Life sprouts in the valleys, plateaus, plains, and mountains of Colombia, the country with the third most water worldwide. Thanks to the fertility of its soil, its geographical location, and the three mountain ranges that cross the country stemming from the Andes, it has the ideal conditions for flower farming. Here, sunlight reigns all year round, providing an array of 60 species and 1,600 varieties of flowers for the world. Carnations, daisies, chrysanthemums, hydrangeas, roses, and pompons, are just a few amongst other Nature´s works of art that bloom in this country like in no other land. There are additional facts that contribute to the presence of Colombian flowers in homes, celebrations, and the most exclusive commercial showcases throughout the planet.
Lessons learned throughout the production process, the efficiency in planting new varieties, the respect for registration and intellectual property, the constant updating of the hybridization mechanisms, and the strict observation of the UN´s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ensure the very high-quality product. Due to the above, the country is the main carnation exporter in the world, the main supplier of fresh cut flowers to the United States, and the second largest flower exporter on the planet, exceeded only by the Netherlands. The suitability of the crops, the excellence of the production processes, the efficiency of the logistics chain, and the variety of species allow us to reach distant demanding markets as far away from South America as Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, Russia, and even Holland.
Such diversity of colors and shapes makes it possible for producers to be the main actors in the business of bouquets and arrangements in the United States. There is constant innovation in the ornamental flower segment to meet the demands of supermarkets and large chains in that country.
Culture, Fashion, and Art
Flowers of Colombia connect different lifestyles. Prominent museums and cultural and fashion centers around the world find in flowers the perfect muse to set trends, break patterns, and combine novelty elements that are used by designers and interior decorators in an assortment of artistic expressions. The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tokyo metro, the Latin American Fashion Summit, and the Perez Art Museum in Miami are some of the venues that have used flowers to enhance their exhibits and develop new and creative art spaces. Likewise, talking about floriculture in Colombia, a special mention is owed to Proflora, America´s most prominent flower showcase and one which is recognized worldwide.
Every couple of years, Proflora helps the country to grow significantly in exports and conquer new markets. The last version of the Proflora fair was held in 2019, and in October 2023, after the COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions on travelers, the fair will be held once again to celebrate its thirtieth birthday. Proflora allows the flower growers to expose themselves to new markets, consolidating new business while participating in the “Variety Contest,” internationally known for defining the so-called key fashion trend-setting items for upcoming seasons.
In brief, if something extraordinary is something worthy of attention, something that stands out for being out of the ordinary, it can be said that Flowers of Colombia are extraordinary and that they have shown the passion and care with which they are produced and exhibited, surmounting the borders of international markets.
Source: asocolflores.org