"Kenya: "Up to 15% price increase for Mother's Day"

For many countries, Mothers Day is around the corner and growers are making their final preparations for this Day, Sunday May 10. Also at Harvest Limited, a company that grows 40 different varieties of roses in a 40ha greenhouse, it is a busy period. "This week, our final Mother's Day roses are leaving the greenhouse", says Gilbert Gathu, Sales and Marketing Manager at Harvest Limited

Photos: Nathalie Bertrams/ Fairtrade

"Valentine's Day and Women's Day are usually our peak periods during the year. However, this year's Mother's Day is, for us, better than other years" says Gathu. Last year, Harvest Limited received their Fair-trade Best Premium Committee award and are therefore recognizing an extra increase in volumes and good prices for their flowers. "Especially for Mother's Day we see an increase in our rose prices; they are 10-15% higher than usual."

On a regular basis, the flowers of Harvest Limited are being exported to countries all over the world. "However, during Mother's Day there is an increasing demand for roses from Europe and the USA. Especially popular are the pink and white roses", says Gathu.

The roses of Harvest Limited are being cultivated hydroponically in plastic greenhouses with a total acreage of 40ha. The first farm, the Athi Farm (22ha) is situated at an altitude of of 1500M and specializes in production of Spray roses and standard roses. The second farm, the Top Farm (12ha) and third farm the New Top Farm (6ha) are situated at an altitude of 2400M and are specialized in the production of Premium T-Hybrids and premium Spray roses. Annually, 30 million stems leave the greenhouse. Next to their Fairtrade certification, Harvest Limited is also KFC (Kenya Flower Council) Silver, Global Gap, MPS SQ, ABC certified.

For more information
Harvest Limited

Gilbert Gathu
Email: gilbert@harvestflowers.com
www.harvestflowers.com