The year is about to end

2020 is coming to an end. Below, we look back at the month of December. Again with a lot of positive, but also challenging happenings. See the overview below.

Gloeckner’s Joseph A. Simone to retire from distribution

Fred C. Gloeckner & Co. transfers open orders to Ball Seed

This month, owner, President and CEO of Fred C. Gloeckner & Company Inc., Joseph A. Simone, has made definite his plans for retirement from the distribution industry and…

Biobest acquires ownership of Beneficial Insectary

Biobest Group NV – through its subsidiary Biobest USA, Inc. - has acquired all shares in Beneficial Insectary from the company’s owner Ms. Sinthya Penn.…

As by now without fresh flowers, but plenty of opportunity to gain fresh ideas

Messe Frankfurt organizes one time only event: International Consumer Goods Show, supplemented by Digital Days

In view of the current situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated international travel restrictions, Messe Frankfurt decided to merge their exhibitions…

Dutch grower Wouter van der Harg, Leo van der Harg, presents Adele

New Kordana mutant opens perspectives for 2021

"Despite the current prices and demand, due to the second wave, not being optimal, we will end the year on a positive note," Wouter van der Harg said during a visit to the 3.5…

Metrolina Greenhouses expands its production areas in NC, SC

US: "We anticipate strong growth in the next few years"

After three hectic weeks, Metrolina Greenhouses is heading towards the end of their poinsettia season. So far, demand has been positive and they see significant increase in…

Manatee Fresh

The COVID-pivot that saved/diversified and expanded a Florida floral company with a conscience

Just in time for the holiday floral season, Manatee Fresh, the direct importer, national distributor, and local grower of ethically sourced cut potted plants, cut flowers and…

Dutch grower Marcel Groeneveld on Jamafa's new flower processing line

 "More peace of mind and more fun working"

Lilacs and Ilex grower Marcel Groeneveld has been working with Jamafa's new flower processing line for about one month now and is the second grower in the Netherlands using…

Neil Alcock, Seiont Nurseries:

UK grower has high hopes for business post-Brexit

"We are about 5% up on last year, which is quite amazing considering 75% of our workforce were off on Furlough for 6 weeks," says Neil Alcock Managing Director at Seiont…

BellaRosa

Ecuador: President visits BellaRosa to announce GSP inclusion

On December 2, the President of the Republic of Ecuador, Lenín Moreno, the Minister of Production, Foreign Trade, Investments and Fisheries, Iván Ontaneda, and other…

Doug Cole, D.S. Cole shares his point of view:

US: What's hot and happening in the market?

With 1,700 varieties of young plants in the assortment, New Hampshire grower Doug Cole, owner of D.S. Cole Growers gets a good idea of what is hot and happening in the market.…

Morel

 Cyclamen trials 2020 in Fréjus: a special year, not without surprises

The second lockdown announced in France the week before the opening of the Trials in Fréjus did not dissuade some of Morel's Italian and French customers from visiting the…

Ulf Hagman, Optifreeze explains

Innovative technique extends vase life, increasing consumer interest in roses

Vase life expansion is something the floral industry is continuously looking for. Throughout the chain, benefits are high and it may even boost the market for cut flowers. A…

Ball SB

Colombia: Ball SB takes the show on the road

This year we have all been forced to change our way of working in many ways. "For everyone it has been trial and error and we have failed in many projects making it…

UV blanket Aquamar is doing its job for Dutch gerbera grower

"Last week, I saw that football club PSV had installed Philips UV lamps to disinfect the air in the locker rooms and counter corona infections. I liked to see that, a kind of…

BioTherm

Roll’N Grow makes heating floors and benches easy

Bottom heat that rolls out like a carpet

Growers now have a quick, easy way to provide the game-changing root zone heating that plants prefer. Roll’N Grow covers benches and floors with growth-enhancing heat in a…

Welcomed 6 new Ecuadorian farms and set up a sales team in Spain

Fresh-o-Fair continues to grow, even in challenging times

Just one year ago, they started by connecting Ecuadorian growers to German floral designers. Now, they also supply florists all over Europe in the US and Canada with not only…

Danziger

Celebrating Life at Danziger’s virtual salsa party

Last Thursday, Danziger hosted a first-of-its-kind virtual salsa party for its Latin America clients to celebrate Christmas and the new year to come. The party broadcasted live…

Terra Nova Nurseries

Terra Nova Nurseries announces trifecta of trial garden awards

Terra Nova Nurseries announced that numerous varieties received high honors at the Trial Gardens at the University of Georgia (UGA), the Perennial Flower Trial Garden at…

Netherlands: Ko Kolk Hortensia starts using new greenhouse

The first plants are in the greenhouse, and at this moment the last things are being done at the building of Ko Kolk Hortensia's new nursery. The sustainable nursery in…

Effect less severe than lockdown March 2020

Results of lockdowns: Netherlands and Germany clearly visible at auction clock

The Netherlands and Germany tightened their lockdowns and according to Royal FloraHolland, the consequences can clearly be seen in the first two days of this week. However, to…

Fleuroselect presents the 2022 Gold Medal winners

Fleuroselect is proud to present the 2022 Gold Medal winners. Each one of these breeding breakthroughs obtained an outstanding score on innovation, beauty and garden…

The Visser Multi Planter – Mayer 2400DR

Germany: New transplanting power combo at Gartenbau Hörnes

Gartenbau Hörnes in Viersen, Germany is the very first horticultural grower to have their hands on the newest development within the world of Visser Transplanters; the Visser…

COVID business booms for Hong Kong online flower shops this Christmas

The pandemic has made online florist sales boom in 2020. With social distancing measures in place, overall sales in physical stores have drastically plummeted. "Shortly after…

Independent consultant Jan Overkleeft on ReduFuse IR in amaryllis

"Coating systematically optimizes production"

Amaryllis is a crop that is grown to a precise schedule. And a systematic approach to coating – agreeing at an early stage when the contractor can start – fits in well with…

100% of the shares

Horticoop acquires Smartcoat

Horticoop B.V. will take over Finoxa’s shareholding in Smartcoat B.V. (20%) by the end of 2020. The producer of shading agents will be wholly owned by Horticoop B.V. Smartcoat,…

Congestions at the UK border

"We want to be home before Christmas"

Due to the contagious coronavirus mutation in the UK, Europe closed its borders with the UK. Other nations also announced or are considering to stop flights to this country,…

Florensis

Dutch minister Schouten meets Florensis online

Friday afternoon 18th December, Florensis facilitated a digital work visit from minister Carola Schouten (Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food quality) to talk about…

Torben Ryg, Rosa Danica:

"A smooth and good schlumbergera season"

"The schlumbergera season was smooth and good, and that's positive," says Torben Ryg, Sales Manager at Rosa Danica. This Danish potted rose grower supplies European countries…

Rebecca Barrett , New Covent Garden Market:

"Virus or vaccine, deal or no deal, we hope that UK and European governments can resolve the situation soon"

Besides the current mutated virus, the UK has more to deal with, namely the Brexit - these two factors are affecting and worrying the floral industry. This is explained by…

Horticoop appoints Steven van Nieuwenhuijzen CEO

Coöperatief Koninklijk Tuinbouwcentrum Horticoop announces that Steven van Nieuwenhuijzen will be starting in his role of CEO on the 1st of January, 2021. He…