Last week, Proflora took place in Bogotá, Colombia. A major trade fair in the heart of the Colombian flower sector, in a city surrounded by large farms on the Bogotá savanna. Some of the biggest growers in the Latin American country cover as much as 250 hectares. At the fair, many growers were represented, showcasing big roses, colorful Alstroemerias, and a wide variety of Dianthus.
© Mirthe Walpot | FloralDaily.com Team Dümmen Orange, Jan Haaksman of Icon Selections, Team Könst Alstroemeria and Kees Gram and Tjomme Gerbranda of Royal van Zanten. Check out our photos.
During the official opening, Augusto Solano, President of Asocolflores, emphasized that the sector, despite its challenges, is making great strides in sustainability. "We have learned to work together. We compete as companies and countries, but we also share many common interests. That enables us to overcome obstacles."
In addition to Colombian companies, the fair also hosted exhibitors from Ecuador, the United States, and the Netherlands. Alongside local visitors from Colombia, wholesalers from the Netherlands, the U.S., a few from Canada, as well as Puerto Rico and Jamaica also attended the fair.
© Mirthe Walpot | FloralDaily.comGolden Flowers team, Daniela Botero Trujillo from Breiercross Plantas y Bulbos, Two times Andres and Alejandra in the middle from Ball and Sahid Nahim and Chris Truman from That Flower Feeling. Check out our photos!
Colombia is renowned for its large-sized roses, but the wide diversity of Dianthus also stood out at this year's fair. In addition, the Alstroemeria—also known as the Inca Lily—was prominently featured by various growers and breeders. The Colombian flower industry employs around 240,000 people across a total of 10,500 hectares. Flowers are the country's second-largest export product, after coffee. Sixty percent of the workforce is made up of women.
What have we seen, besides the big roses, great diversity in Dianthus and Alstroemeria? At the expo, we also saw retail-ready concepts with preserved flowers. Gypsophila, Delphinium, and chrysanthemums were showcased by many breeders and growers. In terms of color, there were of course some bright tones on display, but the market also seems to be asking for softer and more muted shades. The expo serves as a valuable way to bridge the gap between breeders and consumers, as it brings together every part of the industry.
