California Spring Trials, Hortex, Women's Day, a peek inside Aleia Roses and more...

March 2019 was not only a busy month filled with exhibitions, also many holidays were celebrated all over the world.

Regarding exhibitions, The California Spring Trials in the US took place in March this year, as well as the World Floral Expo. But also in Vietnam the Hortex took place and the HortiFlora in Ethiopia. And when talking about fairs, the IPM announced a new fair in Mexico, the OPF.

Regarding holidays, the most important flower holiday that falls in March is Women's Day (March 8), but also St. Patrick's Day and UK Mother's Day was celebrated this month.

But more happened this month, like we visited the site of Aleia Roses in Span, Vice President Floralife/Grower Global Operations and Corporate Research Jim Daly talks about the fire that broke out at their facility in Belgium and Hishtil gives an insight in their upgraded sticking room. See below the complete overview.

Plans to add sticking machines to keep up with increasing production

Hishtil to take their upgraded sticking room to a higher level

After upgrading the sticking room at their Afula nursery just recently, Israeli young plant grower Hishtil is already thinking about the next step to keep up with the annually increasing production at this site; they have plans to add 2 or 3 sticking machines in 2020. "In this way, we can stay at the same labor amount…

Italians traditionally celebrate this holiday with mimosa

Italy turns yellow for Women's Day

Tomorrow, Women's Day will be celebrated by giving and receiving all kinds of flowers. However, in Italy, this holiday, also called Festa della Donna, is traditionally celebrated with mimosa. Men give the women in their lives a bunch of mimosa or a bouquet of flowers that should include mimosa. At Flora Toscana's…

Growers cash in on red roses for Women's Day

It's Women's Day! For many growers, this is one of the most important holidays after Valentine's Day. It is largely celebrated in Russia and Eastern Europe, where men give a nice bouquet of flowers to almost every woman in his life. And this year, red roses were in high demand and prices were high. We spoke to several…

Jim Daly of Floralife:

“This fire is not going to stop our plans to grow”

It was like history is repeating itself on that Sunday night October 21st, when a fire broke out in the production hall of Floralife, a division of Smithers Oasis Belgium. Vice President Floralife/Grower Global Operations and Corporate Research Jim Daly, in Ohio, United States was hoping it was just a kitchen fire,…

Photo report: HortEx Vietnam 2019

Last week, over 150 companies united in Ho Chi Minh City for the second edition of Hortex. Local suppliers, focusing on the Vietnamese market; flower participants, since Vietnam has a vivid floriculture industry and exports to surrounding countries; and international suppliers, already active in the market and looking…

HortiFlora Ethiopia in pictures

The 7th edition of Hortiflora concluded last Friday, March 15. Every one looked forward to the exhibition - the last edition was held in 2015 - and this was visible in the interest in the show. With nearly 120 exhibitors, it was the biggest one since the first edition in 2005. According to the organization, the…

Renata Macías, Florsani:

"Dyed flowers increasingly popular for St. Patrick’s Day"

Last Sunday, in Ireland, the UK, parts of Canada and the United States, it was all about celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. That means dressing up in green, eating, drinking and… flowers. Florsani has been shipping out to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom for St. Patrick's Day for over two years. Renata…

Behind the scenes at Aleia Roses in Spain

In Soria (Spain), at an altitude of more than one kilometer, Aleia Roses grows the Red Naomi rose. And that's unique. Not only is there there no other grower anywhere in the vicinity, they're also doing something special in terms of vision, scale and technique. Spanish entrepreneur Luis Corella, who owned a large tomato nursery in…

Anders Eskelund, Rosa ApS:

"White is the most demanded pot rose color for UK Mother's Day this year"

As British Mother’s Day, celebrated ‪this Sunday March 31 this year, is getting closer, many flower shops and garden centers in the United Kingdom are being filled with roses. Pink is the traditional color for this holiday, but this year, at Danish pot rose nursery Rosa ApS the most demanded color is white. Anders Eskelund of Rosa…

Photo Report: California Spring Trials 2019

California was the center of the US floriculture sector last week, during the California Spring Trials. Growers, distributors, retailers and more found their way to 15 locations. There were tons of varieties on display and the participating companies did their utmost best to show the potential of their new, improved,…