities. I watched Sheryl crawl directly over me in my seat to reach the aisle, because the seat in front was partially reclined not allowing ANY space to move. Lucky I was sitting next to her.

So my point is this. It’s always a good idea to pause when you think you’ve stumbled across a really good option. Slow down and take a well informed (do your research) holistic view. Yes our business class seats were better seats, but there were just too many of them wedged into the space. A bit like those bicycles in Holland...

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

March 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

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32

France The mood at the Salon du Végétal surrounded visitors and exhibitors with a very pleasant atmosphere. The show felt very optimistic and that boosts the general economic trend.

Salon du Végétal feels very optimistic

by Ron van der Ploeg

Eternal fragrance In contrast to the deciduous, upright Daphne mezereum that bursts into flowers in mid-winter and the well-known Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata's that blooms in earliest springtime, Sapho’s newly launched Daphne x transatlantica is said to flower from April to October. Available in white (Daphne x transatlantica ‘Eternal Fragrance’ or pink (Daphne x transatlantica ‘Pink Fragrance’.

This compact semi-evergreen Daphne peaks in spring but produces irregularly flowers on new growth, which means that the blooms can continue to unfold themselves throughout summer and autumn.

According to distributor Sapho it is a cross between D. caucasica and D. sericea. It grows in a mound and flowers are supremely fragrant. Daphne x transatlantica ‘Eternal Fragrance’ was awarded the Innovert Gold Medal.

I

n French they would say “un peu aeré”, just to indicate that the 28th edition of France’s largest horticultural trade show, the Salon du Vegetal felt somewhat ‘airy’ with lots of space.

In fact, show organiser Serge Tsvétoukhine reported that the number of exhibitors decreased slightly this year. “On the positive side, we registered a 3% rise in attendance over last year with over 15,000 industry professionals gathering in the Angers convention centre,” he said.

Many of the aisles were so crowded (especially where free food and drinks were served) you couldn’t even move through them. Jam packed was also the Innovert Award Ceremony on the first night of the show. The Innovert medals are widely regarded as the Oscars for the French horticultural industry and the Innovert Pavilion in the Novaxia Hall offered the perfect opportunity to see some of the most innovative products and learn about the latest industry trends, all in one place. |||

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | March 2013

Party time Party time at Syngenta FloriPro Services where the sales team cladded in pink shirts offered free candy floss to visitors to celebrate their first prize at the Innovert Novelty competition.

Awarded a gold medal was the cutting-raised and powdery mildew-tolerant Verbena Lanai® ‘Red Twister’. Flowers are tricoloured featuring hues of red, pink and white.

Early to bloom and large flowering, Lanai verbenas have already won several awards as the best Verbena series ever and its branching habit makes it ideal for baskets and other containers.

Phalaenopsis steal the show

Minier celebrates 175th anniversary Celebrating its 175th anniversary this year, the 300 ha Minier nursery receives 40% of its revenue from international sales. Situated over four sites in Beaufort en Vallée, Brain-sur-l’Authion, Sainte Gemme sur Loire and La Ménitré, the company has earned a strong reputation in Hibiscus, Magnolia, Syringa, Wisteria, Philadelphus, Campsis, Potentilla and Spirea. They do young plants as well as finished products.

Occupying pride of place at Minier’s lavishly decorated stand this year was Forsythia x intermedia Mikador.

Nothing lights up the spring landscape like Forsythia but left to their own devices, this shrub tends to take on a rather wild-looking shape, as their growth is often unkempt and straggly. Minier has managed to tame the plant, reducing it to a more regular shape which is highly suited for small garden and patio pots.

They say hardy nursery stock growers are likely benefit from Mikador as in contrast other Forsythia x intermedia varieties it doesn’t show problems with dry and wilting branches. Minier expect demand for this new Forsysthia to be strong in France and exports markets such as Poland.

Grown in P9 pots.

Native to New Zealand, Pittosporum tenuifolium is also known under the Maori names Kohuhu, Kohukohu, or Black Matipo. In its native habitat it can grow very tall but Minier’s Pittosporum tenuifolium Emerald Dome stays very compact and illuminates the garden with its oval shape and small, shiny leaves.

No regular pruning, you can shape forsythia bushes to conform to a more regular shape, if you so choose.

The potential growth in the European market made the Taiwan-based Phalaenopsis breeder and propagator Okidland Biotechnology decide to invest in the French market.

“Thorough market research revealed that the demand for Phalaenopsis in Europe will continue to be robust, especially in France.

It has been predicted that in Europe there is room for 120,000,000 Phalaenopsis. As France represents 12% of the European demand this is equal to 14,400,000 plants. Based on these estimations we acquired the greenhouse facility of former grower Johannes Valentin in Hyeres to transform it into a state-of-the art Phalaenopsis nursery. The 20,000m2 greenhouses are eco friendly and heated by solar energy.”

Okidland France specialising in the commercial production of Phalaenopsis, for culture as a pot plant as well as for cut flowers, focuses mainly on the domestic market, especially the high end florists in cities such as Paris, Nice and Cannes.

While Okidland France only recently opened its doors in Hyeres, Flossan France told us that their production facility in Bosc Benard Cresy (Normandy) just shut down allowing them to fully concentrate themselves on the wholesale of Phalaenopsis.

Flossan’s sales director France, Rauna Ni-Huiban explained that Flossan France was founded in 2000 and is owned by the giant Taiwan Flora International which is located in Houli Taichung, Taiwan. Rauna Ni-Huiban cited aging outdated facilities, underutilized production capacity and the lack of sufficiently skilled nursery managers as main reason to shut down production in France.

Flossan’s premium quality orchids are now all grown in Spaulding, the UK, where the company trades as V-Flora and has a 20,000m2 greenhouse operation. Flossan’s cash and carry store at the Rungis wholesale market now serves customers across France with abundantly flowering Phalaenopsis which are sold under the ‘Ochidées Haute Couture’ label as they feature extremely elegant and large flowers.

Set me on fire

Nothing evokes the feel of a warm Spanish night quite as magnificently as Bougainvillea ‘Flame’. Its bracts that surround the inconspicuous true flowers are small, pointed and brick-red. Ets. Horticoles Cannebeth near Montpellier, France, is a 35,000m2 specialist Mediterranean plant nursery growing over 85 varieties of Bougainvillea, 15 varieties of Dipladenia (Lannes) and 50 varieties of Lantana.

‘Flame’ is the first Bougainvillea that has been launched under the Flame and CO label which is set to host other spectacular varieties in the near future. In a marketplace where competition is extremely fierce they prefer to protect themselves by not mentioning the original breeder.

‘Flame’ has a compact growth habit and makes a great patio or houseplants in colder climates.

Long bloom time from spring through autumn.

March 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

33

34

Australia Unlike other agricultural pursuits which receive media attention the commercial cut flower industry is little acknowledged.

The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS) offers the perfect opportunity to get better acquainted with the latest trends and developments in floriculture worldwide.

by Rennae Christensen

MIFGS set for March 20-24

P

eople love fresh flowers.

Where once consumers had space for flower gardens we no longer have the space, are less inclined to grow and cut our own, and garden designs have also changed. In the past, presenting someone with an arrangement of flowers was considered to offer insight to the human condition and innermost sentiments such as love, appreciation, celebration, and condolence.

or to be bought to give someone else. Now with the focus centred strongly on design and lifestyle, arrangements are less structured, and consumers are choosing to buy flowers for their homes that signify consumers' personalities, the kind of day they've had, colours that match decor, and or the esteem with which they hold guests. In the corporate world fresh flowers at reception are a window into the brand.

Design and lifestyle

Viable ‘go-to’ industry

Flowers however are no longer thought to be just for an occasion

Unlike other agricultural pursuits which receive media attention the commercial cut flower industry is little acknowledged. It's an agricultural industry that is highly specialised. Around the world the cut flower trade has been in existence since the 1600's and is now worth mega multi-billions. The trade is considered a viable 'go-to' industry for many third world countries and workers and is a key element of the consumer driven cosmetics, fashion and events industries. Dare one ask what would a wedding be without flowers?

Australia

In Australia, it is estimated that there are over 3,000 individuals involved in the growth of cut flowers.

At grower level, the industry brings in about $400 million dollars to the economy but is worth around 3 times more at retail. Forecast to total $909 million over the 2012– 2013 Australian financial year, specialist florist retail is thought to be responsible for half of the sales of cut flowers nationally.

Victoria is the leading producer of high quality flowers and accounts for over 40 percent of the national average. Cut flower cultivation

www.FloraCultureInternational.com | March 2013

is scattered across Victoria from Portland to Gippsland and beyond and from traditional overseas varieties to native Australian varieties.

The majority of cut flower growers are small business people (often into the third generation of the same family)- there are few large businesses involved; and the task is very labour intensive.

MIFGS

Some of Victoria's best commercial cut flower growers, florists, floral designers and stylists are showcased annually at Growers Avenue in the Royal Exhibition Building for Melbourne's International Flower & Garden Show. This year's show will be open to the public from March Wednesday 20th - Sunday 24th March, 2013. Visiting Growers Avenue is a chance for consumers to see dozens of different cut flower varieties and support a lesser contemplated local industry.

Recognised as an event of national and international significance MIFGS is listed as a hallmark, ‘must see’ event on the Australian tourism calendar and is ranked in the top five flower shows in the world.

The event, which brings together the cream of the Nursery, Landscaping and Cut Flower industries and is respectively co-hosted by the Nursery and Garden Industry Victoria (NGIV) and Flowers Victoria (FV), and partnered by Landscaping Victoria and Australian Garden Centres Accreditation Scheme (AGCAS), is being held from Wednesday 20th - Sunday 24th March, 2013 and is staged within the world heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building and surrounding south Carlton Gardens. Visit www.melbflowershow.com.au |||

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Floriculture Research Centre to be set up in Pune.

Netherlands & Thailand to assist Sikkim develop floriculture.

Floriculture industry to cross Rs 8,000 crore by 2015: Assocham

February 1, 2013.

February 25, 2013.

February 8, 2013.

Pune: The vice chancellor of

Gangtok: Sikkim government will

Bangalore: Growing at a

Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth,

be signing an agreement with

compounded annual growth

Mr. Tukaram More, confirmed

Dutch and Thai floriculturists

rate (CAGR) of about 30

that the Directorate of Floriculture

participating in the International

per cent, India’s floriculture

Research will soon be set up in

Flower Show, Gangtok in order

industry is likely to cross the

the city. He was speaking at XXII

to build up its potential in flower

Rs 8,000-crore mark by 2015,

annual group meeting of All India

cultivation.

industry body Assocham said

Co-ordinated Research Project on

The geographical & environmental

today.

Floriculture which was held in the

conditions being perfect for

The floriculture industry in India

city.

floriculture, the agreement would

is poised at about Rs 3,700 crore,

The Directorate of Floriculture

lead Sikkim to be better equipped

with just 0.61 per cent share in

Research will be come up on about

to supply the needs of International

the global floriculture sector,

10 hectares of land owned by College

market. The floriculturists from

which is likely to reach 0.89 per

of Agriculture, Pune. While 35-40

Netherlands and Thailand are ready

cent by 2015, said a study titled,

hectares of land will be utilized for

to share their expertise and

‘Indian Floriculture Industry:

raising poly-houses and a testing

technology to develop hybrids of

The Way Ahead’ released

centre at Manjri, near Hadapsar.

Sikkim’s cymbidium & orchids.

by Assocham.

Read more

Read more

Read more

u

Source: Times of India

u

Source: Business Standard

u

Source: Indian Express

Assam government sanctions 5 crore to develop floriculture hub.

Guwahati: The government has sanctioned Rs. 5 Crore to establish a floriculture market in Hajo area.

This market will be a first of its kind in the entire northeast.Deepak Sarkar, the vice president of Assam Horticultural Society, said, “The state is lagging behind in floriculture. So the government as well as the horticultural society are giving due emphasis to modernize horticulture and floriculture in the state. We are going to establish a floriculture marketin the Hajo area as the place has a huge potential for growing flowers.”

Read more u Source: Times of India

March 2013 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com

37

Brighter than

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are 速 varieties PEARLS olombia), (C l o tr n an). y Florco kyo (Jap tested b d OTA To d (NL), an n lla o H Flora se life of perior va ved a su ro p lts su All test速re eties. ri Pearls va

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