Contrasting Summers: One flourishes, the other struggles

We're looking back at August 2023. August is a month when many people come back from their summer break and prepare their gardens for the fall period. Also, the demand for flowers usually picks up in this month, but this year, particularly in the US, the demand for cut flowers remained behind. It has been a tough summer for the Colombian and Ecuadorian growers, the main cut flower suppliers to this country. In the UK, the garden retail sector showed strength despite unpredictability, and also, in the Netherlands, they saw good pricing at the auction clock. Of course, more happened this month: Suntory Flowers introduced their BluOcean chrysanthemums, Denso acquired the remainder of Certhon's shares, Alexandra Farms earned carbon neutral certification, Biobest acquired Agrotech, and in Colombia, the Chrysanthemum Week took place. Below is an overview.

Denso acquires remainder of Certhon's shares

Denso has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Certhon. Earlier in 2020, Denso took a minority stake in the family-owned company. Now, the next step is…

Fleuroselect's 52nd Annual Convention admires floral splendor in East England

Over 100 participants from 11 different countries traveled to Stoke by Nyland near Colchester, United Kingdom, to attend the 52nd Fleuroselect…

Alexandra Farms expands sustainability efforts, earns carbon-neutral certification

In this time of climate crisis, it's become evident that companies must work harder to reduce the footprint on our planet to help slow or reverse the…

US (IA): Plantpeddler Variety Day 2023 trial gardens results

Plantpeddler hosted Variety Day 2023 on Friday, August 4, a day focused on the goal of "Testing the Best in the Midwest." Attendees were greeted to…

Kenya Flower Council presents Annual Report

In the 1980s, the Kenyan flower industry began to take shape and has grown exceptionally since then, becoming not only a significant contributor to the…

US (CA): "Berry Up! Snowberry season is here"

You likely know that Sun Valley grows their own proprietary varieties of Ilex and Rose Hips, but do you know they also grow Snowberries? They just…

"Growing interest for biologicals in North America"

Not only in several seminars at Cultivate last July, this topic was discussed, and biological companies are also seeing demand increase. Canadian-based…

Biobest acquires Agrotech

Biobest has acquired Agrotech. Agrotech was founded in 1998 and is specialized in the supply of horticultural and crop protection products. The company has served growers in…

"A chrysanthemum with a blue hue, previously unseen in nature"

A chrysanthemum with shades of violets and blues? Yes, Suntory Flowers just launched its new creation, the BluOcean Chrysanthemum. It is the result of…

US: "A recap of our top new varieties from the Customer Days"

"The good news for 2023 is that consumers are highly engaged in our category. Plants are selling at retail, and the weather has been really fantastic. So, it…

US: BFG Supply acquires distribution business of Central Garden

BFG Supply has acquired the independent garden center distribution business of Central Garden and Pet. The independent garden center distribution…

Signify opens factory in China

Signify has opened an LED lighting manufacturing site in Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, China. The new factory of Signify's joint venture company Zhejiang Klite Lighting Holdings,…

What is the impact of the light spectrum on flowering and yield of short-day plants?

The greenhouse and ornamental industries are increasingly embracing LED lighting. But what is the impact of the light spectrum on flowering, and how…

Rudbeckia ‘Sunbeckia’ summer sales

Rudbeckia and Echinacea are rated as Top-Sellers in Germany, Germany's weekly newspaper for the horticulture industry, Taspo reported. So, how is…

"Growers had a good season, especially compared to 2022"

Last week, on August 16 and 17, Flora Dania, the industry organization for potted plant nurseries, held their annual Flora Dania trade fair in…

Best Novelty and Best Market Introduction awards at Plantarium|Groen-Direkt '23

Diervilla splendens' G2X88544VAR' (KODIAK® MIXX) and Precious Earth (mosses) have won the Green Retail Awards at the 2023 autumn edition of…

UK: Garden retail sector shows strength despite unpredictability

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has just released its August Market Update report showing a prevailing narrative for 2023 that despite…

"It has a unique potential in the Gypsophila market"

At Muchflowers in Ecuador, gypsophila is one of their main crops. They are always looking to add new and improved varieties and for several years…

Photo report: Plantarium|Groen Direkt

Plantarium|Groen Direkt is one of the highlights of the year for the Dutch tree nursery industry. Traditionally, the (large) buyers visit this 2-day…

US (OR): Farwest Show 2023 comes to an end

Farwest Show 2023 is coming to an end today, August 25. It started on Wednesday and, with nearly 300 exhibitions, is said to be the largest green…

NL: "Good pricing at the auction clock"

Pricing during the summer period has been improving in recent years, and according to Royal FloraHolland's auctioneer Paul Freriks, this is due to the…

Crossing a new frontier in hardy hibiscus breeding

After the breakthrough achievements of creating blue and maroon flower colors in hardy hibiscus, Texas A&M AgriLife plant physiologist and breeder…

US (CA): "Showing strengths, vulnerabilities, the future, and the past"

Back in 2018, American Takii held their cut flower Open House for the first time. Unfortunately, the pandemic did lead to the cancelation of the event…

"This new class of trays are not only more sustainable, it also saves labor, time and space"

Sustainability, labor, and time are some of the challenges growers are dealing with nowadays. Products that tackle these hurdles are therefore welcomed…

Colombia: Chrysanthemum Week is in full swing

The Chrysanthemum is an important crop for the Colombian flower industry. From January to May 2023, 134,122 tons, worth 956 million USD, have been…