United Selections: Spotlight for the latest yellow in the market

"We are the only cut rose breeder whose research and selection activities take place for 100% in the neighborhood of our clients on the East African continent", Chris Makomere of United Selections says. "The whole of the 7-year breeding and selection process to arrive at new varieties adapted to climate conditions and suitable for several markets, takes place in Nakuru, Kenya." During the IFTEX 2017, they showed several results of their breeding activities.

"IFTEX 2017 was a very successful event with plenty of visitors", he continues. "Among those visitors were clients and buyers of cut roses from China, Netherlands, France and the USA. At the United Selections’ stand our flowers attracted a lot of attention."

The major variety highlights included Amina, Madam Cerise, Shiary, Red Lion, Red Torch and a special spotlight for the latest yellow in the market – Yellow Cab. Other visitors visited the main breeding facility in Nakuru, Kenya where they received a warm welcome from the United Selections team and the new varieties were shown. Hopefully, with the direct flights to the USA expected soon, future exhibitions are likely to be even better.



Breeding, selection and new additions
IFTEX show culminated with the United Selections team retreating to the Nakuru facility for yet another important event - The united selection of new varieties, completing and strengthening the upcoming new assortment once again.

United Selections is proud to be the only cut rose breeder of which its research and selection activities takes place for 100% in the neighborhood of its clients on the East African continent. The whole of the 7-year breeding and selection process to come to new varieties adapted to climate conditions and suitable for several markets, takes place in Nakuru, Kenya.

The breeding and selection in Nakuru follows a rigorous process in African conditions, meant to ensure that only superior adapted rose varieties with added value in the market will be presented to clients.

This strategic approach has been instrumental in ensuring new varieties are bred under the clients’ conditions making them well acclimatized. In addition, after five years breeding in Kenya, United Selections has incorporated stakeholders’ feedback into the breeding and selection process thereby successfully introducing varieties that meet all growers’ expectations regardless of their altitude of rose production or final destination for their flowers to travel.


Annual United Selection 2017

Say no to Agrobacterium
Hygiene and strict protocols and procedures are of main importance in United Selections facilities. "We take our full responsibility as a breeder to supply guaranteed clean starting materials of new varieties to its clients, free of Agrobacterium spp – a major yield-affecting problem in many farms around the globe."

The breeding and selection is done in an extremely controlled environment to guarantee the quality from inception. Strict protocols are observed both in early stages as well as in the testing phases to guarantee 100% clean plant materials. Based on the feedback, this approach is responsible for making the company a leader in supplying plant materials free from Agrobacterium.

Selection
After successful breeding of new rose varieties, the resulting preliminary products are taken through a series of extreme tests ranging from vase life, pest and disease susceptibility, transportability, length, and bud size in different altitudes.

However, that’s only the beginning. A team of experts independently follows to analyze critique and select only those varieties that meet the United Selections Standards creating added value in the market. Once in agreement, a few varieties are chosen to present and release in the market.


The united selection team from Left, Paul de Bruin (Breeding Director), Ahmed Nzibo (President), Jelle Posthumus (C.E.O), Andrew Neidl (US Latin America), Theo Segers (Senior advisor), Hugo Cifuentes (Sales Latin America), and Jeroen van Marrewijk (Operations Manager Nakuru)

Again, this year’s united selection resulted into some new flower varieties to follow previous varieties that have gone through the process, including: Sugar Love, Pink Spring, Red Lion, Yellow Cab and the red high productive Mustang for lower altitudes.

For more information:
United Selections
marketing@united-selections.com
www.united-selections.com