A month full of exhibitions and farm visits

We're in October 2018; again a busy month with lots of exhibitions. The Canadian Greenhouse Conference in Canada, HortiFlor Zimbabwe, WF&FSA, PMA Fresh Summit and Fruit Attraction Madrid were all held in this month.

During our trips, we also had the time to visit some farms. During the expo week in Quito, several breeders and farms opened their doors and the extensive articles on each visit were published in October. In Ecuador, we visited the country's largest rose farm Rosaprima, the new location of Dutch breeder De Ruiter, the gypsophila farm of Much Flowers and the largest propagator of rose plants in Latin America Plantec. During the week of the Canadian Greenhouse Conference, we visited Rosa Flora, Cosmic Plants and Deroose Plants during the week of the PMA Fresh Summit.

But more happened, like Kientzler / Innovaplant opening a new laboratory and rebuilding of Oglesby Plants after the devastation of Hurricane Michael.  

Below the complete overview:

Rosaprima:

A visit to Ecuador's largest rose farm

At Rosaprima, the largest rose farm in Ecuador, they grow 150 varieties on 136 ha in four farms. They are continuously investing in improving their crop by using new technologies, methods to reduce their environmental impact and providing the best work and social conditions for their employees. Last week,…

CGC Bus Tour: challenges for Canadian enterprises in a good market

Due to the switch being made by its competitors to cannabis and the gap occurring in the market, the team of plant nursery Waldan Gardens has decided to expand its company faster than originally planned. It's one example on how the cannabis industry affects the whole horticultural industry at the moment. The same goes…

Canadian Greenhouse Conference'18: here's the recap

In Canada today Thanksgiving is celebrated, and what could be better on an official holiday than looking at a bunch of photos? That's what we thought, so today we bring you the recap of the Canadian Greenhouse Conference. The annual event takes place in Niagara Falls and is one of the biggest events for the North American market. This…

A visit to Plantec Ecuador

An insight in the selection and propagation of roses in Ecuador

Selecting and propagating rose varieties: It's a tough job, and Plantec Ecuador has been doing it for nearly three decades in Ecuador. They were the first to select rose varieties in Latin America, and over the years, they have grown to be the largest propagator of rose plants in Latin America. Nowadays, they…

A visit to the new show and trial location of De Ruiter Ecuador

Testing brought to new heights to better match farm conditions

For two years now, De Ruiter has been trialing their varieties at Anniroses in Tabacando. They moved to this location because of the altitude. "We wanted to bring all varieties to the conditions most farms are in", says Juan Pablo Rengifo, Sales Manager at De Ruiter Ecuador Roses. Currently, they are building a new…

HortiFlor Zimbabwe in photos

"We are now 'pumped up' and revitalised, we now need to actualize our dreams into reality", says Mr. Tapiwa J. Mugabe of Total Farm Solutions. This Zimbabwean horticultural one stop shop was one of the exhibitors at the HortiFlor and very pleased with the show, and also the timing of the show. "In the spirit of…

Da!Rosa

This potted rose grower wants to become Russia's biggest

“Customers like to have more varieties from one company so that they only have to deal with a few suppliers”, says Denis Kolpakov of Da!Rosa. This Russian grower of potted roses grows several Kordana varieties (a variety of German rose breeder Kordes Roses) and is expanding their range. Their ambition is to become…

Photos: Wholesale Florists & Florist Supplier Association (WF&FSA)

The Wholesale Florists & Florist Supplier Association (WF&FSA, pronounce 'wafsa') just finished. Held from November 16th till 18th in Miami Airport Convention Center, about 100 growers, breeders and transport companies presented their products and solutions to the international retail representatives. This year, the show's…

Photo report: Floral exhibitors at PMA Fresh Summit 2018

It's a wrap. On Saturday, the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando (FL) closed its doors for the PMA Fresh Summit Conference & Expo. It is a major exhibition for the fresh produce industry, but the floral exhibitors is growing each year. Again this year, the floral section increased. At the so-called "Floral…

Retail Boulevard shows how sale of fresh and seasonal decorations works

Germany: Window shopping at Floradecora

In January Christmasworld will again kick off in Frankfurt am Main. Just like the last time Floradecora has its place in the fair. “We are setting up Floradecora as a market place for fresh flowers at the heart of Christmasworld, in the Galleria”, says Eva Olbrich, director of Christmasworld. “A new feature within…

A visit to one of Ecuador's fastest growing farms: Much Flowers

"Joining forces is something new for Ecuadorian growers"

"Ecuadorian growers want to do things on their own, and joining forces is something unusual and new for this country", says Juan Jose Albuja of Much Flowers. Two years ago, he merged his gypsophila farm Flodecol with another farm and established Much Flowers. Over the years, they have grown, and more farms have been…

Germany: Kientzler / Innovaplant opens new laboratory

The German plant breeder and producer Kientzler with its subsidiary company Innovaplant Germany which is active in breeding, product development and production opened a new laboratory at their modern production facility in Gensingen, Germany. Kientzler/Innovaplant is known for their innovation in new ornamental products and distribution…

Spain: Flowers make entrance at Fruit Attraction Madrid

This week, several flower companies went on an adventure in Madrid, Spain. There the 10th edition of one of the largest fruit and vegetable fairs in the world, the Fruit Attraction, took place. This exhibition, which attracted 1,600 exhibitors and 70,000 visitors this year, now also offered a podium for flowers and…

US (FL): Oglesby Plants International rebounding from devastation of Hurricane Michael

After a devastating punch from Hurricane Michael Oglesby Plants International will take a big step in ongoing recovery as it begins shipping again during the week of October 29. Though initial availabilities will be limited, liner supplies will increase in step with infrastructure repairs in the coming weeks and…

Pieter Mertens:

US (FL): Deroose Plants didn't miss a beat after last year's fire

It’s the worst possible news for a grower – a fire that completely lays waste to the greenhouse. That’s what happened at young and finished plant grower Deroose Plants in Apopka (FL), USA in November 2017. After a year of hard work consisting of repairing the greenhouse and continuing their production, they will soon…