It may seem like the worst possible time to launch a new rose variety, but it may be the best one too. Akina, a farm of Fontana group, did it and they were pleasantly surprised with the results.
On Friday, April 24, they introduced Meilland's novelty BLACK GOLD® Meiniffyck at the Aalsmeer Flower Auction, and on average, it received 70 euro cents per stem. "But the number says more than just a good price - it shows that good things can happen in tough periods and this in turn gives hope for the future", says Matthias Meilland, public relations of 140-year-old French breeding company Meilland. "From our experience, we know brighter days will come and this launch gives the opportunity to send this message across to our industry, breeders, growers and florists."
BLACK GOLD® Meiniffyck
Shiny red with dark red outer petals
BLACK GOLD® Meiniffyck was bred in the heart of Provence and selected by Meilland's research team in France. "The color of this variety caught the eye of our selection team. As we are always looking for, at Meilland, it is a bit different than usual: shiny red with dark red outer petals", says Matthias Meilland.
Exclusivity Fontana Group
The variety quickly attracted the interest of Fontana Group. So, after cautiously evaluating the variety in France, it was sent to Kenya, where Fontana Group trialed the variety at two farms on two different locations. It seemed that the variety performed best at Akina Farm, in Njoro, at 2,300 m altitude. Last year, they did the technical trials, started to build the plantation and released flowers to customers to get feedback. Now, BLACK GOLD® is grown on an exclusive basis at this farm. The flowers are unpacked and marketed by Decofresh and they officially launched the variety last Friday (April 24), at FloraHolland Flower auction in Aalsmeer.
Mr Mahindra Patil, farm manager of Akina farm with BLACK GOLD®
Meinyffick
High average: 70 cents per stem
70 cents on average per stem was one of the highest average prices for red roses sold at the auction last Friday. "It is not a usual price for a red rose during this time of the year, and particularly in this pandemic time", says Matthias Meilland. "
Message of hope
Besides sharing the successful launch of this variety, Meilland wants is happy to share a message of hope to other breeders, growers and florists in the industry. "It breaks our hearts to see flowers being thrown away all over the word. This message not only shows that positive things are still happening, but it also gives hope for the future. Our company has an experience of 140 years. During WWII (in 1942) we launched the PEACE® garden rose in France and just after the war (in 1945) that variety was launched in the US as well. Also then, the industry had a though time, but our fathers needed to hang on and stay positive as they all knew that brighter days will come. The PEACE® rose is still one of the most famous garden rose most cultivated in the world."
Continue breeding
So, also now, at Meilland, the machine goes on and we continue breeding. "Fortunately, our activity is considered as 'essential' in France and we therefore can keep on breeding. We also keep close contact with our farms and trial locations all over the world. Also in these times, it is important to continue and bring new varieties to the existing and future markets."
Meilland roses