NL: Meet the last grower of the Extase red rose
Zekveld Nursery with still some wooden greenhouses from the 1940s
The red rose Extase was developed by Kordes in the 1940s. As far as Damasque knows the Zekveld Nursery is the only company in the world producing this rose commercially. The nursery from the family Zekveld has been growing roses for more than forty years, especially classical fragrant roses. Now from all roses, only the red rose Extase is still in production.
Fragrant roses Extase
Over the past few years many traditional rose farms have disappeared in the Netherlands. According to the current owners André and Inge Zekveld it has to do with the high costs of production. The costs are very high, mainly due to the high energy costs. André and Inge say that growing roses is not competitive anymore if you take a look at the prices they receive for their roses.
André Zekveld in his greenhouse
The Dutch auction clock system
Most growers are used to just selling their flowers through the auction system (the Dutch clocks) from FloraHolland, and so are André and Inge. Selling their roses this way is not working for them anymore. The main reason is that the rose Extase does not get the appreciation it deserves, they say. Unfortunately the prices given to the roses are just too low.
Besides the low prices given to the growers, they also face high costs. To be able to sell at the auction you have to be a member of FloraHolland. And membership for growers with just a small volume such as André and Inge is too expensive.
Also, André and Inge do not have a lot of experience marketing themselves and their products. Having a great product is just not enough anymore, you have to position yourself. Also socially and online. At the moment nobody knows these roses are being grown and that they are ready to leave the nursery to the flower shop.
Find out more about the Extase rose at the Damasque website.
