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Looking back at January 16-31, 2025

Almost time for the Valentine's Day rush

It's the second half of January 2025, almost time for the Valentine's Day rush. But will Ecuadorian flowers make it on time? Meanwhile, the Kenyan flower market is powering through challenges, and positive tariff news came as a relief to the U.S. and Colombian flower markets. Let's have a look back at what happened during the second half of January.

Ecuadorian flowers may miss Valentine's Day rush

The Valentine's Day flower market for 2025 is shaping up to be uncertain, with several challenges facing Ecuador. "After the stumbles that the Ecuadorian flower growers have had due to various pest and climate problems, production has been irregular and is expected to be late. This, in turn, will allow other global flower producers to step in and capture market share, especially during this critical Valentine's Day period", explains Boris Mantilla of SoBella Flowers, a broker company. The company offers over 40 different types of flowers, including tinted, preserved, and painted ones from 150 farms in Ecuador (and some from Colombia), and sends them all over the world.

Kenya's flower industry faces tough times but keeps going

The Kenyan flower industry faced several challenges in 2024. Fortunately, the sector maintained its stability in production and marketplace, but the demand was not optimal and the revenues were much lower than in previous years. The reason? Inadequate freight capacity, high freight costs and increased taxes. Producers were hit hardest, though widespread closures were avoided. Moreover, the false coding (FCM) pest has been and still poses a threat to the industry. Despite these obstacles, the sector has shown resilience, embracing innovative solutions and advocating for supportive policies to sustain its critical role in Kenya's economy. While everything seems to be on course ahead of Valentine's Day, the biggest challenge is freight space and cost. This is explained by Clement Tulezi, CEO of the Kenya Flower Council, who also highlights the association's ongoing efforts to address these challenges, enabling the sector to thrive.

U.S. places hold on 25% tariff on Colombian imports

Yesterday, the flower industry in the US and Colombia was anxiously holding its breath as tensions escalated between the two nations. The dispute stemmed from Colombia's initial refusal to accept deportation flights from the U.S., prompting threats of a 25% tariff on Colombian imports and sanctions. However, a resolution was reached when Colombia agreed to accept the deportees, successfully averting a trade war. Good news for the industry as such a conflict could have had a significant impact, particularly with Valentine's Day just around the corner. Colombia supplies approximately 80% of the flowers sold in the U.S. for the holiday.

© Selecta One

Biodegradable paper bags replace substrate in new propagation system

Selecta one is set to unveil a new innovation; the RCS 2.0 system. "This advanced propagation system roots cuttings offshore in special biodegradable paper bags, requiring minimal energy and no substrate. The bags are made from cellulose fibers, are entirely free from fossil-based plastics, and are fully biodegradable. The compact size of the rooted cuttings ensures efficient transport, reduces space requirements, and generates significantly less waste compared to traditional rooted cuttings", the Stuttgart-based breeding and young plant company states.

"There is a bright future for Indian floriculture"

"There is a bright future for Indian floriculture," states Pandharinath Mhaske a retail florist from Pune (India) and a coordinator of the India Florist Association (IFA). He started his career in the hotel industry and eventually found out that his true passion lays in floristry, leading to the establishment of his own flower shop 'Sneh' in Chinchwad at Raka Chambers on 5 August 1993. Over the years, he saw the Indian floriculture industry develop. In this article he discusses this development and what he expects for the years to come.

Messe Essen opens its doors to 41st edition of IPM Essen

The IPM Essen is on! With a loud pop the trade show kicked off this morning - or at least so it did at Luiten / Saarlucon, as the companies proudly toasted on their new corporate identity. Over the next four days, 1,434 exhibitors from 46 countries will showcase their products and services. Spanning approximately 100,000 square meters, the exhibition is spread across ten halls, including the Galeria and Hall 1A.

"2024 Poinsettia season saw stable volumes and slight price increase"

In late 2024, Italian breeder and young plant supplier Lazzeri embarked on their annual 'Poinsettia Tour' across North America. Over the course of this 2-week journey, they visited nearly 20 nurseries that grow their Poinsettia genetics. Starting in the southern United States, the tour moved northward, reaching Canada, and ultimately concluding in the Midwest. In this article, the tour is recounted digitally, with insights shared by the company's management team. But before doing that, we share the key market trends and developments observed throughout North America.

"Fake must be binned"

"In a world increasingly filled with artificial substitutes, the charm of natural beauty often gets overshadowed. My grandfather, a lifelong flower enthusiast, had a simple rule: "Fake must be binned." He believed in the authenticity and emotional power of real flowers—something that today's flower industry risks losing as artificial alternatives and poor-quality products creep in. This is a call from me, and my grandfather, to preserve the legacy of genuine beauty and care", says John Pouw of Viking Roses, a rose breeding company investing in breeding not only appealing, but also very resistant varieties.

Jet Fresh Flowers expands with acquisition of 35 hectares in Ecuador

Jet Fresh Flower Growers has announced the acquisition of 35 hectares of farmland in Ecuador as part of its 10-year expansion plan. Over the next decade, Jet Fresh Flower Growers plans to grow gradually with small, annual expansions.

US: New plant based floral foam to hit market soon

Smithers-Oasis has launched a new plant-based floral foam - OASIS® Renewal™ Floral Foam. Its renewable biomass materials led to the achievement of OK biobased certification from TÜV Austria with a 4-star rating, the highest available for OK biobased certifications.