Alessandro Ghione and his sister Deborah Ghione at the IPM Essen in Germany.
Need for good orange color
According to Ghione, orange is a happy color which is purchased all year round, while other colors like yellow, red and white are more seasonal/periodical. Even though orange is a good color for year round production, the buyers are still looking for a longer lasting flower and more modern shapes. "We invested years in finding the right variety that fulfills these needs and we came up with the variety called Tabasco. This variety has a shelf life of 13 days after transport and the buyers are loving this new orange variety. However, most of the compliments must be addressed to Appana, who has seen and believed in the great potential of Tabasco since the very beginning of the commercial selection process", he says.
The Tabasco grown at Fonatana Group.
Exclusively grown by Fontana Group
The variety Tabasco is grown in Kenya by the Fontana Group under exclusive agreement. Appana: "At Fontana, we do strict selections from 2015 varieties. Only varieties that are not susceptible to botrytis, that have good vase life and after extensive testing are chosen. And the Tabasco was the chosen Orange among many varieties." Nirp International was very pleased with this selection. "For us, as breeder, it is very important that a new variety is introduced on the market through excellent companies that will bring on the market high quality flowers. In this way the buyers will start to know and appreciate the new variety. In particular, the first period is very important: positive first impressions are fundamental to start to generate interest in the novelty", says Ghione.
The Tabasco.
Encouraging prices
According to Appana, the prices have been extremely encouraging. "It has proved a good decision to market the Tabasco", says Appana. "Being a new variety and a standard Orange color it takes time for the market to pick the Tabasco as the preferred orange. However, the current prices are already comparable with the best orange varieties that are in the market. In the next few months, we hope the Tabasco becomes the preferred Orange. Then, we can get higher prices than the other oranges in the market."
At Fontana Group.
Increasing production
Fontana Group has 4 farms (collectively 110 hectares under greenhouse) in Kenya and are growing Tabasco in two of the high altitude farms; at 2600 meter and 2400 meter altitude. "In this way, the buyers will always have access to Tabasco even if one of the farms have problems." At those two farms, the Tabasco is planted over 5ha. "For a new variety and for the first planting this is a lot", says Appana. They expect around 5,000,000 stems (around 60-70cm) of Tabasco from this area and next year, they are planning to plant another 3 ha. "Then we can supply the market with 8 million stems a year. And if the market wants more after that we will plant more Tabasco", concludes Appana.
For more information
NIRP International
Allessandro Ghione
Email: [email protected]
www.nirpinternational.com
Fontana Group
Girish Appana
Email: [email protected]
www.fontana.co.ke