Weather affecting production and trade, exhibitions, bankruptcy, acquisition and more...

The second half of March 2018 hasn't been a beneficial month for many Kenyan growers as the weather conditions decreased the production. But also the Dutch exports suffered from the cold weather in the Netherlands. Besides that, more happened that month, Potveer was declared bankrupt, Bell Nursery acquired by Central Garden & Pet and preparations were made for holidays like Easter and St. Patrick's day.

Of course, worldwide several exhibitions took place, like: the first edition of HortEx Vietnam, Royal FloraHolland Seasonal Trade Fair 2018 in Naaldwijk, World Floral Expo in Chicago and Flower Expo China.

Below the overview of the second half of March 2018.

Potveer BV declared bankrupt

The Dutch manufacturer and supplier of machines and processing lines for the floriculture industry Potveer BV was declared bankrupt yesterday. The bankruptcy follows a suspension of payment, ruled by the local court only three days earlier, on March 9, 2018. The bankruptcy seems to come like a bolt from the.....

Ecuador: First roses from Flores Verdes' renovated farm

The rose industry is a dynamic and volatile industry. A variety that might be extremely popular one year can generate almost no interest the following year. To get a head start on 2018 demands, Ecuadorian rose grower Flores Verdes has been renovating their farm, and their work is finally bearing fruit (or.....

US: Bell Nursery acquired by Central Garden & Pet

Central Garden & Pet Company, a producer and distributor of branded and private label products for the lawn & garden and pet supplies markets, has purchased Bell Nursery Holdings, the largest commercial grower of flowers and plants in the mid-Atlantic. Bell is headquartered in Maryland and has.....

Aviram Krell, Plantec Ecuador:

Avoid getting pinched on St Patrick's Day with green rose Limonada

This March 17th, people will get together and celebrate St. Patrick's, the Patron Saint of Ireland. On the special day, the topmost thing on every celebrant's mind is the color green, from clothes, to drinks, to flowers. Just as Shamrocks are a symbol of Ireland, more and more rose growers are adding their own.....

Selecta's Barbatus Kiwi collection now available

After a trial-period of 2 years, the cuttings of the new Selecta Cut Flowers Barbatus Kiwi collection are available this year. So far, the following varieties are available; Kiwi Mellow (intense green), Kiwi Boom (green, very big flower size) and Kiwi Cherry (ball with red blush). These.....

Photo Report: First edition HortEx Vietnam

More than 110 exhibitors gathered last week in Ho Chi Minh City to take part in the first edition of the HortEx Vietnam. The level of visitors and the business opportunities in Vietnam and surrounding countries pleased the participants and the dates for the 2019 edition have already been set. But.....

Photo Report: Royal FloraHolland Seasonal Trade Fair 2018

The spring assortment from several FloraHolland supplying growers were on display at the Royal FloraHolland Seasonal Trade Fair in Naaldwijk, the Netherlands, last week. Usually, many growers are already shipping out their products during this time of the year, but due to the cold weather over the last.....

Producing cannabis for medical use

Danish nursery Nealdebakken turning into Spectrum Cannabis

The 40,000 m2 greenhouse of former Danish nursery Naeldebakken is currently being turned into a production location of cannabis for medicinal use by Spectrum Cannabis Denmark Aps. This company is a joint venture between one of the largest cannabis companies in the world, Canopy Growth, and a European hemp.....

Cold front slows Dutch flower export - but not towards Eastern Europe

After the strong start of the Dutch flower and plant export in January, the cold front of the 'Russian bear' in February reduced the demand in large parts of Europe. As a result, the export value last month stood at 2% below the level of last year. However, export to Russia and other Eastern European.....

Richard Kneppers, Kneppers Rozen:

Kenya: Early rainy season decreases production

The rainy season in Kenya seems to have started about a month earlier than usual. Over the last two weeks it has been raining and decreases the production of the flowers and vegetables. The production was even so low that the flights could not leave as they were not completely full. This is explained by.....

March 20-22

US: Impression of World Floral Expo in Chicago

Today is the last day of the World Floral Expo and for the second time since 2014, it is again held in Rosemont, Chicago. For three days, almost 70 national and international exhibitors, mainly flower growers, are displaying their latest varieties, which are available for the US market. However also.....

March 21-23 in Guangzhou:

Flower Expo China comes to an end

Flower Expo China 2018 (China International Floriculture & Horticulture Trade Fair) has come to an end today. For three days, over 200 exhibitors in the field of horticulture, floriculture and landscape presented their products and services in the Guangzhou International Sourcing Centre in Guangzhou,.....

"A great supermarket plant"

Kalanchoe still a European Easter classic

Easter is around the corner, and while trends in retail stores differ per part of Europe, one plant variety is present in the majority of decorations: the kalanchoe. According to Christian Jacobsen, Sales Manager at Danish company Euro Trend, this plant is a great 'supermarket plant', and around 30 percent.....

Gypsophila grower Daniel Moge, Kimman Roses:

Kenya: "Production down 50% due to cloudy, rainy days"

"Usually, the production decreases a bit after International Women's Day (March 8), but this year it is quite drastic; it dropped by almost 50 percent", says Daniel Moge of Kimman Roses, a Kenyan gypsophila grower. Like the majority of Kenyan farmers, his production is affected by the cloudy and rainy days......