Kentucky and NL AgTech collaboration continues to Grow Together

The feasibility study of a Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Ecosystem in Kentucky listed ten recommendations for the development of an AgTech ecosystem. These recommendations included a clear pathway for open field and mid-tech high tunnel growers to grow towards high-tech CEA production and the…

Royal Brinkman and Moleaer expand cooperation in Mexico

Moleaer and Royal Brinkman are expanding their commercial relationship to deliver and support Moleaer’s nanobubble generators and solutions to high-tech greenhouse growers in Mexico. Local resources in Mexico are now available to serve horticulture and greenhouse growers to install, maintain and support…

Six million trays sold, new models and expansion of the recycling station

Landgard is committed to developing more sustainable packaging solutions in many individual projects as part of its company-wide sustainability strategy. One example in the area of plant transport trays is Landgard's TrayC water pallet recycling system. In the future, it will become increasingly…

US: Master Nursery Garden Centers recognizes top vendors for 2022

Multi-million-dollar, member-owned cooperative Master Nursery® Garden Centers (MNGC) recognized top vendors at the recent Annual Owners’ Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. As the nation’s largest independent garden center buying group, MNGC has 140 vendors providing products and services to over 500 retail…

US: The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and KidsGardening announce the 2023 GroMoreGood Grassroots grantees

Bringing life-enhancing benefits of gardens to communities across the United States, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and KidsGardening are excited to announce the recipients…

NL: Henda Flowers opens new greenhouse

Dutch chrysantemum grower Henda Flowers opened a new, 6 hectare greenhousein. In the presence of family and friends and, of course, construction partners and suppliers, the three children of Henry and Hilde Satter cut a ribbon. Cutting the ribbon. At the opening Mark Looije of Looije Agro Technics…

Cees den Boer, co-founder Svensson Netherlands, passed away

On Monday, March 13, Cornelis (Cees) den Boer, former director and co-founder of Svensson Netherlands, passed away suddenly. He was 83 years old. Four weeks ago, Cees, together with his eldest daughter Clarinda, was at HortiContact in Gorinchem, where, after so many years, many people still knew and…

Abele Greenhouse & Garden Center

US (MI): Abele Greenhouse opens again after fire

The smell of soil and smoke lingered in the air Monday morning, March 20, the first day of spring, as the crew at Abele Greenhouse filled pots and planted annuals in preparation for a busy season ahead. That was just hours after a fire destroyed part of the well-known greenhouse, one of Saginaw County's…

CEO GreenV moves to FrieslandCampina

Jan Derck van Karnebeek has been appointed as the new CEO of Royal FrieslandCampina N.V. He is moving from the horticultural group GreenV, where he has been working since…

Rebranded Stolze Mexico expands into North American market as GROWA

It has been 11 years since Fernando Alfaro and Theo Stolze started Stolze Mexico. Ever since, the company has grown to one of the market leaders in Mexico, with over 60…

Angela Storm joins Dramm as Western Technical Representative

Angela Storm has joined The Dramm Corporation as the Western Technical Representative. Storm comes from a long- and well-established career in the commercial horticulture business, most recently as a key account representative for Dümmen Orange, North America, and prior as a breeder representative for…

Bredefleur Moerkapelle takes over neighbour's greenhouse and expands to 13.5 hectares

Dutch grower Bredefleur has taken over its neighbor's site in Moerkapelle, a former potted plant company. This purchase will allow the lily grower to expand by around 8 hectares of greenhouse. The current site in Moerkapelle will be integrated with the newly acquired greenhouses into one large,…

AFE introduces their new Friends of Floral Program

The American Floral Endowment (AFE) has launched a new campaign promoting the Friends of Floral, a dedicated group of philanthropists that give monthly recurring donations to…

KF Bioplants names two new gerbera varieties and Best Grower of 2023

KF Bioplants is one of the pioneers in introducing gerbera as a commercially successful cut flower variety in India in the 90s, and on February 27, they organized a grand event at Hotel Pride in Bangalore to launch new gerbera varieties, and at the same time, a naming ceremony took place awarding KF…

Tina Perry joins Priva North America as Sales Account Manager

Priva North America announces that Tina Perry has recently joined the Camarillo, California office as the newest Sales Account Manager to meet growing demands in the western territories. Tina grew up in San Luis Obispo, California, earning a bachelor’s degree in Viticulture and Plant Protection Science…

RKW will put their LP-Keder products in the spotlight during the GreenTech Americas

This year’s GreenTech Americas is right around the corner, and sustainable film solution company RKW is prepping up to showcase their LP-Keder products, such as Polydress® LP-Keder and Grafeno®, at the event next week. Left; Polydress LP-Keder, right; Grafeno “Polydress LP-Keder is a tear-resistant,…

Ugo Conforti appointed as President of Flora Toscana

Ugo Conforti has been appointed as the new President of Flora Toscana. The election took place during the last board meeting after the premature departure of former President Paolo Batoni, who passed away last February 20. Marco Innocenti has been re-elected as Vice President. Ugo Conforti has been a member…

NL: Stolk G4M Plants introduces Spathiphyllum Jet Diamond

The Stolk brothers of nursery Stolk G4M Plants from Waddinxveen have added the Spathiphyllum Jet Diamond to their range. This specialty, with its beautifully glossy, light green, and 'marbled' leaves, is an addition to the range, which also includes a range of calatheas. Harm-Jan, Jan-Pieter and…

Solar panels make up for 50% of the annual energy consumption at DREA

Since March last year, the solar panels' De Ruiter East Africa (DREA) installed yielded 51 MWh, roughly 50% of the annual energy consumption. Less dependence on the grid and pursuing a more sustainable production were among the primary drivers for the investment, Managing Director DREA Rob Letcher tells…

Managing assortment on Floriday improved with supply selections

In Floriday, one can easily manage their assortment via the Explorer. "In this way, you can put together the assortment for your (retail) contracts, fill your webshop, and/or create table plans for garden centers. Thanks to convenient supply selections, managing the assortment is now further improved."  Creating…

Dutch companies merge

The Dutch company InFa Techniek is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. So, on March 3, they threw a party for direct customers and dealers. They also celebrated Arslan Ince's retirement and the takeover by Atrium Agri. InFa Techniek has joined PB tech, one of the companies in this growing greenhouse consortium. InFa's…

Ian Rasmussen appointed as CEO of Royal Dutch Paardekooper Group

Royal Dutch Paardekooper Group, supplier of packaging, appointed Ian Rasmussen (48) as the new CEO. Rasmussen has a background in Aviation and Space Technology and Business Administration. He started his career at the European Space Agency (ESA). After a number of years, he made the switch to the…

Floward raises USD156 million

Floward has raised USD156 million in its Series C Pre-IPO investment round led by Aljazira Capital, Rainwater Partners, and STV. The company intends to utilize the funds to further invest in expanding its gifting verticals and relying more on artificial intelligence and machine learning to elevate its customer experience and…

Pest control trials in practice at Green'05

Ornamental grower Green'05 uses biological control agents in pest management. Traps and a drone from Pats-C are also used. In a video from Biobest, Martijn from Green'05 and Marvin from Biobest talk more about their cooperation and pest management.

Yves Christol joins SPG as General Manager

SPG announces the arrival on March 6 of its new General Manager: Yves Christol. His mission will be to consolidate SPG's position as a historical player in the vegetable and…

Dutch nurseries expand partnership

Recently, the existing partnership between Plantanious and Persoon Potplanten was further expanded. From now, these Dutch nurseries will continue as one. That means Plantanious's owners will take over Persoon Potplanten's activities. The companies will, however, continue to exist as separate entities.…

NL: Minister of Agriculture visits Dutch breeder

Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) Piet Adema visited the vegetable breeding company Enza Zaden at the invitation of PlantNet International. The purpose of the visit was to inform the Minister about the vegetable breeding process and the leading role Dutch trading companies in the…

Nathaniel Morse joins Fine Americas as sales manager

Nathaniel Morse has joined Fine Americas as a sales manager serving customers across the northeastern United States and Canada. “With his extensive crop and agronomic…

NL: Violets make way for greenhouse allotments

At Kwekerij Onderdijk in Dalfsen, indoor allotments will be created in the greenhouse. At the moment, the greenhouse still contains violets, but they are working hard behind the scenes to prepare 1,500 m2 of greenhouse for allotment garden rental, according to DalfsenNet. The intention is to start with…

BASF Venture Capital GmbH invests in WayBeyond

BASF Venture Capital GmbH (BVC), the corporate venture capital company of BASF SE, is investing in WayBeyond. Founded in New Zealand and now headquartered in the United States, WayBeyond is an Internet of things (IoT) and software as a service (SaaS) company that aims to improve crop yields, crop…

Tristram Plants raises over £5000 for Ukraine appeal

Since 2022, Tristram Plants nurseries have been donating plants to the British Red Cross, and in doing so, have helped them raise £5,183 for the Ukraine Crisis Appeal. Following…

US: Floral businesses get proactive to solve labor woes during Green Career week

Floral and horticulture professionals from nearly 70 businesses seized the opportunity to address labor challenges in their industry by participating in Seed Your Future's…

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UK: Aldi scales up Fairtrade flower-worker scheme

Aldi UK is partnering with the Fairtrade Foundation on the next stage of a £400,000 program to empower women in the Ethiopian flower sector, with a view to tackling some of the systemic challenges they face.   Aldi is the second largest retailer of Fairtrade flowers in the UK, and in 2022 the supermarket sourced 2.7…

BioSafe Systems celebrates 25th anniversary

BioSafe Systems is celebrating its 25th anniversary. "For twenty-five years, BioSafe Systems' mission has been to manufacture effective chemistry that protects crops, people,…

Voshol joins GreenV group to serve consolidating market

Voshol, a supplier of advanced climate control systems (heating, isolation, and electrical engineering) for the global greenhouse horticulture industry, will join GreenV, an internationally operating group of horticulture suppliers, with both its companies: Voshol Warmte- en Elektrotechniek in the…

Aardse Orchids organizes job fair to help employees find new jobs

Nursery Aardse Orchids organized a job fair on March 9. The orchid growers from Zuidbroek in Groningen are ceasing business as of 1 April and are now trying to help their people find new jobs. Liesbeth Aardse, responsible for human resources, tells RTV Noord: "Our people have always been very good to us.…

US (FL): Royal Van Zanten showcases award winners at WFFSA, Miami

At the WFFSA Floral Distribution Conference “Future in Bloom,” several of Royal Van Zanten’s novelties were showcased to flower wholesalers and buyers. Newcomers this year include Yellow Cap, a disbudded Chrysanthemum that resembles a Craspedia in its flower shape. Versatile assortmentRoyal Van Zanten’s…

Roobos becomes part of Floral Trade Group

Flower and plant wholesaler Roobos has joined Floral Trade Group effective March 3, 2023. Managing director Wim van der Plas: "This step fits within FTG's growth strategy. Roobos is a leading player in the trade with enthusiastic, competent employees and loyal customers. With this, FTG increases its…

NL: FPC Tulip presented tulips to Queen Máxima

FPC Tulip, together with Tulip product manager Coen Verspeek and Arjan Smit, president of Tulpen Promotie Nederland, went on a three-day market visit to Budapest, Bratislava, and Vienna. During International Women's Day (8 March), they wanted to get an idea of the market and its impact on flower sales.…

Dahlia trade guest of Koppert Cress

On Wednesday, March 1, the Dahlia Day of the KAVB Dahlia Product Group took place. The organizers had put together an inspiring program that attracted people from all parts of the chain. After years without an annual meeting, it was well-attended and was hosted by Rob Baan of Koppert Cress. Attendees were…

5 years of World Horti Center

On March 7, 2018, Queen Máxima opened the World Horti Center in Naaldwijk. A good reason for 'the clubhouse' of horticulture to reflect on this anniversary with a number of facts and figures. A jubilee program for participants and visitors will also follow from now on, as well as a special anniversary logo. Construction of the World…

Flower wholesale market Düsseldorf builds new flowerhall

Düsseldorf's wholesale flower market (BGM) has been an important hub for flowers and plants in the region for 80 years. With the new building, the market will be modernized to…

A percentage of global seed sales for Beacon Impatiens in 2023 will go towards fighting Friedreich’s ataxia (FA)

PanAmerican Seed® is entering its fourth year of charitable contributions to less-widely known causes on behalf of Beacon® Impatiens. Over the years, the disease-resistant Beacon series has shined the light on several organizations through an annual donation of a percentage of global seed sales. For…

CAN (ON): 'Good plants by good people'

Surrounded by soybean fields on a county road between Bayfield and Zurich, Ontario, sits a family-run greenhouse that has been drawing plant lovers to the region for 50 years. Since its first run of bedding plants in 1973, Huron Ridge Greenhouses has gained a reputation for growing and selling quality…

Voshol builds energy- and CO2-neutral 10,000m2 garden center

Last week, Voordeeltuincentrum Van der Spek chose the energy- and CO2-neutral installation solution of Voshol Warmte- en Elektrotechniek. Work will start as early as the first half of this year. Solar panels, charging poles, and LED lighting will be deployed, and there will be thermal storage. Sustainable…

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Colombian flower grower’s hydrangeas enter the international market

In the village (village) Betania Colombian María Rosmery Martínez’s “illusions” have been blooming since 2019, when she quit her job as a butler to start a hydrangea crop that she turned into a thriving agribusiness that it has successfully exported to the United States and Korea. While good-sized…

ReyTec will move 'The Green House' to Barneveld

ReyTec Innovation Projects in Honselersdijk has won a special contract. The Westland company is to move the former greenhouse of the Floriade site in Almere, the so-called Green House, to its new final destination in Barneveld. Raymond Mauritz may dismantle and rebuild The Green House from The Floriade…

An Italian innovative system for managing hydroponic crops

"Our automated management system can be installed in only a few minutes by simply drilling two holes in the nutrient solution tank to upgrade the greenhouse to become automated and interconnected. Our system stands out for its simplicity, efficiency, and low costs compared to any other technology on the…

Austin Yang appointed as CFO and CAO at Port of Hueneme

The Port of Hueneme's CEO & Port Director Kristin Decas announced the promotion of Austin Yang to the new Chief Financial and Chief Administration Officer, effective March 6, 2023. Kristin Decas, Port of Hueneme's CEO and Port Director, said: "I am very pleased that Austin Yang is taking over as our new CFO/CAO,…

Labor savings through 5 simple, practical, and affordable automated implementations

There are many handling activities in pot plant growing. Potting and spacing, filling trays, picking up and placing pots or trays, (de)stacking trays, cart loading, six-pack handle placing, sleeving and labeling, and so on. Many growers (still) perform these tasks manually. But this is heavy and…

“Creating an environment of trust between employees, suppliers, and customers”

Sem-Ka Plastik, a Turkish manufacturer of thermoform pots and seedling trays, has been active in their field for over 20 years, producing their products from recycled raw materials that can be recycled again after use. These days, they are mainly looking to expand in the areas they are already active in,…

Two major milestones in transport by sea for Dutch Flower Group

Dutch Flower Group (DFG) has been transporting flowers for many years in sea containers from her growers in countries like Colombia and Kenya. Back in 2008 already, DFG companies started to establish a commercial route from Colombia to the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and other destinations. DFG has…

Danziger continues to celebrate and empower women florists in 2023

Danziger was happy with the results from last year's International Women's Day campaign and delighted by the wealth of positive feedback and compliments coming from floristry industry colleagues. So, the company invited Alison Bradley to reach out to four very different and successful women in the…

US (SC): FloraLife introduces recyclable plastic flower food packets

FloraLife is introducing recyclable, all-polypropylene plastic flower food packets. Recognizing a global trend towards recycling of polypropylene plastic, FloraLife is now offering its customers this option. FloraLife’s new recyclable plastic packets are made solely of polypropylene that are recyclable…

Block the heat, but keep the light – there’s a new nanomaterial in town

“Our iyris nanotechnology can be embedded into any plastic covering or pulled across in a net to block infrared radiation without blocking PAR,” says Ryan Lefers, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of RedSea. In early 2023, RedSea was awarded an AE50 award from the American Society of Agricultural…

Online platform Midmid and Topbloemen.nl join forces

As the own webshops of the florists affiliated with Topbloemen.nl proved outdated and sometimes did not work on mobile devices either (they were not "responsive"), the webshop has partnered with Midmid, an online platform to which all affiliated florists have access. "Each florist now has their own customer…

Floréac will actively assist suppliers with certification

At the instigation of the Belgian trade consortium Floréac, two new representatives of MPS, Bart Kersschot and Catarina Tojal are coming to 'guide suppliers towards certification.' They are doing this to 'get everyone on board towards 90% responsible production and trade'.  Buyer Francis De Mol, together with…

US(CA): Cal Poly horticulture major is the second recipient of CalFlowers floriculture scholarship

Helene Dondero, a senior at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), has been selected to receive the second annual CalFlowers Scholarship. The…

US (FL): The newest woman leading the way at MIA

During Women in Aviation Week this year – created in 2010 to mark the anniversary of the world's first female pilot license on March 8, 1910 – Miami International Airport is celebrating its newest female executive and the largest number of women ever on its senior leadership team.  With the appointment of…

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CAN: No more flowers on government aircrafts

Settling down with a mug of coffee and a copy of the National Post while aboard a government aircraft will soon be a thing of the past, according to new measures aimed at cutting the costs of VIP travel.  Released late last month, responses to questions regarding the Governor General’s travel arrangements…

African Roots sales team ready for the future

As of March 1, John Hendriks has joined the African Roots sales team. Business is going well, the company is growing in products and customers, and to be able to cope with it all, an extra man is more than welcome. In addition, Hans Bentvelsen, who is now 70 and still very active, is slowly taking a step…

Pipp Horticulture acquires Grow Glide assets

This acquisition solidifies Pipp’s position as a leading provider of Indoor Commercial Mobile Vertical Grow Racks, Greenhouse Structures, and Air Circulation Systems in North America. Over the past six years, Pipp Horticulture has emerged as a leading provider of indoor mobile vertical racking & in-rack…

Developing a new agrivoltaic system in greenhouses

The University of Jaén (UJA) and the Murcian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research and Development (IMIDA) are participating in the GLASS project, a research project that aims to design new high-performance and low-cost agrivoltaic greenhouses (APV) that promote sustainability in the…

"Baseline plant pots as recyclable alternatives to black plant pots"

A more circular economy conserves resources and protects our climate – this has been scientifically confirmed by Pöppelmann Teku®, which specializes in products for commercial horticulture, using its Circular360 closed-loop plant pots. In order to pave the way for even more customers from the green…

Kuehne+Nagel further strengthens African footprint with new West Africa cluster

Kuehne+Nagel will serve its customers in Africa with an even stronger service: The Group announced that Alexandre Muratore has been appointed Managing Director of the newly established West Africa Cluster comprising Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Sierra Leone,…

Andrew Palomares retires from the Port of Hueneme

Following a 15-year stellar career of public service and organizational leadership, Andrew Palomares, the Port of Hueneme's Deputy Executive Director, Chief Financial and…

Jonhathan Lane named Managing Director of ADM Agriculture

Jonathan Lane has been named Managing Director UK for ADM Agriculture Ltd. Jonathan joined ADM in 2006 as an Export Grain Trader. Prior to and after this date, he held various…

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US (VA): International horticulture automation solutions company to establish first U.S. operation in Virginia

Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced that ISO Group, a Netherlands-based innovative supplier of automation solutions in protected horticulture, will invest $570,000 to establish its first U.S. assembly and distribution facility in Chesterfield County. The company automates labor-intensive tasks within…

Van der Voort Youngplants and Deroose Plants USA together in Spathiphyllum

Van der Voort Youngplants of The Netherlands and Deroose Plants Inc, Apopka, Florida, have entered into an agreement to jointly introduce Spathiphyllum varieties in the…

UK: Wyevale Nurseries supplies trees as part of Council’s ‘tree planting’ ambitions

Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford has supplied more than 100 different projects with trees as part of Gloucestershire County Council's commitment to plant at least a million trees (February 2023). It has supplied trees, transplants, and container shrubs as part of the council's ambition to reach its target…

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Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation announces grant proposal deadline

April 1, 2023, is the deadline for submission of the grant proposals for research and educational projects in floriculture and related fields of plant pathology, plant breeding, agricultural economics, agricultural engineering, entomology, and plant physiology related to floriculture at universities,…

UK: Ellesmere Port florist shuts down shop due to 'astronomical running costs'

A florist has been forced to permanently shut down their shop and trade from home due to 'astronomical running costs.' Blooming Lovely, which has been based in Whitby,…

Royal FloraHolland decides to participate in Euro Plant Tray

At the end of January, Royal FloraHolland's management and Supervisory Board approved Royal FloraHolland's participation in the Euro Plant Tray (EPT) cooperative. EPT was established on August 23, 2022, by several industry parties with the aim of creating a new European multi-use plant tray series. Since…

“In over 35 years of operations, we’ve seen a lot change in the foliage market”

A lot is happening in the foliage market. Consumer demand is skyrocketing, and new players are entering. How is the market developing, and how will it develop in the future? Let's ask Joe Roberts of ForemostCo, Inc., a US-based company that was founded as Foremost Foliage in 1987. Since then, the company…

IFPA names Deborah Zoellick new Director of Floral Programs

The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA)  is pleased to announce Deborah Zoellick as its new Director of Floral Programs. Zoellick, who previously served as a sourcing…

Geert van Veen transfers executive responsibility for Prins Group to Marco Zwinkels

Geert van Veen (58), managing director of Prins Group, the greenhouse construction company based in Kwintsheul, the Netherlands, has transferred his management…

IFD to launch the reimagined flower trends forecast

The floriculture industry plays an important role in the health and well-being of the human race. When it comes to the sharing of emotions, flowers and plants, overcome all…

Precision Laboratories launches wetting agent in NA market

Precision Laboratories introduces FIBA-ZORB® PLUS wetting agent to the North American market. FIBA-ZORB PLUS is an advanced horticultural substrate surfactant that optimizes…

"A fan in plastic, it's fantastic"

“Our fans help maintain an optimal microclimate and give growers more control over their crop,” says Mauro Pericoli with Termotecnica Pericoli. Now, the company launched its first fan made out of plastic and fiberglass: the ACF21p. “Thanks to the structure made of plastic, it has been possible to obtain…

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Kuehne + Nagel announces changes to board of directors

After twelve years on the board of directors of Kuehne + Nagel International AG, Renato Fassbind will not stand for re-election at the Annual General Meeting on May 9, 2023. At the same time, Dr. Vesna Nevistic will be proposed for election to the board of directors of Kuehne + Nagel International AG.…

2024 rose catalog now available from Star roses and plants

Star® Roses and Plants has released its 2024 Rose Catalog. This 145-page resource is filled with 8 new rose introductions, 7 reference guides, over 250 varieties, and much more. Other key features of the catalog include: Roses by color resource Top roses for overall disease resistance Roses for pollinators Regional…

American Airlines Cargo appoints new head of cargo sales for France

American Airlines Cargo has appointed experienced industry professional Clément Fau as its new Country Sales Manager for France. Based at the airline’s French headquarters at…

AU: Apex Greenhouses welcomes Scott Featherston as Sales Manager

As of January 16, Scott Featherston has started his new role within Apex Greenhouses as Commercial Sales Manager. Folco Faber, Director of Apex, says, "We are experiencing rapid growth as a company. Traditionally, I looked after most of the sales function in Australia myself, but I am very happy I can now…

FloraCraft promotes James Morkert to Vice President of people, safety, and culture

James Morkert has been promoted to vice president of people, safety, and culture at FloraCraft®.  In his new role, Morkert will collaborate with executive leadership to implement FloraCraft’s mission and goals through talent management, assess organizational success and market competitiveness and analyze data…

Priva launches Academy live training sessions

Priva announced the availability of live online training sessions on their Priva Academy e-learning platform. According to Henry Vangameren, Regional Marketing Manager for the Americas, the Priva Academy has been a success since its inception, allowing customers to learn about their Priva systems anytime…

Yorkshire plant nursery invests in bespoke management training program

Accredited Supplier, Johnsons of Whixley, one of the UK's leading commercial nurseries, has invested in upskilling 12 team members through a bespoke management and leadership…

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India: Dr. Parminder is Floriculture Department head

Dr. Parminder Singh has been appointed head of the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. Dr. Parminder joined the PAU in December 1996 as an assistant professor, and since then, he has been actively involved in teaching, research, and extension…

Syngenta Flowers introduces Delta Pro

Syngenta Flowers announces the new Delta Pro series. According to Syngenta, Delta® Pro offers growers a single solution with the most programmable large-flowered pansy series for both spring and autumn sales. This new lineup has set a new standard for pansy genetics simplifying planning and maximizing…

GlobalG.A.P. approved as ISEAL Community Member

GlobalG.A.P. was recently approved as an ISEAL Community Member following a months-long qualification process. ISEAL supports ambitious sustainability systems to tackle the…

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KenGen reports 11% revenue growth for the first half of 2022

Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) has reported a growth in total revenue of 11% to Ksh.27.5 billion for the six months ending December 31, 2022, from Ksh.24.7 billion in 2021. The growth in revenue is attributed to higher energy sales due to increased geothermal production capacity, with…

This month's special: Labor and Staff

Robots aren't fully ready yet, and there's a widespread lack of human labor in many sectors. Wages, work conditions, but also skill level, are all points to address, currently. That's why this month, the special is going to focus on Labor and Staff. SpecialIf you have news to share regarding this topic or…

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US: SAF to take industry issues to Capitol Hill during 43rd annual Congressional Action Days

On March 20-21, floral professionals from all segments will gather and meet with key decision-makers on Capitol Hill as part of SAF's 43rd annual Congressional Action Days (CAD). During CAD, attendees advocate for the industry with one unified voice, share their stories directly with legislators who can…

US (MI): Proven Winners ColorChoice celebrates a decade of Shrub Madness

The completion of this year's Shrub Madness competition will mark a decade of fierce shrub battles as players choose their favorite plants in the nation's favorite bracket…

NL: Online Flower Auction stops auctioning temporarily

Over the past few months, Online Flower Auction (OFA) has successfully auctioned roses based on 'today for tomorrow', however, OFA's decision to auction 'today for tomorrow' seems premature, the organization reports. "The logistics of delivering the flowers directly from the nursery went well, just like…

UK: GCA calls for applications for GCA Trust Dick Allen Scholarship Award

Members of the Garden Centre Association (GCA) are being urged to put forward their staff for the GCA Trust's Dick Allen Scholarship Award Scheme (February 2023). The scheme is open to staff within GCA garden centres, and the recipient of the award will be invited to attend the International GCA Congress…

UK: Marwell Zoo calls upon horti experts to ‘upcycle’ disused glasshouse and create new ‘semi desert’ animal exhibit

A popular Hampshire zoo has turned to the expertise of East Yorkshire commercial glasshouse specialists CambridgeHOK to 'upcycle and revamp' an old disused facility– making it the perfect 'semi desert' environment for new species and plant displays. The 24m long glasshouse at Marwell Zoo has not been…

Kenya: Flower farm ventures into fruits and vegetables

Credible Blooms, a flowers exporting firm backed by private equity firm AfricInvest, is seeking approval to set up a 600 hectares project in Laikipia county for growing fruits…

New sensor company founded to bring ultrasound sensor to market

Earlier this month, Plense Technologies was officially founded together with Delft Enterprises. The company will try to market an ultrasound sensor. Gerard Verbiest, Thijs Bieling, Berend de Klerk, Satadal Dutta and Mark de Kruijff (Delft Enterprises) Plense is betting on developing "smart, robust…

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How to sell huge, luxurious flowers to China, according to 2 MBA grads

“Right now, the flower market is competitive in China. They are receiving flowers from the Netherlands, Africa, the US, and even local production in China,” Bernal says. “For the Chinese market, we found a lack of very premium flowers. Any country can plant roses, but few countries, like Colombia and…

Viva Magenta, the color of 2023

The Pantone Color Institute, one of the most important references in the creation of trends and color integration for product development and brand identity, has recently announced the selection of Viva Magenta as the color of the year 2023. But it's not just about the color itself. It also suggests a palette that has been…

Yoeri van der Laan joins IUNU as Program Manager as company expands in The Netherlands

Yoeri van der Laan has joined IUNU as a Program Manager based in the Netherlands. Van der Laan brings a rich technological background, having worked for multiple digital platforms in positions where he was responsible for strategic growth and new feature development. He joined the horticulture industry,…

Morris Bank joins Ridder as US West Coast sales manager

Morris Brink has joined Ridder as the new US West Coast Sales Manager. Brink will be responsible for developing and executing sales strategies to expand Ridder's market share in the region while also building and maintaining relationships with existing customers. Brink brings over 15 years of experience…

Nick Occhionero joins Sollum as senior sales director

Nick Occhionero has joined Sollum as senior sales director. Bridging his passion for the lighting industry and green technology, this new challenge will offer Nick plenty of opportunities to put his impressive industry experience to work. Nick is no newcomer to LED technology, innovative business…

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Monrovia releases spring planning guide for home gardeners

Monrovia is offering new inspiration for home gardeners to guide their planning and shopping for spring projects. The new Ultimate Spring Planning Guide offers information and inspiration for creating new and updating existing outdoor living areas. The projects featured are based on recent consumer…

NL: Modiform opens new office in Naaldwijk

Modiform has opened its new office at the World Horti Center (WHC) in Naaldwijk, which will help it play an even more active role in the latest developments and innovations in greenhouse horticulture. The WHC is the knowledge and innovation center for international greenhouse horticulture. It acts as the…

Anneke van de Geijn joins GreenV as CCO

On 1 February 2023, Anneke van de Geijn joined GreenV, the internationally operating group of companies active in the horticultural sector, as Chief Commercial Officer. The group currently consists of Prins Group (greenhouse construction), Stolze (installation technology), GreenV Indoor (indoor…

Dutch growers invest in AI greenhouse technique

Source.ag, an artificial intelligence (AI) provider for greenhouse growers, has closed $23 million in its Series A funding round, bringing the company's total funding to $35 million in just under two years. The Series A funding round is led by Astanor Ventures and includes investments from Acre Venture…

Sérgio Pupo Nogueira Júnior passed away

On February 14, Sérgio Pupo Nogueira Júniro passed away at the age of 69. Sérgio was a great enthusiast, promoter, and defender of the development of Brazilian floriculture,…

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US (PA): Board approves plan to purchase property to advance agricultural research

To advance Penn State agricultural research, the Penn State Board of Trustees Committee on Finance, Business, and Capital Planning moved forward with a proposal on February 16 to purchase 20.36 acres of land in Benner Township, Centre County, near the University Park campus.  The proposal advances to the full…

HTA comment on Office for the Internal Market (OIM) report on Defra’s proposed ban of the sale of horticultural peat in England

Jennifer Pheasey, the HTA's Director of Public Affairs, commented: "The horticulture sector has been working hard to develop alternative professional solutions to using peat…

A network of Black Women Florists

Above All Flowers & New Bloom Solutions are excited and honored to be in collaboration with Black Girl Florist initiative & community.   It all started with a listThe racial turmoil in the summer of 2020 sparked a movement of support for Black-owned businesses in a new way in the United States and beyond. In various…

1-800-Flowers.com launches collaboration with Plant Kween

1-800-Flowers.com® has collaborated with plant influencer and educator Christopher Griffin – also known as Plant Kween, to provide customers with fresh green offerings and engaging resources that will help and inspire them along their plant parenting journey. Available now for a limited time, the Plant…

US (FL): Certified American Grown has more to come at Field to Vase Dinner at Fern Trust

Certified American Grown is working with the team at Fern Trust; talented floral designer Kelly Shore; a talented culinary team; and wonderful event planners to bring the…

Portugal record fresh produce and flower exports, reaches over €2 billion

Portuguese fruit, vegetable, and flower exports reached the highest value ever in 2022: 2040 million euros. This result represents an increase of 15.6% compared to 2021. The announcement was made by Portugal Fresh at Fruit Logistica in Berlin last week.  International sales also grew in volume terms by 13.6% to…

Matthiola StoX new star in Stars-Plant sky

Stars-Plant has recently expanded its range with the Matthiola StoX from breeding company Evanthia. Flower XL, an 's-Gravenzande-based grower that people in the market have known for decades for lisianthus, has focused on it since the beginning of this year and started delivering the first stems in…

“Making the industry more efficient benefits everyone”

Fresh-o-Fair, a virtual flower-selling platform, has grown steadily over the years, providing increased security and growth in the market. The company began in 2018, offering florists in Germany the opportunity to purchase flowers directly from farms in Ecuador. By 2019, the platform expanded to sell to…

Growers' association Touch Me+ on market visit in Paris

These are busy and fun times for the growers of Growers' Association Touch Me+. Besides the fact that the Sweet Kisses season is still in full swing, the growers went on a market visit to Paris last week, and acquaintances were surprised with a gift (of love). Paris market visitThe weekend before the big…

"Worldwide access to innovative software and intelligent algorithms"

Royal Brinkman and Hoogendoorn Growth Management have entered into a partnership to supply growers worldwide with one of the most advanced climate computers. Under the motto 'Let's improve together', the ambitious organisations will work together to further develop the global horticultural sector in a…

US (CT): Floral supply business puts down roots in Milford

National Floral Supply's continued growth has the florist planning to sprout up in Milford. Andrew Hamer, president, and managing partner said the company has outgrown its…

Hans van den Heuvel passed away

On February 16, Hans van den Heuvel passed away at the age of 59. He had a wonderful attitude to life and enthusiasm. Hans was an inspiration to many. In recent years he worked for AB Energy and formerly Jenbacher BV. CHPs and horticulture were not only his work but also his passion. He devoted himself to his work until the last…

Select Breeding open house at new location at Nini Flowers

From 22 to 24 February, Select Breeding is organising an Open House. This will take place at the new location at Nini Flowers in Naivasha. This is a bit more central and, at 5000 m2, is also larger than the previous greenhouse. On 2500 m2, 4 commercial varieties are planted for buckwood bank…

New beneficial insect dispenser guarantees critters 'soft landing'

A request from a Canadian strawberry grower is behind the development of a new automatic dispenser for beneficial insects, recently introduced to the general public. The Entomatic was on display at Strawberry Day, and was developed by Biobest and HortiWorld, and is available exclusively from Biobest. One…

Two new directors at Hans van der Poel

Hans van der Poel has found two new directors, who are eager to lead and expand the organisation into the future. As of the first of April, Mark Hogenboom, no stranger to most customers, will be the new technical director. Mark has worked in the company for 23 years now, and together with the engineers,…

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Cultivation alliance: German hydrangea producer plans to produce cannabis

In order to be able to meet the demand when the cannabis legalization announced by the government becomes effective in Germany, a new cultivation alliance was recently established. The founding members are Cannovum AG and Hortensien Spieker. The horticultural company from Ibbenbüren wants to produce up…

Production of Mandevilla young plants in good shape for the peak season

With the shipped volumes increasing week after week, the production teams of young plants is prepared for the upcoming peak season. "Our Mandevilla young plants are produced at two locations. From our farm in Ethiopia, we ship high-quality quick steps (QST, 20mm plug), and from our young plant production…

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US: Department of Labor awards $2.5M grant to promote human, labor rights in the international cut flower supply chains

The U.S. Department of Labor announced an award of $2.5 million to support an initiative to assess and expand the successful Fair Food Program model with a pilot project to promote human and labor rights focused on cut flower farms in Chile, Mexico, and South Africa.  Agricultural supply chains around the…

Delegation of Ethiopian Cooperative Committee visits LTO Netherlands

A delegation from the Ethiopian Cooperative Commission visited LTO Netherlands on February 1. The group came at the invitation of Agriterra. Sjaak van der Tak welcomed the delegation and spoke about the importance of working together for successful advocacy. Klaas Johan Osinga gave a presentation on…

The Orchid Growers launches collaboration with clothing brand A fish named Fred

Mimesis and A fish named Fred, two Dutch-based brands, are now starting a special collaboration. This summer, fashion brand A fish named Fred's clothing collection is all about Brazil. "Whoever thinks of Brazil thinks of tropical and colorful atmospheres. That, of course, includes orchids," says Henk de…