Takeaways from Summer 2021

Looking back at August 2021, a lot happened this month. Growers and breeders are organizing open days, the demand still seems to rise and growers and suppliers continue to invest in their enterprises. 

Roman Ferenčak, Ocean Orchids:

Slovenia: “Our orchids are produced with the lowest carbon footprint in Europe”

“We use geothermal energy as well as solar power to heat our orchid greenhouse. As a result, our carbon footprint is almost zero, “ says Roman Ferenčak, CEO of Ocean Orchids,…

Tessa Corp on continuing expansion after the pandemic

“Fastest growing Ecuadorian farm expands even further”

“While the pandemic halted our expansion plans, we just bought new land and have started adding another 20 hectares of production, after which another 20 hectares will…

Digital freight forwarder Shypple acquires Milestone to become first digital forwarder platform for perishables

Shypple, the Rotterdam-based digital freight forwarding platform, today announces that it has acquired Milestone, a leader in perishable logistics, becoming the first digital…

Denise Patterson on Smithers-Oasis’ acquisition of Design Master

“From pop star displays to preventing waste, floral sprays are in high demand”

“Floral sprays and dyes are in high demand worldwide, with different cultures using them in different manners,” explains Denise Patterson, Director of Corporate Marketing of…

The extraordinary tale of the ‘Princess of Theo’

One day Theo Kuijpers, a GP and plant lover, discovered a new seedling. Its beauty struck him so much; he named it after his granddaughter, Eveline. The Lagerstroemeria…

Zoya Verjee, EZ Plants:

“We provide flowers that were not yet available in Kenya”

“People really had to get used to the petunias and pot roses, as they were not used to having these available in Kenya. In addition, we are filling in a gap by providing lots…

NL: Nursery Bernhard on the way to fossil-free

In 1972 Bram Bernhard senior took the big step to the Dutch village Luttelgeest. Twelve years earlier, as a 17-year-old boy, he joined his father's company in Amsterdam. They…

Plantpeddler Variety Day 2021

“We had record attendance for this year’s trials”

“People were excited to go to a floriculture event and engage with other people in the industry,” say Mike Gooder, Plantpeddler’s President, and Stacy Bryant, Key Account…

“Foliera is building towards a strong future with their latest greenhouse”

Sometimes, the best way through uncertain times is to take advantage of other’s hesitancy towards risk. This at least is the opinion of Lisa and John Kouwenberg, the owners of…

Double H Nurseries on the challenges and benefits of Brexit

UK: “Brexit has led to more efficiency”

“Brexit has been challenging for our company concerning some aspects, but we are also adjusting our processes in a positive manner,” says Andy Burton, Managing Director at…

NL: "Excellent summer for Calla breeding"

The Calla is a relatively new flower when it comes to commercial production. Kapiteyn BV has been breeding, researching, propagating and selling this beautiful flower for…

Joost Bongaerts, Florabundance:

“To avoid disappointment, we sell color palettes instead of specific varieties”

With events returning, wedding flowers are currently in high demand. “As a result, flexibility is important and when certain varieties are not available, we offer…

Future Fynbos on growing protea after a challenging year

A pandemic, frosts, and dropped prices, but South African protea sales picking up

“Last year COVID-19 created much uncertainty about the Proteaceae season, and then we also had to deal with severe frosts and prices that dropped by 12%. In total we had to…

Danish grower Christian Schwartz, Gartneriet Rønbæk:

“We didn’t expect that after a booming Mother’s Day, the demand for orchids would drop significantly”

“The current situation is quite the opposite from the Mother’s Day period, when everyone was craving orchids and we were completely sold out,” says Danish phalaenopsis grower…

State approves tax credit for business expansion

US (OH): Oberlin Green Circle Growers to add 250 jobs in $125M expansion

Green Circle Growers Inc. expects to create 250 full time jobs with a $125 million expansion at its greenhouses in Camden Township outside of Oberlin.On Aug. 23, the company…

Doug Cole, D.S. Cole Growers:

“Adding houseplants provides growers with a good profit margin”

“For 2022 we are expanding our house plant section with over 25 new varieties, as we have found a big resurgence of interest in house plants of all shapes and sizes,” says…

Nino Venezia, Dutch Graphic Group:

"Turnover isn't growing this year, it's exploding"

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the labels, cards, and other graphics markets. "Turnover isn't growing; it's exploding this year. Last year was already a top year. But,…

New Blooms Event

Canada: Preparing growers for Mother’s Day while drinking lavender cocktails

“We were approached by Dümmen Orange about four years ago, as they wanted to do trials with new varieties in the Western part of Canada. Now we host the annual New Blooms…

Sian Roses rebrands to Sian Flowers

Kenya: "Revamped assortment, new brand identity, same vision"

“For over 20 years our core business has been the production and export of roses but we have recently decided to diversify into summer flowers,” says Yvonne Chelagat, Business…

Mike van Steekelenburg, CosMic Plants:

Canada: “We are now using our full 240,000 sq ft expansion of orchid production”

When CosMic Plants first acquired their second location, an existing, modern 240,000 square feet greenhouse in June 2016, they initially only used half of it for their own…

Belgium: Azalea shines at open day FlorAmor & Hortibreed

FlorAmor and Hortinno, two of the major azalea companies in Europe, yesterday opened their doors to the public. After having been forced to operate behind the scenes for a…

New Bloom Solutions and Above All Flowers:

“We are overwhelmed by the increasing need for floriculture consulting since the pandemic”

“We have an increasing need for our services since the pandemic, and we have had to expand our team.” Sahid Nahim, founder of New Bloom Solutions, and David Kaplan, President…