Recently, Ball FloraPlant opened a new geranium farm in Yecapixtla, Mexico, where they primarily grow Ball FloraPlant Zonal and Interspecific Geraniums to service the North American Market, counter-cycled with Selecta One Poinsettias. "We invested in YecaFlora to meet the significant demand for Geraniums in the North American marketplace. By building a new production facility, we continue to refine and improve the quality of cuttings heading to our customers," comments Tanya Carvalho, Territory Manager – Canada at Ball FloraPlant.
In this article, Carvalho talks about Ball FloraPlant's decision to start this farm and what they expect from it.
An investment
The geranium farm covers 28 acres (11.3 hectares) of greenhouse, and roughly 400-500 personnel work on-site depending on the season. Carvalho highlights that the production facility is equipped with the latest technology, saying: "It features high gutter connects, the latest in stock plant technology and systems, and reusable water cycling systems for irrigation. The Ball FloraPlant Genesis™ callus cutting program is also produced at YecaFlora, which shortens growers' crop time and reduces input costs. In addition, the entire facility is under one roof, which means one point of entry for the main growing area translating into better sanitation."
According to the Ball FloraPlant team, YecaFlora is an investment for the floriculture industry and its people. "Geranium is one of the largest vegetative annual classes in North America, and there is an increase in Geraniums being used in mixed combinations across North America. To meet this demand, we wanted to increase our production," Carvalho explains. They selected Yecapixtla as the location for the new facility for its climate, labor force, and proximity to the U.S. Border. "The location is at a high-altitude giving Ball FloraPlant a superior light environment and low night temperatures, which is excellent for producing stock plants. The region also has an abundance of clean water sources. Because the crops served by YecaFlora are labor-intensive (Geraniums and Poinsettias), we also chose Yecapixtla for its wide access to a skilled and dedicated labor force at competitive rates. Moreover, we wanted to ensure that we could supply the North American market with the opportunity to truck to the border and improve freight from Mexico," she elaborates.
A visit to YecaFlora
Currently, YecaFlora is fully operational, Carvalho says. They began trialing Geraniums and Poinsettias in 2023, with 50% total production in 2024 moving into full production for 2025. Last month Ball FloraPlant brought their Canadian growers and sales force to Yecapixtla to show them YecaFlora farm and receive their feedback on the facility, the operations, the team, and the quality of the stock. During the visit, the groups followed the path of a cutting. From stock build up, to crop maintenance, to harvesting, to quality control, and then on to cold chain packing and shipping. In other words, they saw the stock first-hand and all the preparations in-place for peak Geranium shipping from YecaFlora. Carvalho shares that the visitors were most impressed by the farm's team, "the people supporting YecaFlora are our greatest asset."
High expectations
When it comes to the future, the Ball FloraPlant team has a positive outlook, expecting high-quality production and good demand. "YecaFlora allows Ball FloraPlant to produce better quality cuttings during peak shipping due to its superior climate. Its proximity to the U.S. border also lets us truck orders directly to the border in climate-controlled vehicles, which is critical during the winter months of peak delivery. We expect to continue to see a significant demand for Geraniums in the marketplace. Offshore production will remain a critical component for our supply chain into North America, and we expect this farm to set a new standard for Geranium production, quality and logistics in the industry."
The team is also pleased with their consumers response to the announcement of a new production facility. "There has been great excitement. They see Ball FloraPlant's commitment and passion for the industry. We at Ball FloraPlant are excited to see where this takes us and our customers into the future," Carvalho concludes.
For more information:
Tanya Carvalho, Territory Manager – Canada
Ball FloraPlant