"Like four years ago, we showcased our varieties mainly to the florists and importers and directed them to the farm where they could order them. This year, we see an increasing interest from the Russian growers", says one of the exhibiting breeders.
Also the number of growers in Russia seems to be growing. "In the last five years, the quantity of farms has grown, and it is now bigger than 10 years ago. Every year, new producers and farms pop up", a Russian grower tells us. In order to make this all happen, growers receive financial support from the government.
And this development seems to bring opportunities for the Dutch as well. "In order to produce a good quality product, many growers invite Dutch horticulturalists for advice", the grower continued. And Dutch Agricultural Counsellor Meeuwes Brouwer confirms it. He informed us that the drive to become more self-sufficient results in a need for Dutch knowledge, products and techniques. "The demand for Dutch starting material, for example, increased by 25%."
Even though there's been an increase in growers, the imports have not decreased over the last year. The Dutch export numbers show that the export of flowers, plants and bulbs increased by 13 percent this year, to 200 million euros. It once again established the fact that Russia is a flower/plant loving country and that there are plenty of opportunities to grow in this market in so many segments.
Russian grower of potted roses Denis Kolpakov presenting two of their twelve Kordana varieties, which they grow in a 1.6 ha greenhouse. Next season they are planning to open two new greenhouses.
The team of Greenhouse complex Podosinki. They grow cut roses in a 9ha greenhouse and are planning to increase their acreage under glass.
Evgenia Babicheva of Russian cut rose farm Zheleny Dom. Over the last few years, they increased the number of rose varieties and are also planning to expand the greenhouse in the near future.
Russian cut rose growers Alexandr and Ivan of World of flowers.