"We have not fired anybody, but we mostly just watch our compost grow"

Transmitting passion for flowers and calm for the growers, because the losses are large. That was the idea when Hanspeter Hug, owner of BellaFlor Group in Ecuador and Ethiopia sent out a letter last week, see below. With FloralDaily, he also shares his personal experience, how he, by accident, had early awareness of the seriousness of the virus and their farm is reacting to it.

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Hanspeter Hug:

"Purely by accident, I had early awareness of the seriousness of the virus.

On the first of March, I was on my way back to Ecuador from Denver Co. with a lay-over in Dallas. I was alone - with 3 of my grandchildren. The youngest one is 4. I was stressed! I´m not very good at this. The last time, I did this - I lost them - in the Miami Airport and only found them, after what seemed years, - with the help of the Airport police. 

There were millions of people in both Airports. The restaurants all packed to the last seats. Joviality and Party Atmosphere!  Huge lines at the security stations. Not a person with a mask or social distancing. Most flights delayed, as was ours. 

Eventually after a long day and night traveling we arrived at 2 in the morning at the gorgeous new Quito Airport. To my surprise, at this hour - and this in Ecuador - the Airport was at full red alert. 

Staff dressed like astronauts, clad complete in white plastic, masks and helmets - separated us. Other teams with modern thermometers took everybody's temperatures, while others sprayed our hands thoroughly.  

The next day at the farm I called our in-house doctor and the key team members. We bought a dozen of the same thermometers that I had seen at the airport, and tons of hand sanitizers, planned social distancing and all the usual well published measures.  

Since the 3rd of March we do not receive visitors and every employee’s temperature is taken and hands sprayed before entering Bellaflor. Everybody wears masks. Our doctor walks all day through our installation and checks the distancing and the use of the sanitizers that we have placed throughout the farm. Whether these measures work - time will tell.

The changing rooms, canteen, coolers, bathrooms and buses turned out to be the most complicated areas to organize and constantly sanitize. We have not fired anybody but work with a diminished staff. For now, this is in shifts. Everybody takes their vacation and or due overtime. We work 7 instead of 8 hours daily, but - MOSTLY JUST WATCH OUR COMPOSTS GROW. STAY SAVE!"