Good Mother's Day

In many parts of the world, May means Mother's Day. And this year, it was celebrated on May 13. In the run-up to this holiday, the prices of Kenyan roses were high and it enabled outdoor plant growers to catch up with sales losses of cold March. Also Mother's Day itself has been a good one for many in Europe, with Veiling Rhein-Maas recording the most successful Mother's Day week since its inception. 

But more happened from May 1-15, like the merger of Equiflor and P&F Costa Rica Flower Farms, the announcement of the new exhibition concept for Africa and Hortiflor expo IPM Bejing. See below the complete overview.

Low supply due to heavy rains:

Kenya: High rose prices in run-up to Mother's Day

Several parts of Kenya are suffering from heavy rain. In turn, it is affecting the production of flowers at many farms. This, combined with upcoming Mother's Day (celebrated in many countries on May 13) results in high prices at the Dutch auction. The rose prices, for example, are already 20-30 percent.....

EU: Growers catching up with sales loss to cold March

The weather in Europe improved over the last month and this combined with upcoming Mother's Day results in busy times for outdoor plant growers. They are pleased with their busy schedule, but realize the challenge to catch up as they lost the month March due to the cold weather. Also Danish grower.....

Equiflor and P&F Costa Rica Flower Farms join forces

Two large South American flower growers merge

Equiflor Corp. and P&F Costa Rica Flower Farms are excited to announce that they have merged companies to further enhance the value proposition to all customers throughout the United States and Canada. P&F, established in 1986, is the largest family-owned grower of Dutch bulb and European flowers,.....

Queen Genetics makes debut at FlowerTrials 2018

"It is time to show all our crops"

Danish breeding company Queen Genetics will make its debut on the FlowerTrials, where they will present their latest breeding innovations in new crops. Next to their well-known Kalanchoes, Queen Romantic Roses, Queen Green (succulents), Queen Regent Asters and Queen Chrysanthemum will be on display. Several.....

Selecta One at the IPM Hortiflorexpo Beijing

25 percent growth for Chinese cut flower market

"The Chinese cut flower market remained fairly stable over recent years, but in the last year alone it increased by 25%. Many vegetable growers were faced with decreasing prices and therefore have switched to carnations as they can offer them better rates. This, in turn, offers us a great opportunity", says.....

Fresh produce (FPA) displayed alongside flowers (IFTEX)

New exhibition concept for Africa

"In the US, it is a successful formula for several years and I think it will work for Africa as well", says Dick van Raamsdonk CEO of HPP exhibitions. For the first time, they are organizing a fresh produce exhibition (Fresh Produce Africa) alongside their International Floriculture Trade Fair (IFTEX) in.....

Leif Mortensen, EuroFlora:

"It might have been our best Mother's Day ever"

Good weather means good Mother's Day sales. It is often said, but is it true? According to Leif Mortensen, Managing Director at Danish flower and plant export company EuroFlora, it is. "We do not have any statistics yet, but this year might have been our best Mother's Day ever, at least the best over the.....

Photo impression:

Hortiflorexpo IPM Beijing 2018 is on

The Hortiflorexpo IPM Beijing 2018 is in full swing. The new China International Exhibition Center opened its doors yesterday and the fair will last till May 12. This year, 800 exhibitors - their highest number of exhibitors so far - from more than 30 countries are showing their products and services. Harry.....

UK: "Scented pelargoniums flying off the shelves"

"We are selling out, and this in May!", says UK pelargonium grower Ursula Key-Davis from Fibrex Nursery in Warwickshire. Their sales are already about one third higher compared to last year and according to Key-Davis, this is probably due to the cold and long winter where many consumers lost their.....

Record sales in Mother's Day week at Veiling Rhein-Maas

Veiling Rhein-Maas saw the most successful Mother's Day week in 2018 since the company's inception in 2010. The auction, including clock presales and clock service, realized a 16.56 million euro revenue record during said week. Furthermore, the first two weeks of May were the most successful with a total.....