The writers at FloralDaily are, of course, very familiar with and proud of the Dutch floriculture industry. But for many of their colleagues who usually work with fruit and vegetables, both in the Netherlands and abroad, this world was still relatively unknown. It was high time to change that.
So with a group of thirty Fresh Publishers journalists, including colleagues from BPnieuws, Hortidaily.es, FreshPlaza, AGF, MMJDaily and VFD, they visited Zentoo's greenhouse in Ridderkerk, the Netherlands. Grower Michel Grootscholten guided them through the facility, offering an in-depth tour and patiently answering a steady stream of questions.
© Martijn van Nijnatten | FloralDaily.com
The group was especially curious about how sustainability is being tackled within chrysanthemum propagation, what the biggest production challenges are, and how growing under LED compares to working with SON-T lighting. They also wanted to know more about Zentoo's sales strategy, as well as which flower traits are absolutely essential for strong market demand.
© Martijn van Nijnatten | FloralDaily.com
Michel explained how Zentoo uses biological crop protection and how the flowers are sold by weight. Sales are handled partly through FloraHolland, partly via their own webshop, and through contract agreements. Eastern European markets play an especially important role in their distribution. The busiest weeks of the year are the periods around Valentine's Day and International Women's Day, when demand surges dramatically. White chrysanthemums are also becoming increasingly popular in several Eastern European countries.
© Martijn van Nijnatten | FloralDaily.com
According to Michel, producing in the Netherlands is attractive because of the country's efficiency and strong infrastructure. Everything a grower needs is close by, and if assistance is required, someone can be at the greenhouse the very same day. He explained that the chrysanthemum grower ecosystem is more complete here than anywhere else, offering a level of support that is hard to match.
© Martijn van Nijnatten | FloralDaily.com
During the tour of the greenhouse, the group walked through the different stages of production. Michel showed the cuttings supplied by Deliflor and guided everyone step by step through the propagation process. Along the way he explained the plant material and the specific characteristics of certain cultivars.
For example, white single-flowered chrysanthemums with a pronounced central disc are especially popular in Southern European and Catholic countries, where they are widely used for funerals and memorials. While chrysanthemums are certainly given as gifts in Northern and Eastern Europe, the Italian visitors joked that in Italy they are considered far less festive and are really only placed on graves.
© Martijn van Nijnatten | FloralDaily.com
Team Horticulture - FloralDaily, HortiDaily, VerticalFarmDaily, BPnieuws, GroentenNieuws
The visit gave FloralDaily's international colleagues, who came from countries including India, South Africa, Spain and Italy, a valuable glimpse into a sector that was completely new to many of them. For those more regular, it was a wonderful opportunity to showcase a part of the Dutch floriculture industry and share a closer look at how things work behind the scenes.
For more information:
Zentoo
[email protected]
www.zentoo.nl
