Heatwave in Europe kept growers busy

We are already in August 2018 and the heatwave has not only been keeping European growers busy, but growers exporting to Europe too. Kenyan growers, for example felt the heat in their export figures.

But more happened in August 2018. Syngenta acquired Floranova, HilverdaKooij and Florist Holland merged, Ecuadorian rose pyramid broke Guinness World record, and drop in lira decreased floral imports in Turkey.

And of course there were some holidays (Chinese Valentine's Day and Costa Rican Mother's Day) that lifted the flower sales and exhibitions (Farwest Show and Horti Asia) took place. Below the complete overview.

Heatwave is keeping European growers busy

Record temperatures in Europe! For several weeks, it has been very hot and dry in many parts of the continent. Both records in drought and in temperature are being broken and the weather is keeping growers - in the open field in particular - very busy. (Source picture: Bundes deutscher Baumschulen (BdB)) If.....

Syngenta acquires Floranova to enhance flowers business in Asian markets

It is already 'old news' but certainly worth mentioning. On July 26, it was announced that Syngenta has taken over Floranova, a flower and home garden vegetable seeds breeder with a broad portfolio and customers in over 50 countries. Founded some 40 years ago in the U.K., Floranova has become well-known in.....

Ecuador: Rose pyramid breaks Guinness World Record

Do you still remember the large rose pyramid with which Ecuadorian town Tabacundo tried to break the Guinness Book of World Records? And they did it! With 546,364 roses, they created a replica of an indigenous flat-topped pyramid. Source picture: Facebook page BellaRosa. Guinness officials inspected the.....

Kenya feels European heat in export figures

The heat in Europe is not only affecting many European growers, it is also impacting growers elsewhere - the ones who are exporting their products to this continent. Kenyan rose farm Uhuru Flowers, for example, feels the heat in the export figures. "In the rest of the world, the sales are OK, only in Europe,.....

Lavendula saves the season for Danish pot rose grower

The outdoor lavendula season is nearing its end. At Danish nursery Gartneriet Brolykke the last plants are being shipped out this week, and the company's Sales Manager Klaus René Hansen is pleased with the sales. "I think this year's hot weather worked in our favor, at least for our lavendula crop", he says......

Turkey: Lira collapse means decline in floral imports

Due to the conflict between the US and Turkey, the Turkish Lira has dropped significantly, what does this mean for the Turkish flower industry? "The increase in prices is being felt", many Turkish wholesalers say. "On top of that, consumers will hold back in spending in general and hold onto their money.....

"Making good use of coconut husk waste from Coastal Kenya"

New Kenyan coco peat producer sources locally

About 99% of all coco peat that is used in Kenya is imported from India and Sri Lanka, but James Kapombe expects this number to change in the coming years. Coming from the coconut growing zone of Coastal Kenya and working with coco peat on a tomato farm, he saw the opportunity to produce and market Kenyan.....

"It was a great meeting"

ExpoPlantas 2018 gathers 300 Colombian plant growers

ExpoPlantas 2018 - the first Professional Colombian Seminar and Nursery Trade Show - offered last week (August 8-10) in Antioquia, a national sample of the nursery industry, conferences, visits to the plant production, attendance to the Orchids, Flowers and Crafts Exhibition as well as the traditional.....

Europe: A Campanula season with ups and downs

The Campanula season is almost over. Time to look back. Bodil Clara Johansen of Thoruplund looks back to a season with ups and downs. “Overall it was a good season. But compared to last year it was much less stable. We have had a very good start. Due to the weather, March was bad for us, like for many other.....

Lily grower René Kuiper, Expoflora:

“Costa Rican Mother's Day is a nice bonus”

Today is Mother's Day in Costa Rica. The holiday is every year on August 15 celebrated with lots of flowers. For lily grower Rene Kuiper of Expoflora it is a nice bonus. “We usually export to the United States. That is our main market. American holidays like Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day are the most busy.....

Denmark: New series of bio roses named with champagne

On Thursday August 16th the naming of a new series of Kordana organic roses made by Rosa Danica took place at the opening of the Flower Festival in Odense. The different varieties of the Bio roses were presented in a mix of all colors available. The minister of energy and climate Lars Christian Lilleholt.....

Frerik Kampman, Netherlands Embassy, on demanding Ethiopian youth:

"Mismatch between expectations and reality is causing unrest"

Since late March 2018 Ethiopia has a new Prime Minister: Abiy Ahmed. According to many, a promising new government was formed that is doing a lot right. However, this optimism has not trickled down to local level yet. In the Oromia region, for example, where many Dutch flower farmers are based, the youth.....

Pablo Restrepo Samper, Excellence Flowers:

China: "Supplying for Valentine's Day results in year-round demand"

Friday August 17th was Chinese Valentine’s Day. People in China and Taiwan celebrated love with lots of flowers. Some of them were coming from Colombian rose farm Excellence Flowers. “Naturally there is a high demand for red roses, but tinted roses are quite an attraction as well. For those we get especially a.....

Andres Romero, High Control Group

"Quality control bridges the gap between producer and buyer"

What if the grower's list of criteria doesn't match the buyer's? Claim problems arise, and this usually leads to commercial breaks between producer and buyer. Andres Romero saw this scenario unfold often between South American growers and US buyers and discovered that it is a field that was not working.....

Cherry Choco Latte Rose Mallow wins judges’ honors

US (OR): Farwest Show comes to an end

Farwest Show in Portland, OR will come to an end today. During this three day event that started on August 22, 400 exhibitors are showcasing their products and services to green professionals from all over the country. Last year, the show welcomed 6,000 visitors. Next to the show, that is said to be the.....

Photo report: 6th Horti Asia (Bangkok)

The development of the Southeast Asian horticultural industry is in full swing. While Thai growers have been in touch with greenhouse techniques for over a decade now, growers from other countries are also getting more and more interested in opportunities to improve their growing business. Therefor the.....

Dutch breeders HilverdaKooij and Florist Holland to merge

HilverdaKooij and Florist Holland are going to merge. Both companies from De Kwakel have individually been active in the field of breeding and propagation of flowers and plants for more than 40 years. By combining knowledge and resources, the breeders are able to further improve and expand their assortment......