Download PDF - FloraCulture International

March 2010 • www.fl oracultureinternational.com 

Germany 

Speed-date 

with the 

Danes at 

IPM Essen 08 

‘Concordia res parvae crescunt’ 

The business magazine for fl oriculture worldwide 

Manoeuvres 

to match lifestyles 

East Africa 

Kenya sets 

the global pace 

for IPM 15 

France 

Salon breathes 

new life into 

the industry 18

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Brand 10

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encourages the pursuit of 

joint activities in areas of 

mutual interest with national 

and international societies, 

companies and organizations. 

Agreements have been 

reached between Floraculture 

International and leading 

growers and trade associations 

in 24 countries. This unique 

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Table of Contents 

IPM Essen: 

Speed-date with the Danes 

In the Danish hall, a speed-dating session organised by Floradania Marketing brought together 

the successful eff orts of the Danish nurseries to present the latest plant species, colours and shapes 

with the product developments based on many year’s of experience and know-how. 

by Anabel Evans 

Brandkamp celebrates 

50th anniversary 

Th is year marks a special time for Brandkamp 

as it celebrates its 50th anniversary in the 

ornamental young plant business. Flower 

pioneers since 1960, Brandkamp is off ering a 

continually increasing product portfolio. 

by Ron van der Ploeg 

Hortec back to traditional 

March date 

Th is year’s Hortec, being held in Nairobi 

24-26th March, reverts to its traditional time 

of the year, the previous (2008) edition having 

been delayed to November as a result of the 

social and political unrest in Kenya following 

the late 2007 elections. 

by David Gray 

Kenya sets the global 

pace for IPM 

Amidst the build up to the Valentine sales 

period this year, leading Kenyan fl ower growers 

met with the Cooperation of Independent 

European Traders, who are facing increasing 

pressures to demonstrate environmental 

sustainability of fl ower production. 

by Louise Labuschagne 

A tailor-made toolbox 

Th e total area under biological control of 

spider mite in roses has grown rapidly. Th e 

experiences described in this report are based 

on growing practices in East Africa. Th ey are 

valuable for other continents, but may need 

fi ne tuning to local conditions. 

11 by Ed Moerman 16 

12 

Salon breathes new 

life into industry 

More than 16,000 visitors fl ocked to Angers 

for the 25th edition of the Salon du Végétal, 

France’s fl agship event in the horticulture 

sector, representing a market worth around 

€1.8 billion in sales. 


08 

Russia and Flowers 

Russia and the Netherlands maintain a 

centuries long relation when it comes to 

fl ower business. Floor Schamp, area 

manager Flower Council of Holland, 

provides a comprehensive update on key 

topics aff ecting the fl ower trade between 

18 

Holland and Russia. 

15 by Floor Schamp, 31 

March 2010 Volume 20 Number 3 

Tuned into key demands 

Denmark produces over 400 million pot 

plants annualy, of which 80% are exported. 

Innovation is one of the key words in the 

Danish ornamental sector and FCI spoke to 

one of the world’s leading pot rose breeders, 

Rosa Eskelund, at this year’s IPM Essen. 


Departments 

International Events 23 

World News 24 

Prices 29 

Advertising Index 34 

Columns 

32 

In My Opinion 06 

Miami 17 

Dutch Comfort 25 

Touch 27 

Stuff 33 

March 2010 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com 05

Colofon 

FloraCulture International (ISSN1051-9076) is published monthly.Worldwide monthly. Worldwide distribution. 

© 2010 FloraCulture International magazine. All rights reserved. No portion of editorial may 

be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. Publisher is not liable 

for advertisements using illegally obtained images. Send address changes to FloraCulture 

International magazine, Vondelstraat 162, 1054 GV Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 

Editorial & Administration Offices Offi ces 

FloraCulture International B.V. 

Vondelstraat P.O.Box 82, 162, 1850 1054 AB GV Heiloo, Amsterdam, the Netherlands the Netherlands 

T (31) 20 72 618 53 23 2 666 522 F (31) 20 72 618 53 23 1 333 521 

Circulation Administration: FBW Woerden P.O. Box 612, 

3440 AP Woerden, the Netherlands 

T (31) 34 84 31 393 F (31) 34 84 32 552 info@fbw-woerden.nl 

Editors: Anabel Evans (anabel@floracultureinternational.com) 

(anabel@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

Ron van der Ploeg (ron@floracultureinternational.com) 

(ron@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

Editorial team: Chris Edward Beytes, Bent, Lotte Chris Bjarke, Beytes, Arturo Lotte Croci, Bjarke, Hans Arturo De Croci, Vries, 

David Hans Gray, De Vries, Kerry David Herndon, Gray, Kerry Marie-Françoise Herndon, Petitjean, Helen Moody, Marta Pizano, 

Leaora Marie-Françoise Policar, Jennifer Petitjean, White Marta Pizano, Leaora Policar, Jennifer White 

Founding editor: Debbie Hamrick 

Publisher: Cover: California FloraCulture Pack Trials International B.V. 

(jaap@floracultureinternational.com) 

Publisher: FloraCulture International B.V. 

T (jaap@fl (31) 20 oracultureinternational.com) 

61 82 666 F (31) 20 61 81 333 

Printer: T (31) 20 Habo 61 82 DaCosta 666 F (31) 20 61 81 333 

Designer: Printer: Hollandia Stadsdrukkerij Printing, Amsterdam, Heerhugowaard Aryen Bouwmeester 

Designer: Hollandia Media Productions 

Advertising Cartoonist: Bas Kohler Sales Offices 

Europe, Africa, Asia/Pacific 

International Advertising Accounts Sales Management: Offi ces 

FloraCulture Europe, Africa, International, Asia/Pacifi Vondelstraat c 162, 

1054 International GV Amsterdam, Accounts the Management: 

Netherlands 

T Dennis (31) 20 Seriese 618 2 (dennis@fl 666 F (31) oracultureinternational.com) 

20 618 1 333 

Dennis Angie Duff Seriese ree (dennis@floracultureinternational.com) (angie@fl oracultureinternational.com) M (31) 62 21 65 220 

Angie T(31)20 Duffree 61 82 (angie@floracultureinternational.com) 

666 F (31)20 61 81 333 M(31) 62 21 65 220 

Claudia Offi ce Manager: Stokreef (claudia@floracultureinternational.com) Claudia Stokreef 

M (31) 63 03 99 450 

Italy, (claudia@fl Southern oracultureinternational.com) 

France: 

Arturo FloraCulture Croci (arturo@floracultureinternational.com) 

International B.V. 

Scandinavia: P.O. Box 82, Lotte 1850 Bjarke AB Heiloo, (lotte@floracultureinternational.com) 

the Netherlands 

LB T (31)72 Text & 53 Idé, 23 Søndervej 522 F (31) 10, 72 8350 53 Hundslund, 23 521 M (31) Denmark 63 03 T(45) 99 450 21 48 75 30 

South Italy, America: Southern Marta France: Pizano de Marquez (marta@floracultureinternational.com) 

Horti Arturo Tecnia Croci Ltda., (arturo@fl Calle oracultureinternational.com) 

85 No20-25 Of. 202B, Bogotá, Colombia 

T Scandinavia: (57) 15 30 20 Lotte 36 Bjarke F (57) (lotte@fl 12 36 25 oracultureinternational.com) 

54 hortitec@unete.com 

Miami: LB Text William & Idé, Søndervej Armellini(William@floracultureinternational.com) 

10, 8350 Hundslund, Denmark T(45) 21 48 75 30 

USA, South Canada, America: Central Marta America: Pizano de Marquez (marta@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

Paul Horti Black Tecnia (pblack@ballpublishing.com) Ltda., Calle 85 No20-25 Of. Lucas 202B, Nicholas Bogotá, Colombia 

(lnicholas@ballpublishing.com) T (57) 15 30 20 36 F (57) 12 Ball 36 25 Publishing, 54 hortitec@unete.com 

622 Town Road, 

PO Miami: Box 1660, William West Armellini(William@fl Chicago, IL 60186, oracultureinternational.com) 

United States 

T(1)6 USA, 30 Canada, 23 13 675 Central F(1)6 America: 30 23 15 254 

Middle Paul Black East: (pblack@ballpublishing.com) Eyal Policar (eyal@floracultureinternational.com) 

Lucas Nicholas 

T (lnicholas@ballpublishing.com) (972) 54 42 97 002 F (972) 86 Ball 58 Publishing, 19 07 622 Town Road, 

Japan: PO Box Yutaka 1660, Shirakawa, West Chicago, Japan IL Flowers 60186, and United Plants States 

(floraculture@bloom-japan.net) 

T(1)6 30 23 13 675 F(1)6 30 23 15 254 

East Middle Africa: East: David Eyal Gray Policar (gray@africaonline.co.ke) 

(eyal@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

South T (972) Africa: 54 42 Cilla 97 002 Lowen F (972) (cilla@floracultureinternational.com) 

86 58 19 07 

T Japan: (27) 22 Eiji 4857058 Yoshikawa F (27) (callems@world.odn.ne.jp) 

22 4857415 

EMS Inc., 2-22-8 Matsubara, Setagaya-ku,Tokyo 156-0043, Japan 

T (81) 33 32 75 756 F (81) 33 32 27 933 

East Africa: David Gray (gray@africaonline.co.ke) 

South Africa: Cilla Lowen (cilla@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

T (27) 22 4857058 F (27) 22 4857415 

FloraCulture International (ISSN1051-9076) is published monthly. 

Worldwide distribution. ©2010 FloraCulture International magazine. 

All rights reserved. No portion of editorial may be reproduced in any 

form without written permission of the publisher. Publisher is not 

liable for advertisements using illegally obtained images. Send address changes 

to FloraCulture International magazine, Vondelstraat 162, 1054 GV Amsterdam, 

the Netherlands. 

© Colofon 

FloraCulture International (ISSN1051-9076) is published monthly.Worldwide distribution. 

2009 FloraCulture International magazine. All rights reserved. No portion of editorial may 

be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. Publisher is not liable 


International magazine, P.O.Box 82, 1850 AB Heiloo, theNetherlands. 

Quality, innovation, sustainability and logistics are words that 

Editorial & Administration Offi ces 

often appear in our editorial. Th is is a compliment to you, the 

fl oriculture industry; the interviewees and contributors remain 


P.O.Box 82, 1850 AB Heiloo, the Netherlands 

Ron van T (31) 72 53 23 522 F (31) 72 53 23 521 

der Ploeg 



T (31) 34 84 31 393 F (31) 34 84 32 552 info@fbw-woerden.nl 

Editors: Anabel Evans (anabel@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

Dennis 

Seriese Ron van der Ploeg (ron@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

Editorial team: Edward Bent, Chris Beytes, Lotte Bjarke, Arturo Croci, 

Hans De Vries, David Gray, Kerry Herndon, Helen Moody, 

Marie-Françoise Petitjean, Marta Pizano, Leaora Policar, Jennifer White 


Claudia 

Stokreef Cover: California Pack Trials 


(jaap@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

T (31) 20 61 82 666 F (31) 20 61 81 333 

Printer: Hollandia Printing, Heerhugowaard 

Arturo 

Croci 


Cartoonist: Bas Kohler 

Advertising Sales Offi ces 

Europe, Africa, Asia/Pacifi c 

Lotte International Accounts Management: 

Bjarke 

Dennis Seriese (dennis@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

Angie Duff ree (angie@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

T(31)20 61 82 666 F (31)20 61 81 333 M(31) 62 21 65 220 

Offi ce Manager: Claudia Stokreef 

Marta Piza- (claudia@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

node Marquez 


focused on “what can be” rather than “what isn’t”. Th e cut fl ower 

market is diffi cult, but a glimpse of relief is being experienced by 

the pot and bedding plant growers with the spring sunshine having 

made a well-timed appearance in Europe. 

Working backwards in this issue; in East Africa, Ethiopia’s 

explosive fl oriculture growth is being reined back, but in another 

snippet of news received from David Gray it appears that 

logistics in East Africa are receiving a boost. He writes that if 

infrastructure, communications and transport are the key to the 

development of horticulture and economies in general the news 

of: new roads linking Addis Ababa with Nairobi; a proposed new 

railway line on the Kenyan Coast from Addis Ababa to Lamu; a 

new railway line from Tanzania to Uganda; Delta Airlines about 

to start direct fl ights between Nairobi and Atlanta; a deal between 

Kenya’s Astral Aviation and Etihad Crystal Cargo for the Nairobi- 

Abu Dhabi route; should all have positive eff ects on the economic 

development of East Africa in the medium to long term. 

In Taiwan, the presidential opening of the International Orchid 

Show is an indication in itself about the pride the nation takes in 

its orchid innovations, in particular for their phalaenopsis exports. 

Th e Breeder Open Days in the Netherlands for the number one in 

cut fl owers were, conversely, very low key; quality is the renowned 

selling point, however, especially for those Dutch rose growers 

whose existence is being threatened by current economic conditions. 

Quality is also the overwhelming message of our substrates 

special. Th e RHP Foundation is guiding the “will to improve” of 

P.O. Box 82, 1850 AB Heiloo, the Netherlands 

T (31)72 53 23 522 F (31) 72 53 23 521 M (31) 63 03 99 450 

Italy, Southern France: 

50 affi liated companies. And where substrates control of growth 

is hidden from our sight, the crop protection series by Louise 

Labuschagne focuses on sustainable programs to assist in optimum 

William 

Armellini 

Arturo Croci (arturo@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

Scandinavia: Lotte Bjarke (lotte@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

control above the ground. Sustainability also goes hand in hand 

with the vision and hard work of Meiny Prins, managing director 

LB Text & Idé, Søndervej 10, 8350 Hundslund, Denmark T(45) 21 48 75 30 of Priva, whose accomplishments have been rewarded with the 

South America: Marta Pizano de Marquez (marta@fl oracultureinternational.com) Businesswoman of the Year award. 

Horti Tecnia Ltda., Calle 85 No20-25 Of. 202B, Bogotá, Colombia 

Paul T (57) 15 30 20 36 F (57) 12 36 25 54 hortitec@unete.com 

Black 

Sustainability crosses over into logistics under the subject of 

Miami: William Armellini(William@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

eCommerce since the streamlining of shipments is a key outcome 

USA, Canada, Central America: 

resulting from using this tool. Auctions around the world also 

Paul Black (pblack@ballpublishing.com) Lucas Nicholas 

(lnicholas@ballpublishing.com) Ball Publishing, 622 Town Road, 

Lucas 

Nicholas PO Box 1660, West Chicago, IL 60186, United States 

T(1)6 30 23 13 675 F(1)6 30 23 15 254 

Middle East: Eyal Policar (eyal@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

T (972) 54 42 97 002 F (972) 86 58 19 07 

Japan: Eiji Yoshikawa (callems@world.odn.ne.jp) 

Eyal 

Policar EMS Inc., 2-22-8 Matsubara, Setagaya-ku,Tokyo 156-0043, Japan 

T (81) 33 32 75 756 F (81) 33 32 27 933 

East Africa: David Gray (gray@africaonline.co.ke) 

South Africa: Cilla Lowen (cilla@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

T (27) 22 4857058 F (27) 22 4857415 

Eiji 

Yoshikawa 





liable for advertisements using illegally obtained images. Send address changes to 

FloraCulture International magazine, P.O.Box 82,1850 AB Heiloo, the Netherlands. 

Cilla Lowen 

facilitate direct sales and the virtual world is not leaving them 

behind; FloraHolland persists in its ambition to strengthen the 

marketplace for Europe, a continuation of the Dutch auctions’ 

long history of achievement. 

To end at the beginning, in the Sunshine State of California, Chris 

Beytes has a well-penned article bringing to life the 

California Pack Trials, which, like the auctions, 

are another institution that have a long history in 

presenting innovative ideas and quality products. 

Anabel Evans, Editor 

© Colofon 

In my opinion 


be reproduced FloraCulture in any International form without (ISSN1051-9076) written permission is published of the publisher. monthly.Worldwide Publisher is not distribution. liable 




often March appear is the in our month editorial. when Th one is is of a compliment Holland’s top to you, 20 tourist the 

fl oriculture attractions, industry; the Keukenhof, the interviewees will be and opening contributors its doors remain to 

Editorial & Administration Offi ces 

Ron van 

der Ploeg 


P.O.Box 82, 1850 AB Heiloo, the Netherlands 

T (31) 72 53 23 522 F (31) 72 53 23 521 


Dennis 


Seriese T (31) 34 84 31 393 F (31) 34 84 32 552 info@fbw-woerden.nl 

Editors: Anabel Evans (anabel@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

Ron van der Ploeg (ron@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

Editorial team: Edward Bent, Chris Beytes, Lotte Bjarke, Arturo Croci, 

Claudia Hans De Vries, David Gray, Kerry Herndon, Helen Moody, 

Stokreef Marie-Françoise Petitjean, Marta Pizano, Leaora Policar, Jennifer White 


Cover: California Pack Trials 


Arturo (jaap@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

Croci T (31) 20 61 82 666 F (31) 20 61 81 333 

Printer: Hollandia Printing, Heerhugowaard 


Cartoonist: Bas Kohler 

Lotte 

Bjarke Advertising Sales Offi ces 

Europe, Africa, Asia/Pacifi c 

International Accounts Management: 

Dennis Seriese (dennis@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

Marta Piza- Angie Duff ree (angie@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

node Marquez 

T(31)20 61 82 666 F (31)20 61 81 333 M(31) 62 21 65 220 

focused hundreds on “what of thousands can be” rather of visitors. than “what Last isn’t”. year Th the e cut outdoor fl ower park 

market and twelve is diffi cult, indoor but flower a glimpse shows of relief formed is being a stunning experienced showcase by 

the of pot ornamentals and bedding for plant no growers less than with 870,000 the spring people: sunshine The having Dutch 

made breeders, a well-timed bulb-producers appearance and in Europe. many professional flower 

growers who exhibit are equally as enthusiastic about the 

Working Keukenhof. backwards in this issue; in East Africa, Ethiopia’s 


snippet The Lily of news Parade, received for example, from David is Gray regarded it appears as the that most 

logistics important in East event Africa of are the receiving year: A special a boost. event He writes where that the if lily 

infrastructure, sector comes communications together to show and its transport latest introductions are the key to the and 

development share experiences of horticulture with many and economies industry in guests general from the the news 

of: Netherlands new roads linking and abroad. Addis Ababa All of with the Nairobi; other indoor a proposed flower new shows, 

railway from tulips line on to the daffodils, Kenyan Coast freesias, from orchids, Addis Ababa chrysanthemums 

to Lamu; a 

new and railway many line other from kinds Tanzania of flowers to Uganda; you could Delta Airlines imagine, about reveal 

to a start similar direct atmosphere, fl ights between acting Nairobi as the and annual Atlanta; showcase a deal between for 

Kenya’s breeders Astral and Aviation growers and to Etihad highlight Crystal the Cargo best they for the have Nairobi- to offer. 

Abu Enjoy Dhabi reading route; more should about all have “A positive world eff of ects industry on the ideas economic at the 

development Keukenhof” of East in our Africa special in the issue. medium to long term. 

In The Taiwan, Keukenhof’s the presidential surge opening in visitors of the is International put down to Orchid the consumer 

Show trend is an for indication a more natural in itself lifestyle about the with pride more the nation respect takes for in nature 

its and orchid natural innovations, products. in particular A ‘fun’ test for their organised phalaenopsis by Floradania exports. 

Th Marketing e Breeder Open at this Days year’s in the IPM Netherlands Essen also for tuned the number into one the in 

cut marketing fl owers were, potential conversely, of matching very low key; ornamentals quality is the (in renowned Denmark’s 

selling case, point, potted however, plants) especially to different for those lifestyle Dutch groups. rose growers Trade visitors 

whose could existence quickly is identify being threatened whether by they current were economic ‘Classic, conditions. Crazy, 

Creative or Cool’. The individual results were in many 

Quality respects is also irrelevant. the overwhelming What is important message of is our the substrates message that 

special. the Danes Th e RHP were Foundation conveying is to guiding a wide the industry “will to audience: improve” of It is 

Offi ce Manager: Claudia Stokreef 

(claudia@fl oracultureinternational.com) 


50 vital affi liated to know companies. your customers, And where so substrates that you control can offer of growth them 

is the hidden right from plants our sight, and present the crop the protection plants in series the by right Louise setting. 


William 

Armellini 

P.O. Box 82, 1850 AB Heiloo, the Netherlands 

T (31)72 53 23 522 F (31) 72 53 23 521 M (31) 63 03 99 450 

control A later above speed-dating the ground. session Sustainability with several also goes exhibiting hand in hand companies 

with in the Danish vision and Hall hard brought work of together Meiny Prins, the managing latest plant director species, 

Italy, Southern France: 

of colours Priva, whose and shapes accomplishments as well as have new been marketing rewarded concepts, with the all of 

Arturo Croci (arturo@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

Businesswoman which support of production the Year award. manoeuvres to answer the ‘lifestyle’ 

Scandinavia: Lotte Bjarke (lotte@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

demands of individual consumers. 

Paul 

Black LB Text & Idé, Søndervej 10, 8350 Hundslund, Denmark T(45) 21 48 75 30 Sustainability crosses over into logistics under the subject of 

South America: Marta Pizano de Marquez (marta@fl oracultureinternational.com) eCommerce since the streamlining of shipments is a key outcome 

Horti Tecnia Ltda., Calle 85 No20-25 Of. 202B, Bogotá, Colombia resulting from using this tool. Auctions around the world also 

T (57) 15 30 20 36 F (57) 12 36 25 54 hortitec@unete.com 

Miami: William Armellini(William@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

Lucas 

Nicholas USA, Canada, Central America: 

Paul Black (pblack@ballpublishing.com) Lucas Nicholas 

(lnicholas@ballpublishing.com) Ball Publishing, 622 Town Road, 

PO Box 1660, West Chicago, IL 60186, United States 

Eyal T(1)6 30 23 13 675 F(1)6 30 23 15 254 

Policar Middle East: Eyal Policar (eyal@fl oracultureinternational.com) 

T (972) 54 42 97 002 F (972) 86 58 19 07 

Japan: Eiji Yoshikawa (callems@world.odn.ne.jp) 

EMS Inc., 2-22-8 Matsubara, Setagaya-ku,Tokyo 156-0043, Japan 

Eiji T (81) 33 32 75 756 F (81) 33 32 27 933 

Yoshikawa 

East Africa: FloraCulture David Gray International (gray@africaonline.co.ke) 

(ISSN1051-9076) is published monthly. 


South Africa: All rights Cilla reserved. Lowen No (cilla@fl portion oracultureinternational.com) 

of editorial may be reproduced in any 

T (27) 22 form 4857058 without F written (27) 22 permission 4857415 of the publisher. Publisher is not 



Cilla Lowen 











Anabel Evans, editor 

anabel@floracultureinternational.com 

© Colofon 


be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. Publisher is not liable With compliments 




Ron van 

der Ploeg 

Dennis 

Seriese 

Claudia 

Stokreef 

Arturo 

Croci 

Lotte 

Bjarke 

often appear in our editorial. Th is is a compliment to you, the 

fl oriculture industry; the interviewees and contributors remain 

focused on “what can be” rather than “what isn’t”. Th e cut fl ower 

market is diffi cult, but a glimpse of relief is being experienced by 

the pot and bedding plant growers with the spring sunshine having 

made a well-timed appearance in Europe. 

Working backwards in this issue; in East Africa, Ethiopia’s 


snippet of news received from David Gray it appears that 

logistics in East Africa are receiving a boost. He writes that if 

infrastructure, communications and transport are the key to the 

development of horticulture and economies in general the news 

of: new roads linking Addis Ababa with Nairobi; a proposed new 

railway line on the Kenyan Coast from Addis Ababa to Lamu; a 

new railway line from Tanzania to Uganda; Delta Airlines about 

to start direct fl ights between Nairobi and Atlanta; a deal between 

Kenya’s Astral Aviation and Etihad Crystal Cargo for the Nairobi- 

Abu Dhabi route; should all have positive eff ects on the economic 

development of East Africa in the medium to long term. 

In Taiwan, the presidential opening of the International Orchid 

Show is an indication in itself about the pride the nation takes in 

its orchid innovations, in particular for their phalaenopsis exports. 

Th e Breeder Open Days in the Netherlands for the number one in 

cut fl owers were, conversely, very low key; quality is the renowned 

selling point, however, especially for those Dutch rose growers 

whose existence is being threatened by current economic conditions. 

Marta Pizanode 

Marquez 

Quality is also the overwhelming message of our substrates 

special. Th e RHP Foundation is guiding the “will to improve” of 

50 affi liated companies. And where substrates control of growth 

is hidden from our sight, the crop protection series by Louise 


William 

control above the ground. Sustainability also goes hand in hand 

Armellini 

with the vision and hard work of Meiny Prins, managing director 

of Priva, whose accomplishments have been rewarded with the 

Businesswoman of the Year award. 

Paul 

Black 

Lucas 

Nicholas 

Eyal 

Policar 

Yutaka 

Shirakawa 

Eiji 

Yoshikawa 







Sustainability crosses over into logistics under the subject of 

eCommerce since the streamlining of shipments is a key outcome 

resulting from using this tool. Auctions around the world also 











In my opinion 

In my opinion 

With Lifestyle compliments 

trends

Jiffy_178x124.indd 1 24-02-2010 17:00:39 

Capsicum 2010 

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New introductions for 2010. 

Together with other Greenex 

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For more information visit www.ex-plant.com or www.greenex.com 

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Greenex United States Inc. 

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info@greenex.com 

Phone: +1 905 682 4769 

Fax: +1 905 682 9994 

Distribution Worldwide 

Ex-Plant A/S, Kirkegyden 129 

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Fax: + 45 6618 9623 

EX-PLANT ½.indd 1 10-02-2010 10:50:06 

ExPlant_178x124.indd 1 24-02-2010 17:02:04

IPM Essen 

In the Danish hall, 

a speed-dating 

session organised 

by Floradania 

Marketing brought 

together the 

successful efforts of 

the Danish nurseries 

to present the 

latest plant species, 

colours and shapes 

with the product 

developments based 

on many year’s of 

experience and 

know-how. 


Mini plants 

Edvard Dirch Hansen is Concept Coordinator 

for the mini plant “Stem”, which makes it 

possible to incorporate mini plants into bouquet 

designs by fastening them to a metal 

stem. The innovative concept is the result of the 

collaboration between Kristian Madsen, Fairytale 

Flowers ® , and flower designer Nicolai Bergmann. 

Kristian says, “Based on our production of mini 

plants in Denmark, I see a huge potential in mini 

plants becoming part of the cut flower market, 

which is three times the size of the pot plant 

segment.” ||| 

08 www.FloraCultureInternational.com | March 2010 

Speed-date 

with the Danes 

Classic, Crazy, Cool and Creative 

In a styling event and lifestyle test, new Danish plants were presented in four different lifestyles - Classic, 

Crazy, Cool and Creative. The latter reveals small vases with plants and figures in a tray or a fine dish and was 

illustrated as shown above: (from left to right) The 2010 Floradania Innovation Award winner Wasabia japonica from 

the Stendemose Nursery and in the foreground, Salix rooted in Sagina from the Lundegaard Nursery; the novelty 

Oxalis pupurea from Råhøj; and, an added-value concept for Dischidia pectinoides from Feldborg Tropical Plants. ||| 

Floral solutions 

The Gasa Group, one of Europe’s largest 

companies providing floral solutions, is 

teaming up with the world’s best known 

cook, Jamie Oliver, whose TV programs 

are shown in more than 130 countries. Jes 

Grandt Nielsen, marketing and project manager, 

says, “The flower industry needs to innovate. 

The industry makes a great effort to continuously 

develop the products, but we’re not always 

good at promoting the good stories about 

products; raw materials; varieties with newly 

developed properties; or eco-friendly production 

methods. But this is one of Jamie Oliver’s 

strengths. He infuses his cooking with ideals and 

passion according to the motto “keep it simple”, 

so we're really looking forward to working with 

him.” Already in spring 2010, the Gasa Group 

will be introducing innovation in the form of a 

Jamie Oliver range of grow-your-own herbs and 

potted vegetables. A common feature of the concepts is that the consumers can grow 

fresh produce for their own consumption and use them as ingredients in their daily 

cooking. The product range will initially include bell peppers, chilli, tomatoes and fresh 

herbs. Further new products and concepts are being developed for launch in 2011. |||

Water supply 

S. Bøgede Andersen from HMC 

Horticultural Management 

Consulting presented the new 

Easy Water patented concept 

from the company Jackpot. The 

Easy Water fl ower pot cover, with 

a built-in water reservoir, enables 

nurseries to guarantee that pot 

plants have a shelf life of at least 

10 days without extra water supply. 

Torben Moth Madsen from the Rosa 

Danica nursery is the fi rst nursery 

to launch the invention into the 

market from February 2010: “We 

see it as a 

breakthrough 

for our 

customers, 

especially 

in relation 

to the 

estimated 

additional 

shop 

sales 

(+5%) of 

Kordana 

pot 

roses.” ||| 

Fair Trees 

Marianne Bols from the Danish nursery specialists 

Bols Forstplanteskole is proud to announce the Fair 

Trees ® concept. The label is an initiative of Marianne and 

her husband, Lars Bols, who fi rst founded the “Bols Xmas 

Tree Fund” to ensure improvements regarding the working 

conditions for their Georgian cone pickers, who risk life and 

limb for Western European Christmas tree production. The 

socially responsible trade and production conditions arising 

from the work of this Fund have subsequently led to the 

Fair Trade accreditation. Marianne explains, “Everyone in 

the Christmas 

tree industry, 

who is willing to 

comply with the 

Fair Trees ® rules, 

can be a part of 

this strong brand 

where the focus 

is on quality and 

social responsibility. 

We trust 

you want to join 

us!” ||| 

Eye-catching full blooms 

Branding concepts 

Louise Brinch Jepsen, responsible for Marketing & Trend 

at the Knud Jepsen nursery, which is a world-leading 

supplier of Kalanchoe under the Queen ® brand name, 

introduced the newest series called MoreFlowers ® . As 

the name suggests this new category targets retailers and 

consumers who desire more value with the characteristics of 

the selected plants revealing eye-catching, full blooms over a 

long shelf life period. MoreFlowers ® varieties include Forever 

Pink, Tiffany, Gudrun and Paris, which was the winner of the 

IPM ‘Blossoming House Plant’ Award in 2009. ||| 

Brede Bjerke, commercial manager Bøg Madsen, introduced the House of Flora ® brand name, 

which involves several sales concepts, such as the Welcome Autumn range of decorative 

products and plants for planting in outdoor pots in the late summer and autumn. The 

branding concept aims to provide marketing tools for those retailers who do not wish to invest time 

and resources in private labels and yet, still require solutions to inspire buying impulses among 

their consumers. For example, with Welcome Autumn, inspirational and informative 

plant labels and point-of-sale materials have been produced, which create a beautiful 

overall impression in the shop. The service ultimately makes it easier for not only 

garden centres and supermarkets, but also the consumers since the selection 

of individual plants, included in each of the different sales concepts, matches 

the season, each other and the current trends. "Many consumers have no 

idea which plants are most suitable for the season, and for some it can 

be diffi cult to see whether the plants they choose will match in colour," 

says Hanne Kroghsbo, product manager. Additionally, back at home and 

at their own convenience, consumers can visit the House of Flora ® website 

(houseoffl ora.eu) for further inspiration and information. ||| 

New roses and clematis 

Ghita Krage, assistant marketing manager, brought attention to 

the fact that Poulsen Roser was featuring 25 new rose and clematis 

introductions on their stand at the IPM Essen 2010. These varieties 

are the result of a 4 to 8 year breeding program where more than 80,000 

seeds are sown each year, followed by successive periods of tests and 

selections, and as such each deserves attention. However, when asked to 

rank the top fi ve in various pot sizes, Poulsen Roser names the mini, double 

fl owered red and white 

rose Gigi Poulty019; 

the light pink Marika 

Poulpar081 for 8-11 

cm pots; Petaya Hit ® 

Poulpah065 with bronze 

fl owers and grown 

in 12-15 cm pots; the 

medium red Wilanov 

Poulpal050 for 15-17 

cm pots; and fi nally, the 

delightful, white clematis 

which has a myriad of 

fl owers for a very long 

time, Tai Yang Evipo045 

(photograph). ||| 


Achieve 

sustainable 

growth and 

prosperity. 

This is about ensuring an acceptable balance 

between farm efficiency and outputs; the 

protection of the environment, and the economic 

welfare of farmers, their families and rural 

communities. 

For further information visit 

www.agro.basf.com 

VISIT US AT THE 

HORTEC 2010 

March 24th-26th 

2010 in Nairobi 

BASF_85x124.indd BASF 85mmx124mm_04.indd 1 1 24-02-2010 15/2/10 15:40:04 16:56:36 

Sudlac_85x124.indd 1 24-02-2010 16:55:24

IPM Essen 

This year marks 

a special time for 

Brandkamp as 

it celebrates its 


in the ornamental 

young plant 

business. Flower 

pioneers since 

1960, Brandkamp 

is offering a 

continually 

increasing product 

portfolio with 

mums, Fuchsia, 

Lantana, Petunia, 

Sanvitalia and 

Osteospermum 

as absolute 

bestsellers. 


Jurgen van den Driesch, 

commercial manager Brandkamp 

Brandkamp 

celebrates 


More than 50 years ago 

Hubert Brandkamp Sr. 

began building a dynasty 

in the young plant industry with 

1,000 m 2 greenhouse facilities in 

Isselburg-Anholt, within a stones 

throw of the Dutch border and next 

to one of Germany’s most important 

highways the A3. 

“At that time, young entrepreneurs 

were granted government support 

for starting their own horticultural 

business. Th at’s how fi ve to 

six greenhouse were established 

in Isselburg-Anholt. Th e working 

conditions were still extremely 

harsh with the farmer working the 

land with horse and plough,” recalls 

Jurgen van den Driesch, commercial 

manager Brandkamp. Growing 

diff erent crops in the beginning, 

Mr Brandkamp Sr. quickly understood 

that he had to specialize 

in young plant production. Today 

Brandkamp’s second generation 

runs the fi rm which is both a 

breeding company and a young 

plant producer. “Chrysanthemum 

is Brandkamp’s most important 

product with annual sales amounting 

to 25 million Chrysanthemum 

young plants. Brandkamp off ers a 

wide array of cut Chrysanthemums, 

pot Chrysanthemum, outdoor 

Chrysanthemums and Multifl ora 

Chrysanthemums. In Multifl oras 

or garden mums Brandkamp has 

gained an important market share 

with its own Bran-Multifl ora line.” 

Quality is fundamental to the 

company. “Our cuttings are mainly 

produced in Kenya and Sri Lanka 

which benefi t from an ideal climate 

for this kind of production. Sri 

Lanka is ideal for the production 

of disbudded and multifl ora mums 

for which the Kenyan nights are 

too cold. Furthermore, we are very 

much focused on a clean working 

area to ensure healthy plant 

material and have access to the 

latest propagation techniques. We 

can hold our own with the best 

breeders.” 

Twenty years ago the company 

started also with bedding and patio 

plants of which today 25 million 

plantlets are sold annually. “In 

Fuchsia we have earned a good 

reputation with Sunshine Fuchsia, 

Giant Fuchsia and our own Jollies 

series combining a compact habit, 

tiny fl owers and a extra long fl owering 

period,” highlights Van den 

Driesch about the company’s breeding 

program. 

Also worthwhile mentioning is 

Brandkamp’s own Tropic Lantana 

series. “We were one of the fi rst 

companies in Lantana breeding”, 

says Van den Driesch, “after years 

of hard work we are now off ering 

the perfect Lantana with a bushy, 

compact shape and early fl owers.” 

Rapid growth, 

mainly abroad 

In the meantime the German 

breeding company has experienced 

rapid growth, mainly abroad. 

“Exports account for up to 50% of 

total sales with German speaking 

countries like Switzerland and 

Austria being traditional export 

destinations. In particular, the fall 

of the Iron Curtain in 1989 opened 

the door to new Eastern European 

markets like Poland, Hungary, 

Czech Republic, Romania and 

Bulgaria. In Czech Republic we 

were the fi rst foreign breeding 

company working together with a 

local agent, Bohemia Seeds; a long 

term relationship which continues 

to fl ourish until today,” knows Van 

den Driesch. 

Commenting on the domestic 

market, Van den Driesch says 

that in Germany the hectarage of 

horticultural businesses is declining 

in nearly every region, except for 

Niederrhein. “Here we have Landgard, 

one of the few large marketing 

organizations being able to deal 

with big quantities of plants.” Apart 

from the lack of large selling cooperatives 

like in Holland, German 

horticulture faces the problem of 

small scale family owned nurseries, 

which are scarcely automated. “German 

growers tend to work with half 

fi nished plant material and are very 

much focused on price.” 

When asked about Brandkamp’s 

plans for the next 50 years Van den 

Driesch mentions three main goals 

to achieve. “First of all, we will 

focus more on our breeding lines. 

Up to now we are acting like dealers 

for renowned breeders like Benary, 

Kientzler, Suntory, Westhoff and 

Delifl or. But it has become increasingly 

important to create more 

independence as more and more 

breeders are using their license as 

a weapon in the market. Secondly, 

we will be further expanding our 

business. Today our premises in 

Anholt cover an area of 35,000 

m 2 and we have plans to expand 

our greenhouses in Kenya and Sri 

Lanka. Last but not least we are 

continually improving our network 

across Europe. A good sales team is 

the key to good results.” ||| 


East Africa 

This year’s Hortec, 

being held in 

Nairobi 24-26th 

March, reverts to 

its traditional time 

of the year, the 

previous (2008) 

edition having 

been delayed to 

November as a 

result of the social 

and political unrest 

in Kenya following 

the late 2007 

elections. 

Table 1 

by David Gray 

2009 estimated export statistics from the Horticultural Crops 

Development Authority (HCDA). 

Volumes (tonnes) 

Year Flowers Fruit Vegetables Total 

2008 93639 17123 82345 193107 

2009 87041 21223 72500 180764 

% 2009/2008 93 124 88 93.6 

Values (Ksh. Billions, FOB) 

Year Flowers Fruit Vegetables Total 

2008 39.766 2.071 16.129 57.966 

2009 30.815 2.284 16.254 49.353 

% 2009/2008 77.5 110.3 100.8 85.1 


Hortec back 

to traditional 

March date 

There is no getting away from 

the fact that the last couple 

of years have been diffi cult 

for the East African horticulture 

industry, but Charles Campbell- 

Clause of Event & Conference 

Organisers Ltd., who started the 

Hortec series back in 1994, is 

confi dent that this year’s exhibition 

will go a long way towards restoring 

confi dence among stakeholders. As 

in recent years, the fi rst two days of 

the show will be restricted to ‘trade, 

by invitation’ with the third day 

open to the public. Two important 

changes this year are that there 

will be a special, dedicated area for 

growers to display their produce 

and the traditional conference sessions 

have been replaced by workshops 

and seminars to be organised 

by individual exhibitors. 

As at mid February, the number 

and scope of exhibitors is reasonably 

well up to expectations with 

several ‘fi rst timers’ registered, and 

foreign participants from Britain, 

France, Israel, and even China, not 

forgetting of course the support 

from Holland, which besides being 

the major export market for East 

African fl owers, is also the source 

of much of the investment in the 

industry throughout this region; 

though some of the fl ower breeders 

prefer these days to ‘do their own 

thing’ with Open Days at their 

nurseries. 

A full list of participants and other 

details is available from Charles@ 

eco.co.ke. 

Kenya 

Ironically, Kenya’s export statistics 

for 2008 suggested a record year 

despite the unrest that caused so 

much chaos and confusion in the 

fi rst three months of that year. In 

fact, in those very months, record 

exports of fl owers, fruit and vegetables 

were exported. But then, with 

the world economic troubles in the 

second half, exports fell away seriously 

towards the end of the year; a 

trend that of course carried on well 

into and in fact, for most of 2009. 

Hence, the estimated export statistics 

from the Horticultural Crops 

Development Authority (HCDA) 

show a signifi cant drop in both 

volume, earnings and (in fl owers 

and fruit) unit value (Table 1). 

Th is is the fi rst time that Kenya’s 

horticulture exports took a ‘backward 

step’ for at least 20 years. 

It is apparent that Kenya’s fl ower 

exports suff ered both in volume 

and value (and value per unit); fruit 

actually increased whilst vegetables 

decreased in volume, but seem to 

have increased in unit value, pre- 

sumably due to the ever increasing 

move to pre-packs and ‘ready to eat’ 

products. 

Besides the direct market eff ect of 

the world recession, Kenya suff ered 

for most of 2009 with a serious 

drought, so that low prices and 

reduced production from some 

areas had a double eff ect. Th e fruit 

sector (where 19 products are listed) 

continues to be dominated by 

fresh avocado at over 77% (mainly 

to France) followed by mango, 

but more of which is now being 

processed for the local market. Th e 

vegetable sector with well over 50 

types including a range of Asian 

vegetables and even the narcotic 

Miraa are listed; French beans 

(Kenya fi ne and extra fi ne) is still 

the leading product though not 

as dominant as previously, largely 

due to the increase in peas and prepacked 

‘mixed veg’. 

As is well known by now the fl oral 

sector has undergone something of 

a ‘sea change’ over the last decade; 

whereas up to the mid 1990s the 

leading product was carnations (at 

one time Kenya was the world’s 

leading exporter of sprays), followed 

by statice and alstroemeria, the list 

is now dominated by roses as the 

‘top ten’ list shows (Table 2). 

Besides these, some 60 other species 

were exported in 2009, including 

the old ‘favourite’ ornithogalum 

and relative newcomers such as 

zantedeschia (Calla). Th e diversifi - 

cation of products has been dramatic, 

with an increasing amount and 

range being grown by small scale 

out-growers, both under fi eld and 

protected conditions; the introduction 

of tunnels and special, small 

scale irrigation sets has certainly

had an impact on the industry as a 

whole. Th is trend has also helped 

(and is indeed spurred by) the 

move towards mixed bunches and 

bouquets as demanded by the European 

supermarkets. 

Prospects 

In the present economic situation, 

Jane Ngige, CEO of the Kenya 

Flower Council, feels that 2010 is 

a year for ‘recovery, consolidation 

and steady as we go’; but business 

cannot stand still and KFC is keen 

to see that the industry does not 

‘stagnate’. 

While Europe is still very much the 

target market, with over 65% of 

fl owers going to Holland for auction 

and direct sales, concerted eff orts are 

being made to open new markets, especially 

Japan and USA, with recent 

trade missions and participation at 

exhibitions. Th ere were high hopes 

of direct fl ights to USA by Delta 

Airlines last year but a last minute 

security ‘hitch’ cancelled that, 

though hopefully the problems can 

be overcome; certainly the response 

to Kenyan fl owers at the Miami 

show over the last couple of years has 

been encouraging and Kenya will be 

represented at the Atlanta conference 

later in the year. Meanwhile, Kenya 

Airways now has well established 

routes to the Far East, and with the 

Dubai Flower hub operating in that 

direction also, opportunities in Japan 

are opening up. 

Nevertheless, Kenya is still the 

leading ‘outside’ supplier to the 

Dutch auctions, and according to 

Matthieu ter Haar the local manager 

for Flora Holland, whilst the 

auction turnover for 2009 showed a 

7% reduction, Kenyan fl owers were 

well above the general trend with 

only a 2% fall. He also (for roses at 

least) sees a defi nite advantage for 

Kenya in that as the Dutch growers 

are under increasing pressure and in 

many cases limited (by their fi nanciers) 

to reds and whites, Kenya is 

able to supply a wide range of colours 

and types. Whether his assertion 

that the recent amalgamation 

of TFA with Flora Holland and the 

planned ‘marriage’ with Landgard, 

leading to a virtual monopoly of the 

European market, will bring more 

effi ciency to the auction system to 

the benefi t of the growers may be 

open to doubt! 

On the local scene, KFC is pressing 

on with its encouragement of small 

vendors in an eff ort to encourage 

more knowledge and uptake 

of fl owers; following the success 

of last year’s ‘fl ower market’ they 

recently imported an Australian 

designer to demonstrate and teach 

not only fl ower arranging, but also 

fl ower quality and handling. Th ey 

are fi nding an increasing interest 

among Kenyans to use fl owers; ‘if 

there has been a 50% increase in 

fl ower use in UK, why not also here 

in Kenya?’ 

As always a ‘SWOT’ analysis of 

the Kenyan fl orals industry would 

throw up threats as well as opportunities; 

besides the usual concerns 

about freight rates and international 

‘fi nger pointing’ about carbon 

footsteps and food miles (which, for 

the moment at least seem to have 

diminished and, anyway, concern 

competitors just as much as Kenya 

or perhaps more so), two in particular 

are, or should be, of urgent 

concern to this industry. 

On the production side, water, 

which has been raised from 

‘nowhere’ to No 1 constraint and 

consideration when planning and/ 

or managing a project; the drought 

over the last two years has put seri- 

Table 2 

Top Ten Florals 

Roses 

% (2009, HCDA provisional fi gures) 

77 

Carnations 2.7 

Hypericum 2.6 

Cuttings (Carnations & Chrysanthemums) 1.5 

Lilies 0.95 

Gypsophila 0.91 

Veronica 0.88 

Alstroemeria 0.80 

Statice 0.80 

Eryngium 0.53 

ous strain upon resources, specifi - 

cally the Lake Naivasha ‘problem’ 

(mentioned in an earlier report) has 

not been solved. Indeed a recent 

newspaper feature draws further 

attention to it, roundly blaming the 

fl ower growers as the main culprits, 

even though there are many other 

reasons for the parlous state of the 

current situation. Approximately 

50% of Kenya’s fl ower exports rely 

on Lake Naivasha either directly or 

from boreholes in the catchment 

area, so, as said before, a social and 

economic disaster in the making? 

On the political front, Kenya still 

seems to be dragging its feet in ratifying 

agreements with the European 

Union, which would continue to 

give it tariff free access to the market. 

Th is is complicated by the fact that 

the EU, in their (doubtful) wisdom 

some years ago divided Kenya from 

the other neighbouring countries in 

defi nition of a LDC (Least Developed 

Country) and therefore subject 

to diff erent trade rules, even though 

at the same time encouraging the 

formation of one trading group in 

East Africa. How to deal with all 

the diff erent groupings within EAC, 

COMESA, SADC is a complication 

that even the politicians are fi nding 

diffi cult, so what hope for the fl ower 

growers?! But if this conundrum is 

not solved soon, Kenyan exports 

to Europe could suddenly become 

subject to tariff s, which could add 

signifi cantly to the costs of getting 

fl owers (and other produce) to the 

market. ||| 


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Lutgo_85x124.indd 1 24-02-2010 16:34:29 RosesForever_85x124.indd 1 24-02-2010 17:04:49

Crop Protection Part 1 

Amidst the build 

up to the Valentine 

sales period this 

year, leading 

Kenyan fl ower 

growers met with 

the COOPERNIC 

group (Cooperation 

of Independent 

European Traders) 

following their 

week long factfi 

nding tour 

of suppliers in 

Kenya. Mainland 

European retailers, 

facing increasing 

pressures to 

demonstrate 

environmental 

sustainability of 

fl ower production, 

have formed 

a consortium 

including CONAD, 

REWE Group, 

COOP, Colruyt and 

E.Leclerc to ensure 

fl owers purchased 

are produced with 

minimal pesticides 

and without 

compromising 

water security 

for the local 

communities in 

fl ower production 

areas. 

by Louise Labuschagne 

(labuschagne@realipm.com) 

The Kenyan growers represented 

at a round table discussion 

could arguably be using more 

Phytoseiulus (predatory mite 

which feeds on spider mite) 

than the rest of the global fl ower 

industry put together. 

Kenya sets the 

global pace for IPM 

Together with the auditing 

organization, MPS, 

COOPERNIC’s technical 

and marketing managers visited 

Kenyan suppliers, including Oserian, 

Finlays, Homegrown, Penta, Panda, 

Bigot, Tambuzi, Tropifl ora and 

Ol’Njorowa, to investigate primarily 

their crop protection programs and 

water use strategies. Th e visit was 

prompted by some negative, public 

perception of production methods 

in Kenya, and enabled them to see 

fi rsthand the exceptional lead which 

the Kenyan industry had taken to 

initiate and develop commercial 

large scale use of biological control 

agents. Th ose growers represented 

at the round table discussion could 

arguably be using more Phytoseiulus 

(predatory mite which feeds on 

spider mite) than the rest of the 

global fl ower industry put together. It 

was agreed that the Kenyan industry 

could do more to promote their 

achievements to counteract the outof-date, 

negative press. Th e Kenya 

Flower Council was represented at 

the meeting and will address the concerns 

raised by investigating the possibility 

of a ‘minimum standard’ for 

audit compliance criteria for exports, 

including Integrated Pest Management 

(IPM) and water use strategies. 

Greater government support was 

called for by growers, needing regulators 

to ensure a ‘level playing fi eld’ 

throughout the industry. 

Th ose growers present suggested the 

economic benefi ts of Phytoseiulus 

should be emphasized rather than the 

‘environmental’ aspects of biological 

control – since IPM could not only 

eliminate mites, but lead to improved 

stem length, bud size and leaf quality. 

Th is would increase the uptake of 

biological control agents by the remaining 

rose growers yet to take the 

step. Kenyan growers challenged the 

COOPERNIC group to measure the 

comparative achievements of other 

rose industries globally. 

IPM benchmark? 

Most environmental audits insist 

on implementation of IPM and yet 

there is no global benchmark for its 

measurement. Th e need to be objective, 

transparent and analytical in 

the retailer’s response to customer’s 

concerns, lead to the suggestion 

that pesticide residue testing 

for fl owers might be a means to 

measure compliance. Th e suitability 

of ‘pesticide residues’ as a criterion 

was debated. On the one hand, 

the risks of limiting the number of 

residues on fl owers could be argued 

as ‘potentially increasing the risk of 

resistance to pesticides’ – since there is 

a need to rotate groups of pesticides 

to prevent resistance. However, since 

residues break down on leaves, those 

residues which would be measured 

are only likely to have been applied 

in the recent spray periods. Th is 

same argument could, therefore, 

also be used by growers as an ‘excuse’ 

for not using enough biological 

controls more proactively to replace 

pesticides wherever possible. 

Concerns were raised whether 

non-technical auditors without experience 

in implementation of IPM 

were suffi ciently qualifi ed to distinguish 

between the two ‘reasons’ for 

having pesticide residues on leaves 

and fl owers. MPS would consult 

with IPM experts to determine if 

it was possible to revise the current 

audit criteria from a ‘volume applied’ 

approach to include a residue 

measurement. 

COOPERNIC managers needed to 

measure the ‘IPM phenomenon’ in 

Kenya to demonstrate due diligence 

to their customers. It was decided 

that to measure the reduction in 

pesticide use from 2009 onwards 

would be too recent to capture the 

true achievements of those growers 

represented, most of whom had 

made serious reductions over the 

last three years. Such a move would 

however provide an ‘IPM benchmark’ 

not only for other Kenyan 

growers but also rose growers across 

the globe. 

Th e achievement of Kenyan growers 

was due to the availability of 

locally produced biopesticides and 

natural enemies from Dudutech 

and Real IPM. Confi dence in the 

technology and biopesticides in the 

pipeline lead Real IPM to predict 

that within the next few years the 

Kenyan industry would: 

Eliminate acaricides (50 - 60% 

• less total pesticides); 

Implement IPM of diseases (25% 

• less fungicides); 

Develop IPM of thrips (25% less, 

• insecticides for thrips); 

Eliminate nematicides by using 

• biopesticides; 

Implement biological control of 

• crown gall. 

Th is could only be achieved 

through close cooperation with 

leading chemical companies such 

as Syngenta, to optimise the use of 

the remaining pesticides in a truly 

‘integrated’ program. 

Growers argued that retailers should 

also demonstrate Good Marketing 

Practice (GMP) just as growers have 

implemented GAP (Good Agricultural 

Practice). Retailers willing to 

purchase fl owers from growers who 

are yet to comply with the theoretical 

‘minimum standards’ of IPM 

implementation – should be exposed 

for their double standards, as they 

undermine the achievements of those 

who are willing to invest and learn to 

manage risks in IPM programs. 

Part 2 (next issue) deals with the 

Kenyan Industry’s eff orts to address 

the issue of water security. 


Crop Protection 

The total area under 

biological control of 

spider mite in roses 

has grown rapidly. 

The experiences 

described below are 

based on growing 

practices in East 

Africa. They are 

valuable for other 

continents, but may 

need fine tuning to 

local conditions. 

by Ed Moerman, Koppert 

Biological Systems 


Tailor-made toolbox 

Growers appreciate biological 

control of spider mite because 

reduction of acaricide 

use greatly improves crop growth, 

resulting in more flowers per square 

metre, longer stems and nicer buds 

and leaves. Every grower that has 

managed to make predatory mite 

Phytoseiulus persimilis work in his 

crop wants to benefit from the system 

as much as possible. However, 

in periods with dry weather, Phytoseiulus 

alone can struggle to keep 

up with the spider mite population. 

For this reason the predatory mite 

Amblyseius californicus is a useful 

addition. These predatory mites 

perform well in dry conditions, and 

are somewhat less susceptible to 

chemicals. 

A. californicus can be applied from 

the shaker bottles, but application 

with an air supported application 

device (Airbug) make it even 

more effective due to the uniform 

distribution in the crop. After application, 

A. californicus remains in 

the crop for several weeks. Besides 

spider mite being the main food 

source, it can also survive by eating 

thrips larvae, other mites or pollen. 

Growers who apply P. persimilis and 

A. californicus together, experience 

the most robust biological control 

of spider mite. New spots hardly 

appear, and the number of P. persimilis 

required is less in comparison 

with crops that are solely treated 

with P. persimilis. 

Since January 2010 Koppert 

supplies A. californicus in slow 

release sachets. This method is even 

simpler to apply and will boost the 

numbers of A. californicus in the 

crop significantly. The first experiences 

with this method of application 

are very positive. 

Thrips risk 

When harsh, broad spectrum pesticides 

are abandoned, thrips and 

whitefly have a chance to develop. 

Rose varieties differ in their susceptibility 

to these pests. There are 

chemicals available to control, but 

most of them hinder the biological 

control to some extent. Moreover, 

the effect of chemical pesticides is 

often disappointing: not all stages 

of the pest can be tackled, or the 

spray does not reach the places 

where the pest lives. 

The first thrips infection often 

comes from outside the greenhouse. 

It is generally noticed when damage 

becomes visible on the petals. Once 

in, thrips adults prefer to lay their 

eggs in the soft tissues of young 

shoots, buds and flowers. This leads 

to an established thrips population 

in the greenhouse, which is more 

difficult to handle. The grower 

can check the status of his thrips 

infection by measuring adult thrips 

on sticky traps on two levels in the 

crop: High (blue traps, just above 

the stems) and low (yellow traps, 

just above the skirt). If most thrips 

are caught on the high sticky traps, 

they come from outside. In case 

most thrips are caught on the low 

sticky traps, it is likely these have reproduced 

in the greenhouse, hence 

the population has established. 

Removing young shoots, buds 

and flowers from the crop and the 

greenhouse in time is already an 

essential part of the battle. Discard 

the prunings at a place where 

emerging thrips cannot easily migrate 

back into the greenhouse. 

The next step should be mass monitoring 

adult thrips on (blue) sticky 

traps, together with an attractant 

(Lurem-TR) which makes the thrips 

more mobile, appear from their shelters 

and more attracted to the traps. 

There is another species of Amblyseius 

(A. swirskii) that will support the 

thrips control by preying on young 

thrips larvae. Frequent (weekly) application 

and uniform distribution of 

this mite is crucial for its success. 

Growers that need more weapons 

can aim on controlling thrips pupae 

in the soil. This is possible with soil 

borne predatory mites (Hypoaspis 

aculeifer), or by spraying entomopathogenic 

nematodes (S. feltiae) 

or –fungi (i.e. V. lecanii) on the soil 

surface.

If despite all eff orts chemical intervention 

is needed, choose the chemicals 

that have least impact on the natural 

enemies operating in the crop. By adding 

a sugar based attractant (Attracker) 

to these pesticides, thrips will be more 

exposed to the chemical spray, resulting 

in signifi cantly better control. 

Rollertraps for whitefl y 

As with thrips, the development 

of whitefl ies strongly depends on 

the cultivar. Once the population 

establishes in the crop, it is diffi cult to 

control since many of the larvae are 

underneath the leaves low down in the 

canopy. Yellow rollertraps mounted just 

above the top of the buds catch huge 

numbers of adult whitefl ies. Th is is a 

fi rst step to reduce the need for chemical 

whitefl y control. 

Additionally, Amblyseius swirskii eats 

young larvae, while Eretmocerus eremicus 

parasitizes the bigger ones. Together 

with the rollertraps, the need for, and 

dependence on chemical whitefl y control 

can be reduced to the minimum. 

Th ere is a trade-off between the cost of 

an additional tool for thrips or whitefl y 

control and its benefi t in terms of less 

crop damage, lower chemical input and 

last but not least, smooth biological 

control of spider mite and optimal crop 

growth. Experienced IPM consultants 

can advice on the most appropriate 

combination of measures in each 

situation. ||| 

by William Armellini 

Social Media 

madness 

Let’s talk a minute about these new communications tools. Okay, we were 

forced to learn about computers and then we had to learn about the Internet 

and now we have to learn about all of these new ways to communicate 

using them. Just when we were getting used to spell check and laptops 

it starts raining down new words like… My Space, Facebook, YouTube, 

Texting, Twitter, and other words that have entered our lexicon. 

So now we have to decide if we want to jump in, so that we are not left 

behind or outsmarted by our children, grandchildren or any other eight 

year old that might ask, “Do you Twitter?” … or, do we sit on the sideline 

waiting until they make phones big enough for those of us with less than 

perfect sight? 

Th ese various sites, which we are starting to understand, all have something 

of interest. As a company we have many Facebook pages that are 

intended to connect us with our customers in ways never before possible. 

I do not pretend to understand all of the ways that these can work, but we 

are seeing that people are starting to use these tools. First off they are using 

them to get connected with friends and family, so we learn about what 

they had for breakfast, how their son did in his fi rst ball game or their 

daughters fi rst date. And lots of other useless but interesting information. 

You defi nitely receive more information than you need to know and yet 

knowing that someone’s dog died, or they lost weight, brings a very human 

and personal touch to your online interaction. You start to know things 

about people that you would never know unless you were close to them. 

As these social media sites mature many businesses are learning how to 

use them for commercial benefi t. Th is is where it can get sticky. Recently 

I commented on a Facebook post regarding some novelty roses that I once 

tried to market. My comment was honest and factual but since the post 

was an attempt to promote these in a serious way, my comments about 

its challenges were not well received. Th ere will be many episodes like 

this where social media collides head-on with commercial endeavours. 

So prepare yourself for some challenging moments as you wade into the 

murky waters of social media sites. And now to top it off nearly all of this 

technology can be utilized over the phone that sits in your pocket. 

We will continue to explore this new fast-paced world and embrace it for 

all it is worth. I recommend that you do so as well, or you will fi nd that 

the world has moved on without you. 

You might also say, “forget it” I am too old and can’t understand all of this 

crap anyway so I will stick to what I know. Th is is a viable option as well! 

Remember to charge your phone Miami is hot! 

Miami 

William Armellini has been in the fl oral industry 

since birth and works for Greenleaf Sourcing in 

Miami. william@fl oracultureinternational.com 

www.greenleafwholesale.com. 


Salon du Végétal 

More than 16,000 

visitors flocked to 

Angers for the 25th 

edition of the Salon 

du Végétal, France’s 

flagship event in 

the horticulture 

sector, representing 

a market worth 

around €1.8 billion 

in sales. 



Salon breathes 

new life into 

the industry 

The Salon du Végétal is 

renowned for presenting 

the cream of the French 

ornamental industry. The show 

has always stayed true to its name 

by conserving its green character; 

around two thirds of the exhibitors 

are categorized as ornamental 

plant companies and this year 

was no exception. In the Angers 

Popular spot 

The Innovert Novelty Pavilion continued to be 

one of the most popular spots of the show. On 

January 5th this year a special jury selected 44 

plants and products to participate in the Innovert 

competition. 

exhibition centre visitors saw 

16,000 m 2 of indoor plants, 

garden plants, cut flowers and 

nursery stock. In a time of 

economic downturn, the Salon 

breathed new life into the industry: 

Good business was done and the 

special themed pavilions together 

with the novelty competition, Innovert, 

made the show complete. 

As in previous years most novelties were to be 

found in the ‘greens’ category. On the eve of 

the show, the jury met to decide the winners. 

Euphorbia pulcherrima ‘Princettia’ bred by Suntory 

and entered by Holimco took the Innovert Gold 

medal. 

Called 'Princettia' this new Poinsettia has unusual 

pink coloured bracts and comes in a range of 4 pink 

tones. Princettia is a compact growing poinsettia 

- a small shrub that grows and flowers well in an 

indoor position. They have strong stems and the 

flowers cover the entire plant. They flower for an 

extended period of time inside, up to six months 

throughout the colder months of the year. It is 

recommended to position this new product from 

September to October, helping the Princettia to 

stand out in the crowd of traditional red poinsettias. 

The favourite in the nursery stock was Buddleja 

‘Blue Chip’. This is a compact, prolific Buddleja 

with grey-green leaves, and flowers which are 

violet on the outside and orange on the inside. 

‘Blue Chip’ was developed in collaboration with 

Spring Meadow Nurseries in Michigan (USA). The 

objective of the cross-fertilization was to develop a 

non-invasive Buddleja. Produced by North Carolina 

State University, Raleigh, N.C (USA), named 

in 2007 and marketed in France by Minier. It is 

protected by plant breeders’ rights. |||

Inspirational 

An area devoted to contemporary design ideas with plants, the 

8th edition of Espace Inspiration, served as a platform for 20 

young design students from the Lycee Jean-Monnet (Les Herbiers-Vendée). 

Kitchen Gardening being this year’s theme, students 

Margot Lebrin and Romuald Bonnet presented the show-goers with 

New marketing strategy 

Family owned business Ernest Turc, a leading breeder, 

producer and distributor of ornamentals has unveiled a 

new marketing strategy to better service its clients. The 

company’s new strategy, located in Angers, in the middle of 

France’s horticultural heartland, aims to focus on two main 

markets: the professional market and the consumer market. 

As of January 1st 2010 Ernest Turc Productions focuses on the 

professional markets including growers, landscapers and urban 

green keepers. Research on genetic and varietal improvement, 

and multiplication of mother stock will be carried out in the 

company’s own laboratory. The main crops are bulbous, cormous 

and tuberous plants such as Canna, Dahlia, tulips, Gladiolus and 

Agapanthus. This division comprises an important bulb producing 

area in Brittany and Anjou. 

Ernest Turc Distribution addresses the large consumer market 

including garden centres and DIY stores and regroups the activities 

of former Griffaton Disribution. The most important brands 

of this division are Joli Jardin, Jardiver, Seme la Vie, Ferme de 

Sainte Marthe, Jardin de Camaieu, Fleuris de Vie and Ernest Turc. 

In kitchen gardening Ernest Turc Disribution is represented by the 

AB brand. ||| 

Eco n’Home, an indoor kitchen compost device allowing 

vegetables and kitchen herbs to be grown in a mini 

garden while composting food scraps into fertilizer using 

fermentation. It is a perfect waste recycling system for 

apartments, small homes and condos. There's no need 

for a separate compost bucket and composter - this unit 

fi lls both of those roles at the same time. Unlike other 

composters, there are no unpleasant odours, ensured 

the designers who went home with the fi rst prize. 

Plant pots are boring? Not for Etienne Tetedoie and Anne 

Aubret who designed the Po-Pot Family, a collection of 

funny plant pots, which are interconnected via bluetooth. 

There is a so-called mother, which starts fl ickering when 

the plants are running out of water. ||| 


Salon du Végétal 

Delicieux Deliflor 

Deliflor, a leading breeder and propagator of chrysanthemums 

seduced the French florists with their high-profile 

varieties such as ‘Anastasia’, ‘Zembla’ and ‘Baltica’. The 

wide array of fashionable and funky Deliflor mums put aside 

any prejudices the French florist may have towards these 

beautiful and versatile flowers. Examples of modern bouquets 

and arrangements using Deliflor mums were found in 

a special booklet, which was handed out to the visitors. ||| 

Plan Ornemental develops strong business alliances 

Maximum returns and minimum risks are becoming even more 

critical in today’s increasingly competitive environment and this 

explains why Plan Ornemental has developed strong business 

alliances. The origins of the company go back to 1947 when the 

Bertrand brothers founded Bertrand Freres, a seed producer and 

distributor headquartered in Angers. Since 2008 the company is 

fully integrated into Plan SAS which today comprises three divisions 

Plan Jardin (supermarkets, garden centres), Plan Ornemental 

(growers and urban green spaces) and Plan Environment 

(landscaping). 

Herve de La Blanchardiere is managing the Plan Ornemental division, 

which is marketing its products under the commercial Bertrand brand 

and has established strong business alliances with German breeder 

Kientzler, French young plant producer Boyard and the Japanese seed 

company Sakata. “The business alliance between Boyard, Bertrand and 

Kientzler is combining the best of three worlds: breeding, production 

and distribution of both seed and vegetative young plants. Boyard has 

38 years of experience in vegetative multiplication and produces ten millions 

of cuttings in Charente and Tunisia. Kientzler runs four in vitro labs 


Party time 

The Salon du Végétal is 25 years this year. Time to party. 

On Wednesday evening February 17, the organizing body BHR (the 

Bureau Régional Horticole) invited all exhibitors to a spectacular party in the 

Angers Congress Centre. The guests were treated to a sumptuous dinner 

buffet and a night full of live music and entertainment. ||| 

guaranteeing a virus free mother stock and a year round supply of young 

plants thanks to production nurseries in France, Germany and Costa Rica.” 

When asked about the necessity to work with French partners in 

developing the French market de La Blanchardiere recalls that he was 

previously working at the freight section of British Airways. “In the past 

British Airways tried to develop the French market on its own. But very 

shortly they had to withdraw their sales team from France and look for 

a local agent. It illustrates the complexity of the French market which 

really asks for personal attention and apprehension of the country’s 

mentality and culture.” 

In terms of turnover up to 60% of the sales is generated in young plant 

sales and 40% in seed sales. 60% of the business is done directly with 

the growers but urban green departments are becoming an increasingly 

important customer. “Last year the biggest growth was reported 

in the urban green section. In France the urban parks and gardens are 

becoming more and more important. There is a real competition going 

on between the different cities and villages, fuelled by the national green 

contest Villes et Villages Fleuris. That’s why we have developed a special 

assortment adapted to the needs of urban green spaces.” |||

Happy Birthday 

While the Salon celebrates 25 

years this year, Morel, France’s 

leading Cyclamen breeder and 

seed merchandiser, is celebrating 

90 years of experience in Cyclamen 

breeding and 20 years 

of development in F1 hybrids. 

Innovation is fundamental 

to the company, which was 

established in 1920 in Lyon and 

transferred to Fréjus in 1970. 

Commenting on the world fl ower 

business, Olivier Morel, Morel’s 

commercial director sees overproduction, 

low prices, large scale 

production and impoverishment of 

the assortment as today’s biggest 

challenges. “Mieux etre different 

que tous pareils”, which translated 

into English is: “We focus on 

being different rather than similar 

to other companies. We try to 

differentiate ourselves in terms of 

fl ower shapes and sizes, colours, 

shelf life and uniformity.” 

Morel’s current assortment proves 

that there is more to discover 

than the old fashioned cyclamen 

on Granny’s dresser and it can be 

categorized into fi ve series: Metis, 

Tianis, Latinia, Latinia Premium 

and Halios. 

Metis represents the biggest F1 

miniature assortment with 20 

different colours, a compact shape 

and outstanding outdoor performances. 

Victoria and Victoria Red 

and Salmon are this year’s new 

Victoria types. Victoria is specially 

adapted for small pots and is more 

compact than Victoria deco mix 

Ref 4790, but features the same 

earliness; 29 weeks from sowing. 

Victoria Red and Salmon is also 

100% Victoria and stands for earliness, 

strong plants and an uniform 

growth habit. 

For high impact in the garden, 

Morel created the Tianis series 

with long lasting fl owers, a good 

botrytis resistance and fast cultivation 

capacities. New in the Tianis 

series is Fantasia Scarlet Red - 

featuring bi-coloured fl ower petals 

with a very contrasting white rim. 

“Third and fourth in line are 

Morel’s Latinia and Latinia 

Premium series for Mediterranean 

production areas. Latinia 

and Latinia Premium combine 

outstanding landscaping qualities 

with fast cultivation characteristics. 

These varieties feature extra large 

fl owers, an uniform shape and 

great heat tolerance. Actually we 

distinguish three main production 

countries: the Netherlands, 

Italy and Germany. Each market 

has its own characteristics. In the 

Netherlands, the focus is on the 

mini types, uniformity and large 

scale production while Italian 

growers specialize in much larger 

Cyclamen. Germany fi nds itself in 

between,” explains Olivier Morel. 

Real jumbo cyclamen are to be 

fi nd in Morel’s Halios series, the 

best cyclamen for indoor use and 

fl ower production. The news for the 

moment is that Morel has introduced 

a brand new Lollipop series featuring 

fringed Cyclamen with a shorter crop 

time, early and abundant fl owering 

and compactness. Currently Lollipops 

are only available in the Latinia 

and Halios series. 

The Morel family has been involved 

in cyclamen breeding for over 90 

years. Up till 1975, Charles Morel 

developed varieties following traditional 

methods. Then Guy Morel 

(Olivier’s brother and a qualifi ed biological 

engineer at the French Ecole 

Nationale d’Horticulture) worked 

out modern techniques for breeding 

F1 hybrids. After hundreds of crossings 

and much more seedlings, 

the fi rst Morel F1 hybrid made its 

début in 1990. “The introduction 

of F1 hybrids marked a revolutionary 

step in Cyclamen breeding as 

it improved the compactness and 

the shelf life of the plants. With F1 

hybrids we can also guarantee an 

early fl owering and an easy-to-steer 

crop,” concludes Olivier Morel. ||| 

Halios® fringed variety 

March 2010 | www.FloraCultureInternational.com 21 

©Cyclamen MOREL/E. Ulzega

Fair Flowers Fair Plants (FFP) 

What does it mean for you? 

From grower to consumer, 

a great deal for everyone 

Consumers are becoming increasingly critical with 

regard to the origin and production methods of 

a wide variety of products, including flowers and 

plants. 

The FFP consumer label for sustainably produced 

flowers and plants can offer you exactly what your 

clients want! 

More information? 

Fair Flowers Fair Plants 

T +31 174 615 707 

E info@fairflowersfairplants.com 

www.fairflowersfairplants.com 

Campagne financed with support from 

the Horticultural Commodity Board 

AMA_54x124.indd 1 24-02-2010 15:16:32 Fair_Flowers_54x124.indd 1 24-02-2010 15:17:35 AquaHort_54x124.indd 1 24-02-2010 17:12:46 

www.floracultureinternational.com 

Aqua-Hort ® 

copper fertilization and electromagnetic 

treatment of nutrition water 

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Aqua-Hort ® 

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Brabrand, Danmark 

+45 (70) 226611 

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BENEFITS : 

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less fungicides 

Improves environment 

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HORTI FAIR 

STANDNR. 04.0408 

For agents 

worldwide see : 

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Pothos Plant Nederland B.V. 

Zwethlaan 38, 2675 LB Honselersdijk 

The Netherlands � T +31 (0) 174-242112 

www.pothosplant.nl � info@pothosplant.nl 

Photos_42x42.indd 1 20-10-2009 10:25:58 

Breeding beautiful Callas since 1981 

Tel. + 64 9 431 7094 Fax + 64 9 431 7445 

www.callasnewzealand.com

International Events 

March 2010 

2 to 3. Belgium 

Florall Spring Fair, 

Flanders Expo, Ghent. 

T (32) 9 241 5091; 

F (32) 9 241 5095; 

info@fl orall.be; 

www.fl orall.be 

6 to 15. Taiwan 

TIOS 2010 Taiwan International 

Orchid Show, Tainan County. 

www.toga.org.tw 

8 to 10. United Arab Emirates 

IPM Dubai, Airport Expo Dubai. 

T (49) 201 7244 226; 

F (49) 201 7244 513; 

www.ipm-dubai.net 

9 to 11. United States 

World Floral Expo, Miami, 

Florida. 

T (31) 20 662 2482; 

F (31) 20 675 2326; 

melvin@hpp.nl; 

www.hpp.nl 

11 to 14. Portugal 

ExpoJardim, Batalha. 

T (351)244 76 94 80; 

F (351) 244 76 74 89; 

info@exposalao.pt; 

www.exposalao.pt 

18 to May 16. The Netherlands 

Keukenhof Holland, Lisse. 

T (31) 252 465 555; 

F (31) 252 465 565; 

info@keukenhof.nl; 

www.keukenhof.nl 

19 to 21. Slovenia 

13th Flora Fair, Celje. 

T (386) 3 54 33 000; 

F (386) 3 54 19 164; 

info@ce-sejem.si; 

www.ce-sejem.si 

24 to 26. Kenya 

Hortec 2010, Kenyatta 

International Conference Center, 

Nairobi. 

T (31) 20 662 2482; 

F (31) 20 675 2326; 


www.hpp.nl 

April 2010 

8 to 11. Kazakhstan 

Hortifl owers Kazakhstan, Almaty. 

T (31) 20 662 2482; 

F (31) 20 675 2326; 


www.hpp.nl 


California Spring Trials 

(previously called Pack Trials). 

www.ngb.org 

14 to 17. China 

Hortifl orexpo China, Beijing 

Exhibition Center. 

T (86) 21 62956677 

8367/2131/2132; 

F (86) 21 62780038; 

intexcl@sh163.net/ 

intexljs@sh163.net; 

www.hortifl orexpo.com 

17 to 25. Belgium 

Floralies 2010, Gent. 

www.fl oralien.be 

26 to 29. The Netherlands 

2010 European Spring Pack Trials. 

www.fl euroselect.com 

May 2010 

9 to 14. Iran 

Tehran International Exhibition 

of Flowers & Plants, Park 

Equipment and Related 

Industries (TIFEX). 

T (98) 21 88243891-3; 

F (98) 21 88241568; 

http://tifex.tehran.ir 

19. The Netherlands 

VWS Export Open Greenhouse 

Day and Lilium Show, Broek op 

Langedijk. 

www.opengreenhouseday.com 

23 to 9. Korea 

15th Goyang Korea Flower Show, 

Ilsan Lake Park, Goyang City. 

www.fl ower.or.kr 

25 to 29. United Kingdom 

RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Royal 

Hospital, Chelsea, London. 

www.rhs.org.uk 

June 2010 


Flower Trials 2010, Aalsmeer and 

Westland Regions. 

www.fl owertrials.nl 

16 to 18. Brazil 

Hortitec, Holambra. 

www.hortitec.com.br 


25th Anniversary Edition of 

the Annual Seeley Conference, 

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. 

T (1) 607 255 1789; 

seeleyconference@cornell.edu; 

www.hort.cornell.edu/seeleyconference 


International Floriculture Expo 

(formerly Th e Super Floral Show), 

Miami Beach Convention Centre. 

T (1) 207 842 5508; 

F (1) 207 842 5509; 

fl oriexpo@divcom.com; 

www.fl oriexpo.com 


Garden Expo, Stoneleigh Park, 

Warwickshire (in conjunction 

with the HTA’s inaugural 

National Plant Show). 

www.gardenexpo.co.uk 


HTA National Plant Show, 

Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. 

www.nationalplantshow.co.uk 

July 2010 

10 to 13. Brazil 

Enfl or Garden Show, Holambra. 

www.enfl or.com.br 


OFA Short Course, Columbus, Ohio. 

T (1) 614 487 1117; 

F (1) 614 487 1216; ofa@ofa.org; 

www.ofa.org 

15 to 22. Singapore 

Singapore Garden Festival, 

Suntec Singapore. Secretariat: 

National Parks Board, 

T (65) 6471 7141; 

F (65) 6467 4832; singaporegardenfestival@nparks.gov.sg; 

www.singaporegardenfestival.com 

18 to 24. Italy 

CEJH 51st Congress ‘Sicily: 

Green, Sweet and Salt’, Marsala, 

Sicily. Further information: 

European Community of Young 

Horticulturists (CEJH), Rudy 

Casati 

T (39) 339 6249939; Annajole 

Tonelli 

T (39) 340 7025285 

framemakers@tin.it 

August 2010 

22 to 27. Portugal 

28th International Horticulture 

Congress (IHC), Lisbon. Under 

the auspices of the International 

Society for Horticultural Science; 

www.ihc2010.org 


Plantarium, Boskoop. 

T (31) 172 235 400; 

F (31) 172 235 450; 

info@plantarium.nl; 

www.plantarium.nl 

September 2010 

2 to 5. Russia 

Flowers 2010 International 

Floriculture Exhibition, All Russia 

Exhibition Centre, Moscow. 

T (31) 20 662 2482; 

F (31) 20 675 2326; 


www.hpp.nl 


Four Oaks Trade Show, 

Macclesfi eld. 

T (44) 1477 571392; 

F (44) 1477 571314; 

four-oaks-hort@btconnect.com; 

www.fouroaks-tradeshow.com 


Glee 2010, National Exhibition 

Centre, Birmingham. 

T (44) 20 7728 4262; 

F (44) 20 7728 3636; 

glee@emap.com; 

www.gleebirmingham.com 


Society of American Florists 

(SAF) 126th Annual Convention, 

Omni Championsgate, Orlando, 

Florida. www.safnow.org; Laura 

Weaver, CMP lweaver@safnow.org 

29 to 30. Canada 

CanWest Horticulture Show, 

Vancouver, British Columbia. 

T (1) 604 574 7772; 

F (1) 604 574 7773; 

bnelson@bclna.com; 

www.canwesthortshow.com 

October 2010 

6 to 9. Ecuador 

FlorEcuador Agrifl or 2010, Quito. 

T (31) 20 662 2482; 

F (31) 20 675 2326; 


www.hpp.nl 

6 to 7. Canada 

Canadian Greenhouse 

Conference, International Centre, 

Toronto, Ontario. 

T (1) 905 945 9057; 

F (1) 905 945 8643; 

info@canadiangreenhouseconference.com;www.candiangreenhouseconference.com 


International Horti Fair, 

Amsterdam RAI. 

T (31) 297 344033; 

F (31) 297 326850; 

info@hortifair.nl; 

www.hortifair.nl 


PMA Fresh Summit, Orange 

County Convention Center, 

Orlando, Florida. Produce 

Marketing Association, 1500 

Casho Mill Rd, Newark, DE USA 

19714-6036. 

T (1) 302 738 7100; 

F (1) 302 731 2409; 

www.pma.com 


World News 


United Arab Emirates 

IPM Dubai set for March 8-10 

IPM Dubai will open its doors for 

the fi fth time on March 8 - 10, 2010. 

The most important horticultural 

fair in the Gulf region will offer 

companies the possibility of presenting 

themselves to a fi rst-rate 

trade public from the Middle East in 

one of the most important growth 

markets anywhere in the world. 

IPM Dubai 2010 will once again take 

place on the Airport Expo Dubai fair 

site within a stones throw of the Dubai 

Airport and the Dubai Flower Center. 

It will be supported by His Highness 

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum 

who will become the patron once more 

in 2010 - and thus for the fi fth time in 

succession. 

With its ultramodern trading centres, 

Dubai constitutes a turnstile in the 

Middle East for the international business 

relating to everything to do with 

plants and fl owers. IPM Dubai 2009 

presented itself in a more international 

form than ever: In total, 240 exhibitors 

from 22 nations showed their products 

and services from the fi elds of plants, 

technology, fl oriculture, sales promotion, 

plant care and plant logistics. In 

this case, one particularly noteworthy 

aspect was that ten nations in all 

participated with offi cial cooperative 

booths. The range on offer met with 

great interest amongst the 2,463 

visitors from 51 nations. The exhibitors 

encountered highly qualifi ed buyers 

from all over the Middle East. 

Last year’s high-quality supporting 

program was very well-visited and 

will be continued in 2010. Experts 

will provide information in seminars 

and live demonstrations. For 

example, Fachverband Deutscher 

Floristen ("Trade Association of 

German Florists") will show topclass 

fl oriculture from Germany once 

more. The Federal Ministry of Food, 

Agriculture and Consumer Protection 

will support the appearances of 

German companies at the fair. On the 

promoted cooperative German booth, 

they will be able to present themselves 

to the visitors to IPM Dubai. 

For the second time, WOP DUBAI 

World of Perishables will take place 

parallel to IPM DUBAI. Here, companies 

will show the entire spectrum of 

Readership Agreement 

ICOGO 

Th e International Commercial Orchid Growers Organization (ICOGO) 

and FloraCulture International have reached an agreement. Th e members 

and relations of ICOGO will receive FloraCulture International as 

courtesy to their membership for free. ICOGO is the peak international 

their products and services for trading 

in fruit and vegetables. In this respect, 

it will be possible to see not only 

solutions for the fi elds of production, 

goods security and technical equipment 

but also ranges on offer from 

the segments of transport, trading 

and services. The wholesale market in 

Dubai, the Dubai Municipality as well 

as the EUROFRESH trade journal will 

support the fair as strategic partners. 

After the successful premiere last year 

with 80 exhibitors from 18 countries 

and the absolutely positive response 

from both the exhibitor and visitor 

sides, the organisers of WOP DUBAI 

are expecting substantial growth for 

this year’s edition. ||| 

industry organization of orchids in the world and represents its members 

and relations to government, technical agencies and other industry groups 

to stimulate research and development and commercial interests in the 

production and marketing of the orchids. Andy Matsui - Jaap N. Kras

Th e Netherlands 

H2 acquires 

Agribio 

Dutch investment company H2 Equity 

Partners B.V. (“H2”) will acquire the leading 

international fl ower and potato breeder Kirin 

Agribio Company, Limited and Kirin Agribio 

EC B.V. (collectively “Agribio Group”) from 

Japanese listed Kirin Holdings Company, 

Limited (“Kirin”), both companies announced 

February 18. H2 has signed the purchase 

agreement and expects closing of the deal in 

March of this year. 

“We see exciting opportunities, given the 

current market dynamics”, says Peter Kroeze 

partner of H2 Equity Partners. “We seized the 

opportunity to acquire Agribio Group as it is a 

knowledge intensive breeder that is very well 

positioned to unlock the full potential that this 

business offers. Together with management 

we will actively pursue product development, 

strategic partnerships and add-on acquisitions.” 

Kirin, a Japanese-listed company and one of the 

leading food and beverage manufacturers in Asia 

and Oceania, decided to divest the Agribio Group 

– Fides with its headquarters in The Netherlands, 

Barberet & Blanc in Spain, Southern Glasshouse 

Produce in the United Kingdom and Agribio in 

Japan and China - as part of its continuous business 

portfolio realignment. 

Agribio’s horticultural breeding business is a global 

top-5 company. Annual sales amount to approximately 

€70 million. The potato breeding business 

holds a global top-5 position and is the only noncooperative 

player active in Japan. Annual sales 

are around €50 million. The 2009 total turnover for 

Agribio group amounted to approximately €120 

million, the company is profi table and employs 

about 2,100 people. 

H2 Equity Partners is an independent private 

equity fi rm founded in 1991, headquartered in the 

Netherlands. H2 focuses on investments in midsized 

companies in the Benelux, Germany and the 

UK that can benefi t from its in-house operating 

skills and expertise. H2 has a proven track record 

of growing its portfolio companies substantially in 

revenue and profi t. ||| 

Dutch Comfort 

by Jaap N. Kras 

How is the Weather? 

From half December until the third week of February Europe was covered 

with snow and frost. We have had an exceptional cold and snowy year. 

Also in China the snowfall is exceptional and temperatures were extremely 

low this winter. Th e North – East of the USA also faced snow records and 

low temperatures. Only the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver and 

surrounding mountains had rain instead of snow. 

Why this silly weather talk? Growers always see that the prices for fl owers 

and plants vary with the weather. We have many sayings on this subject. 

Sayings that express the sensitive relationship between weather and the 

prices for fl owers and plants. I cannot translate them. Not only because of 

the diffi culty of translation but also because of the cultural diff erences in 

meaning. For example, in Britain they say, “the early bird is catching the 

worm”. In Holland we have a similar saying but with a totally diff erent 

outcome, “the early bird is for the cat”. 

On the production side the weather infl uences are enormous. Th e Italian 

growers in the San Remo area are facing a terrible winter and cannot harvest 

either their fl owers or trees due to the frost. Th e harvest of seasonal 

bulb products such as daff odils, iris, hyacinths and tulips are also strongly 

infl uenced by the current weather. A few days of sun and the yield grows 

explosively. With this, the daily prices diff er. 

We cannot infl uence the weather nor the general economic climate. We 

have our own problems called the pig cycle or overproduction. For 

many cut fl owers and potted plants the supply is higher than demand; 

temporarily, depending on the weather, and structurally because of the 

overproduction. Th e geographical area a grower of horticultural products 

can serve is, for many products, limited. Maybe I can translate this one 

for you. We used to say the market for a caulifl ower is as big as you can 

throw them. Th e relation between value, weight and freshness restrict 

your geographical market. Th is diff ers from product to product. Seed or 

a cutting is easier and cheaper in transport than a fi nal product. A fi ller 

(lets say a leather leaf) is less perishable than a cut fl ower. A potted plant 

is more expensive than a cut fl ower. A niche product goes further (in 

distance to the consumer) than a mass article and in upcoming markets, 

in general, consumers pay more than in mature markets. You can draw 

circles on the map of service areas for your product and see where you can 

expect competition from local or import products. You can think of niche 

products for those markets, hub points for transhipment; analyse which 

segment you want to serve in an area. 

Th en we have that famous pig cycle our teacher warned us about in Roelofarendsveen 

at the fi rst year of the lower horticultural school in 1961. 

Haven’t we learnt from that? No. Still many growers follow the herd, see 

what happened to the lilies, the tulips and the phalaenopsis to name a few, 

but where many can name at least twenty others as well. In a free market 

of demand and supply the outcome is clear. In a situation where supply is 

higher than demand the producers lose, with all the terrible consequences. 

Jaap N. Kras 

jaap@fl oracultureinternational.com 


World News 

Denmark 

Challenged on RFID 

The date from when RFID will be implemented 

in the European horticultural 

industry is approaching - November 1, 

2010 - and it is increasingly drawing the 

industry’s attention. It is also the cause 

for concern for some stakeholders, and 

more and more questions are raised as to 

why Container Centralen (CC) is implementing 

RFID on the CC Container. In the 

FCI February issue, Erwin Verbraeken, 

CC Region Manager of North & Western 

Europe, responded to critique of some 

Dutch CC Container users. Here, CC CEO, 

Tonny Vangsgaard Gravesen (TVG), gives 

some more answers to critical questions. 

Some CC Container customers fail to see 

any advantages for them by implementing 

RFID on the CC Containers. Isn’t it mostly 

for CC’s own sake that you are doing this? 

TVG: We are not doing this for the sake of CC 

– but for the sake of the CC Pool System, and 

thereby all the users. By far the majority of the 

CC Containers are on so-called ‘Long Term hire’, 

which means that the customers have made a 

significant investment in the shared system – 

and we are not talking petty cash here. Every 

CC Container represents a value of approx. 

€70, making the entire pool worth approx. 

€250 million! We want - and must - protect this 

investment. We do that best with RFID. 

Is it not quite unusual that a company is 

carrying out such a major operation for 

the sake of the market? 

TVG: Yes it is, however, you have to bear in 

mind that CC was actually founded and is 

owned by our customers. We exist simply 

to be an industry-wide solution providing 

standards within transport and trade, and this 

is still our primary objective. Although it is not 

something we think about every day, it is in 

fact a really fantastic concept that the founders 

of the system created, which is also why it 

has become the acknowledged standard for 

transportation of pot plants within Europe. Even 

outside of Europe it is proving successful, as 

CC today is active in USA, Central America and 

Asia. The success that the CC Pool System has 

had is based on significant cost savings that 

our entire industry has achieved throughout the 

years by applying a standard system, which is 

continuously maintained and developed. 


The industry is also sharing this investment 

– eventually it is only the customers 

that will be paying the bill. Isn’t that right? 

TVG: This is the 5th time we are updating 

and replacing the identification tags on the 

CC Container. Every time the investment has 

been recovered over the first few months, 

and we have subsequently been able to 

decrease the annual pool fee that covers 

repair and maintenance. So the investment is 

in fact self-sufficient, and even generates a 

profit, which benefits the loyal customers. 

How is this profit generated? 

TVG: Today we have approx. 3.5 M CC 

Containers under contract in the CC Pool 

System with more than 21,000 customers. It 

is amazing to realise that loyal customers for 

30 years now have supported the shared pool 

system, and that these would not consider 

abusing the system to their own benefit. But 

just as with so many other things in life, there 

are a few “rotten apples” who are exploiting 

the system to the detriment of the masses. 

‘Parasites’ push fake CC Containers into the 

pool and are thereby getting a ‘free ride’ at 

the expense of the loyal customers. No one 

knows the exact amount of fake containers, 

but if we assume that there are approx. 1 

M fake containers in the system, then the 

customers are paying up to one-third too 

much in the annual pool fee, as they also 

have to pay for the illegal containers. These 

parasites will now be excluded from the pool 

which means that everyone who has joined 

the system is also paying their share of the 

shared CC Pool System 

Will the annual fee then be reduced after 

November 1, 2010? 

TVG: As I mentioned before, it does take 

a few months for the investment to be 

recovered, and if the tagging operation starts 

to make a profit the annual pool fee will be 

decreased accordingly. The more customers 

support the CC Pool System and scan the 

RFID tags, the quicker we will be able to close 

the pool and exclude the parasites - and the 

quicker the cost savings will be felt. Right 

now I think it is unlikely that the CC Container 

pool fee will increase in 2011. On the contrary, 

we will have to wait and see how quickly a 

price decrease can happen. 

Container Centralen CEO, Tonny Vangsgaard Gravesen 

You mention that the users have to scan 

the RFID tags. That means then, that they 

have to invest in both a scanner and that 

they thereafter have to spend extra time 

on scanning. Is it then so strange that the 

users fear that this will cost them more 

time and money? 

TVG: If you want to be sure to avoid receiving 

fake containers you should acquire a 

scanner. Otherwise you run a risk similar to 

that of receiving counterfeit money, if you are 

not checking them: They have no value and 

will be refused when you try to pass them 

on in the CC Pool System. You could make 

arrangements with your transporter to ensure 

that they scan the containers and only deliver 

the real ones to you. Many transporters are 

already using RFID in their business. It is 

in fact not something new that you have to 

check the containers authenticity – you have a 

responsibility to do that even today by checking 

whether they have the correct metal plate 

and black padlock. With RFID you just have an 

additional method of verifying the authenticity. 

The policies of the CC Pool System remain 

the same. 

Compared to the investment the industry has 

already made in the CC Containers – the €250 

million – the cost of the handheld scanners is 

a very modest expense of protecting this investment. 

At the same time it is the industry’s 

guarantee that the loyal customers are not 

footing the bill for the parasites. With the time 

spent scanning, it is as with so many other 

new things, you quickly get used to it and 

then it is done quickly. If you at the same time 

choose to integrate the information scanned 

with your logistics system, you will be able 

to achieve savings in administration time. We 

are of course happy to advise our customers 

on how best to take advantage of the benefits 

RFID makes possible. |||

Europe 

Osmocote 

celebrates 

40 years 

Forty years ago, Scotts launched the controlled 

release fertilizer Osmocote in Europe. Since 

then, it has regularly developed new generations 

of coated fertilizers. The latest innovation 

is the double-coated Osmocote granule. “Every 

development is aimed at making the crop grow 

even better,” says Gerard Klein Onstenk, International 

Marketing Manager for Ornamentals 

at Scotts Professional. 

With Osmocote, Scotts was the fi rst to market 

a controlled release fertilizer. The launch was the 

start of a period in which Scotts led the way in the 

further development of coated fertilizers. The aim 

was to get a better grip on the growth of crops in 

order to improve quality. In the early eighties, Scotts 

introduced the second generation of coated fertilizers. 

Besides nitrogen, phosphate and potassium, 

these also used trace elements which are released 

during the entire longevity. “Another step forwards 

for professional growers. These developments 

made it possible to fertilize plants in growing media 

properly, safely and effi ciently,” says Klein Onstenk. 

In the late nineties, Scotts introduced Osmocote 

Exact. This product releases minerals according to 

a predetermined release pattern. This allows growers 

to know its effects before they use it. This is 

important in order to be able to manage fertilization. 

The fourth generation is known under the name 

Osmocote Exact DCT. With DCT, the release of the 

fertilizers is programmable. A double coating ensures 

that the fertilizers are released at the moment 

that the growing plant needs them. As a result, the 

release of nutrients is even better tailored to the 

specifi c needs of the crop. 

Scotts will continue to focus on the development 

of quality products for container nursery stock, pot 

plant and bedding plant cultivation in the years to 

come. To this end, it makes ongoing investments in 

innovation, quality and service. “Customers need to 

be able to count on our products and expert support,” 

says Klein Onstenk. An area of focus for Scotts is 

the environmental impact of fertilizers. In developing 

new products, it aims to further limit the leaching 

out of fertilizers. Scotts is also currently looking into 

whether the coating technology which it uses for the 

Osmocote granules is suitable for other applications. 

It is now also focusing on growers in Eastern Europe 

and Asia who are still using conventional fertilizers. ||| 

by Leaora Policar 

Culture 

Touch 

I think it is safe to assume that most farms are not in the middle of the 

city, and probably located some distance away. I have no knowledge as 

to how far away, but let’s agree that most farms in the world are not that 

close to a city. I also dare to say that public transportation - if it exists - is 

probably not available every minute of the day (or night). If it’s anything 

like where we are, which is an hour and a half away from the closest city, 

there is a bus every hour during the day, and no bus at all after dark. 

You may ask – so, what's the issue? At the end of the day everyone makes 

their own choice as to where they live, or what their livelihood will be, 

and this, of course, is true. But don’t we (the people who live in rural 

areas far away from the cultural centres of our country) also deserve to be 

exposed to culture, or any of the other exciting events that happen. 

Th e answer is not a simple one at all. In many villages and far away towns, 

usually a fl avour of local culture can be found, especially during holidays 

and religious procedures: Very often you can see local arts and crafts 

being displayed during these festivities. In other places perhaps it is possible 

to travel a certain distance to a cultural centre where festivities and 

festivals are held. And for the most, that's it. 

But what about the bigger shows or the latest movies, the national singers 

and bands, museums or international acclaimed artists, and exposure 

to new ideas in the world of art? In many places, these simply aren't 

available. And that's something to think about. As new ideas evolve, 

those people living on the periphery will have a tendency to see things 

diff erently: People feel comfortable with what they know and what they 

are used to and accustomed to. If cultural changes take place and they are 

not involved or exposed to this ongoing change, very soon it will all look 

foreign to them. 

I believe that every country should have a Cultural Ministry or something 

similar whose mission amongst others is to bring as much culture and 

new exposure to the outskirts: Building a cultural centre with modern 

facilities to accommodate plays, bands, an orchestra, movies and dance 

theatres is simply a must. 

In this country we have the National Lottery. You can buy a ticket in the 

high hopes of being lucky and winning a fortune. Well, although semiindependent, 

by law the lottery must use most of its revenue to build 

cultural centres and youth clubs, and in this way exposes those citizens 

who want to be exposed to culture. 

Leaora Policar, together with 

her husband Eyal, runs a fl owerfarm 

in the Arava Desert in Southern Israel. 

Leaora@arava.co.il 


World News 

Two new careers in 

personnel support 

Newly appointed at Lutgo Global, Geert Houwers (44) was 

educated at the International Agricultural College Larenstein 

in Deventer, The Netherlands, where he graduated Cum Laude. 

In his 25 year career he has carried out a range of management 

functions in the horticultural arena in various places around 

the globe, Africa, North and South America, the Middle East 

and even on the Bahamas! Positions varied from production 

and post harvest oriented through supply chain management 

to commerce. Basically all aspects of an extended Horticultural 

Chain are covered in his working history. Geert likes to approach 

the horticultural sector with a giraffe view, broad and covering 

all aspects but with four feet firmly planted in the real world. 

Over the past years the African Horticultural and Fresh Produce 

industry is developing into a mature, well functioning sector. To keep 

up and be supportive with these sector changes, Lutgo Global, and 

Geert Houwers in particular, can help with the personnel issues. His 

expertise and knowledge of the (African) horticultural sector makes 

him an excellent sparring partner and sounding board for personnel 

issues, organizational changes, position descriptions and new developments 

in general. 

Recently, Elise Wieringa also joined the Lutgo Team. After completing 

her Bachelors degree (Environmental Chemical Engineering), Elise 

Wieringa (39) worked and lived with her family in a range of countries 

including Brazil, Italy, Uganda, New Zealand and China, working in administration, 

quality control, stock control, HR and database administration 

for a range of (horticultural) organizations. Elise is responsible for 

the Global back office, as central contact for international companies 

and candidates and as coordinator for the Lutgo Global consultants, 

therefore fulfilling a vital role within the team. She says, “Using Lutgo 

Global for personnel recruitment is interesting for clients/companies 

not in the least since we work according to the ‘no cure, no pay’ 

Stalplast_178x60.indd 1 23-02-2010 16-02-2009 14:15:55 12:26:42 


principle. There are no initial financial commitments when starting 

the recruitment process with Lutgo Global, only when the candidate 

agrees with the organization on an employment contract there will 

be a fee involved for Lutgo Global. To candidates, Lutgo Global can 

offer a worldwide network in the sector, to find that new interesting 

opportunity. We could be of help by obtaining the direction for your 

career path, by clarifying your opportunities, personal and professional 

strength- and weaknesses or by simply mirroring your own ideas. 

There is no fee to register as a candidate with Lutgo Global.” 

How does Lutgo Global work? “It all starts with a candidate’s CV, this 

can be forwarded to us in reaction to a special job advertisement but 

also an open job application. After receipt of the CV, we carry out a 

pre-screening of the persons work experience. Hereby we use the Lutgo 

Global knowledge of requirements and demands of the horticultural 

sector in the various regions of the world. When a ‘prospect’ candidate 

has an interesting professional history we ask him to complete our 

especially developed intake questionnaires and tests. These documents 

provide us with a range of information relevant to the potential 

placement of a candidate. Information analysed and discussed varies 

from general information like family situation and educational history to 

in depth information on professional work history and crop, product or 

sector specific knowledge. Of course the focal points vary dependant 

on the specifics of the candidate involved. Bearing all this information 

in mind, we arrange an in depth interview with the candidate. This 

interview can be conducted in person or by phone, depending on the 

place of residence, and will give Lutgo Global a well rounded picture of 

the candidates competences, from all angles; skills, attitude, personality 

and knowledge. All this information together forms the basis for the 

written personal profile. The personal profile is an anonymous description 

of the candidate, and is used to bring the candidate actively under 

the attention of prospective employers.” ||| 

• Full program for rolling and mobile benches 

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peerdeman 

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can guarantee a high quality product. 

Product development 

PO realizes new market development 

by breeding, selecting and testing above 

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PO has created a new grow concept 

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With the IPS concept they create guaranteed 

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PO takes virus problems in orchids very 

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Peerdeman_54x254.indd 1 24-02-2010 15:31:03 

FloraHolland 2010 

Prices 

Weeks 1 to 6 (January 4 to February 14, 2010) 

Category Product Quantity % 10:09 Price 2010 Price 2009 

Cut Flowers Alstroemeria 15,827,714 16.8 0.20 0.20 

Anthurium 7,107,907 11.1 0.50 0.49 

Chrysant. 15,256,674 0.4 0.46 0.41 

Chrysant. Spray 94,981,010 16.4 0.21 0.26 

Chrysant. Santini 18,201,549 8.5 0.17 0.18 

Cymbidium 2,251,736 9.4 2.43 2.27 

Cymbidium Mini 1,097,044 15.1 1.15 1.16 

Carnation 12,506,603 36.6 0.13 0.15 

Carnation Spray 4,606,845 72.3 0.08 0.12 

Eustoma russellianum 10,494,350 35.8 0.30 0.33 

Freesia Double 7,093,599 10.6 0.20 0.19 

Freesia 21,176,419 5.0 0.19 0.17 

Gerbera Large 16,462,164 13.1 0.29 0.28 

Gerbera Mini 56,321,774 12.6 0.15 0.12 

Gladiolus 214,100 85.3 0.29 0.29 

Helianthus 1,427,430 13.6 0.26 0.26 

Hippeastrum 6,023,762 18.6 0.70 0.78 

Hypericum 18,845,354 4.7 0.15 0.14 

Iris 10,079,060 17.6 0.11 0.13 

Lilium Asiatic 2,778,000 -9.4 0.45 0.41 

Lilium Longifl orum 4,943,824 -3.1 0.42 0.41 

Lilium Oriental Hybr. 14,295,461 13.3 0.76 0.68 

Limonium 5,053,410 13.5 0.20 0.19 

Rose Large 305,566,413 27.3 0.28 0.27 

Rose Small 89,613,344 18.5 0.10 0.10 

Rose Spray 5,458,546 13.1 0.30 0.28 

Cut green and Decorat. 47,188,721 0.9 0.15 0.14 

Solidago 6,432,119 -17.6 0.13 0.10 

Tulip 476,369,203 35.3 0.13 0.14 

Total 1,447,140,505 21.9 0.20 0.21 

Indoor Plants Berry/Fruit plants 217,759 -14.5 2.50 2.32 

Flowering Plants 35,715,090 11.9 1.09 1.05 

Bulb/Tuberous 27,239,770 11.5 0.72 0.77 

Bromelia 3,783,368 7.7 2.02 2.09 

Cactus/Succulent 4,807,006 10.7 1.15 1.13 

Green Plants 17,476,308 3.3 1.46 1.62 

Orchids 14,962,349 36.0 3.78 3.86 

Palms 1,895,262 -8.0 3.07 2.95 

Ferns 1,329,656 36.5 1.02 1.25 

Total 110,628,613 11.4 1.51 1.50 

Garden Plants Tree/Shrub/Climbing 2,241,040 -22.4 1.46 1.02 

Conifers 194,509 -25.9 0.97 0.82 

Annual/Biennial 574,029 -36.5 0.33 0.25 

Perennial 2,046,004 13.2 0.82 0.75 

Total 5,027,778 -14.5 1.06 0.81 


Innovations for Growing Success 

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Poepleman_178x124.indd 1 24-02-2010 16:27:49 

Agripartner for succes! 

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DLV Plant_178x124.indd 1 24-02-2010 16:16:25

Central Europe 

Russia and the 

Netherlands 

maintain a 

centuries long 

relation when 

it comes to 

fl ower business. 

Floor Schamp, 

area manager 

Flower Council of 

Holland, provides 

a comprehensive 

update on key 

topics affecting 

the fl ower trade 

between Holland 

and Russia. 

Russia and Flowers 

You can say that the fascination 

is mutual: the Dutch for 

a mystic country full of nature 

and culture while in Russia, the 

Netherlands is admired and most 

famous for its national product, 

fl owers. Th e expression “Flowers 

From Holland, Naturally” as we like 

to say nowadays may even go back 

to halfway the 17th century when 

Dutch traders - participating in a 

trade mission to Russia - came in 

contact with the Russian court and 

upper class, bringing fl owers and 

fl ower bulbs as a gift. During the 

reign of Peter the Great the Russian- 

Dutch contact intensifi ed and even 

at the end of the 19th century some 

Dutch traders were settled in parts 

of Russia, like Saint Petersburg, running 

a shop at the Nevsky Prospekt; 

nowadays the main street of St. 

Petersburg. It is not hard to imagine 

that among these shops there might 

be a Dutch fl ower shop as well. 

Th e Russian Revolution made an 

end to the fl ourishing business and 

the broad assortment of fl owers that 

was fl owing from Holland to Russia. 

International instability and new 

politics in ‘Soviet’ Russia made it 

impossible to continue fl ower export 

from Holland to Russia, though 

Dutch traders kept on trying to 

renew the contact in the Russian 

market. Concerning fl owers these 

days, the Russians became dependant 

on what local nature brought 

them. Th is situation lasted until the 

collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. 

In 1991 new politics led to a renewed 

fl ow of international contact, 

exchange and trade contacts. Th e 

Dutch, who are famous for their 

pioneer spirit, were one of the fi rst 

nations that showed their interest in 

Russia and it is not surprising that 

also the fl ower business began to 

fl ourish again. 

High potential 

Th ough the negative exchange 

rates of the rouble against the 

euro and the economical/fi nancial 

world crisis have led to a more 

recent decrease in the fl ower trade 

between Russia and Holland with 

2009 exports down 22.9%, the 

general trend since 1991 has been a 

continual upwards line: In 2008 the 

total export of fl owers and plants to 

Russia were up 17.5% compared to 

2007. Nevertheless, it is important 

to realize that this growth is not just 

for the benefi t of Holland. It led to 

the development of a new branch 

in Russia in a period of nearly 20 

years. Nowadays a lot of Russian 

people earn their money thanks to 

this fl ower business as an importer, 

wholesaler, fl orist or even a truck 

driver. Besides, the growing business 

gave an extra impulse to local 

nurseries, growers and breeders. So, 

Russia is not just important to the 

Dutch fl ower business; the fl ower 

business has become an important 

branch within Russia itself and 

still has a lot of potential. We can 

develop this potential together – 

Holland & Russia - by focusing on 

the same goal. 

In this business, we do all have the 

same goal: “to make people happy”. 

Th at’s the essence of fl owers: Happiness. 

Russians love fl owers and 

buy fl owers mostly for someone 

else on special occasions. Our duty 

as Flower Council of Holland is to 

show people that fl owers bring happiness 

and are a wonderful gift for 

any occasion. 

Unfortunately, many people still 

think happiness is something of 

the future. When I fi nd that job, 

that partner, that car, that house, 

that security, then I can be happy. 

Realistically this means you will 

never fi nd happiness. 

We, members of the fl ower branch 

have to show people that happiness 

is not scarce: Th ere’s plenty of happiness 

to be experienced right now, 

in the people we meet and in the 

natural world around us. Flowers 

are living proof of this. Th ey colour 

our days, bring a smile to our faces 

and are powerful contact makers 

that few of us are able to resist. 

Flowers bring us abundant happiness. 

Moreover: Happiness (=fl owers) 

is always available: on every corner of 

the street! 

So, our promise to the Russian 

consumer is to bring abundant 

happiness, via a broad assortment of 

high quality Flowers From Holland, 

Naturally! ||| 


Denmark 

Denmark is the 

world’s secondlargest 

exporter of 

pot plants. Each 

year, Denmark 

produces over 400 

million pot plants, 

of which 80% are 

exported. Innovation 

is one of the key 

words in the Danish 

ornamental sector 

and FCI spoke to 

one of the world’s 

leading pot rose 

breeders, Rosa 

Eskelund, at this 

year’s IPM Essen. 

In line with the continuing 

strong trend for mini plants, 

Bikini Forever ® is a new 6 cm 

pot rose with bi-coloured red 

and orange flowers. 



Tuned in to 

key demands 

By the rose breeder Rosa Eskelund 

with the company’s Roses 

Forever® trade mark there is 

an accent not only on innovative 

breeding developments to introduce 

strong colours in the various pot size 

formats, but also to provide licensed 

growers with a complete concept 

manual and advisory service for 

growing and marketing. And despite 

the fact that the company is relatively 

new to the world of breeding with 

the first roses crossed in 1996 and the 

first Roses Forever® varieties being 

successfully marketed in 2000, yearon-year 

new varieties are introduced 

into the market. “A new plant is 

typically underway for many years. 

For new varieties, such as roses, it 

typically takes 3-5 years,” says Rosa 

Eskelund. Over this development 

period for a new variety, examples 

from the range of new introductions 

in recent years elucidates several 

selection characteristics of increasing 

value to growers whose aim is to 

provide consumers with a maximum 

amount of pleasure: Shelf life; scent; 

dark green, shining leaves; pot size 

range including XL flowers; multiple 

use (indoors and outdoors). 

Rosa says, “Since their introduction 

around 10 years ago, the 

Monte Rosa Roses Forever® and 

Pink Monte Rosa Roses Forever® 

varieties have the longest lasting 

ornamental value measured on the 

market.” In 2007 the introduction 

highlights saw the first results from 

more than five years of breeding 

selection to bring scented varieties, 

e.g. Portus Cale Roses Forever®. 

Together with scent Eskelund 

believes in the emphasis on dark 

green, shining leaves to increase 

the appeal of the roses at retail, e.g. 

Monte Cristella Roses Forever®. 

In 2008, Rosa Eskelund received 

the Floradania Innovation Award 

for the best, new Danish plant 

variety: “We were very proud and 

very happy to receive this award for 

Greenland Roses Forever®, which 

is named after Greenland with its 

fresh white rose colour resembling 

new fallen snow.” The scent and 

white colour of this rose were 

the distinguishing points for the 

judges, said to perfectly match the 

interior design of modern homes 

and accentuated by the dark, shiny 

leaves and the elegance of the long, 

strong and upright stems. 

2008 also marked the year that Rosa 

Eskelund expanded her marketing 

activities in pursuit of market 

growth. The Roses Forever trade 

mark was thus complemented by a 

new branded venture, Rosas Roses®. 

Rosa says, “This is a response to the 

market demands for a clearer distinction 

between mass products and an 

exclusive deal with an individual 

supermarket, plus the opportunity 

to generate new sales for growers.” 

Eskelund first launched Rosas Roses 

in the Danish Coop outlets. Her 

ambition to rollout the brand on a 

similar basis elsewhere, that is to say, 

one exclusive client per country has 

resulted in Rosas Roses also being 

under license in Norway. Rosa’s 

personal story and direct customer 

contact at the staged openings in individual 

stores, along with the email 

Q&A facility on her website, www. 

rosasroser.dk, all help to complement 

the POS material from posters 

to sleeves. The campaign strongly 

identifies with the passion Rosa has 

for creating her roses, and although 

consumer purchasing behaviour 

based on their emotional connection 

to a real person, the breeder of the 

plant, may be difficult to measure, 

the order-book for Rosas Roses has 

grown to reach 500,000 in 2010. 

XL and multiple-use 

The new varieties made available 

on the European market in 2009 

placed an accent on visual appeal 

with two XL flowering pot roses in 

the Roses Forever series: El Paso 

Roses Forever® and Sunny Beach 

Roses Forever®. Rosa says, “The XL 

pot rose line had been on its way for 

a long time and it was a pleasure to 

present the first one, El Paso Roses 

Forever®, in pot sizes 12 cm and 15 

cm. El Paso has extra large orange 

flowers with more than 50 petals, 

fragrance and dark green shiny 

foliage. The intense orange colour 

combined with the dark green 

shiny foliage is in great demand 

by customers.” Sunny Beach also 

has large flowers in a deep yellow 

colour, which are again complemented 

by dark green shiny foliage 

and fragrance. 

Finally, the five new varieties put in 

the spotlight at the 2010 IPM Essen 

answer the multiple-use expectations 

of growers and retailers, all 

being winter hardy and suitable for 

both indoors and outdoors: 

Piazza Fortuna Roses Forever® 

• has large, full flowers with a 

bright red colour and is grown in 

10-15 cm pots. 

Santa Barbara Roses Forever® 

• has an unique, eye catching, 

bright pink colour and with 

clusters of flowers that blossom 

at the same time, the consumer 

buying impulse can be triggered 

by a fantastic pink ball. Grown in 

10-12 cm pots.

Plants that are healthy and easy to produce in a good, 

uniform quality with a beauty and long-lasting ornamental 

value answer the demands of growers and provide 

consumers with a maximum amount of pleasure. 

Como Roses Forever® has very large 

• pink fl owers and dark shiny foliage 

grown in 12-15 cm pots. 

Milan Roses Forever® is character- 

• ized by both a strong growth and the 

elegance of a red cut rose with dark 

shiny foliage, also produced in 12-15 

cm pots. 

Th e improved variety Sunny Beach 

• Roses Forever® with a more intense 

fragrance has large yellow fl owers 

with dark green shiny foliage, grown 

in 10-13 cm pots. 

Th e aforementioned pot rose varieties 

all complement the complete Roses 

Forever® collection, which today has 

a very strong market share in Europe 

and Japan. Rosa adds, “Since January 

1 this year we have also gained a new 

licensee in Norway with a large pot 

rose nursery and within a couple of 

months we will be delivering the fi rst 

Roses Forever cuttings to the newly 

constructed greenhouses of our new 

agent in the Middle East. Moreover, 

the USA market continues to develop 

positively for Roses Forever and in the 

coming two years we expect to grow 

our market presence, following on from 

an initial restrictive supply period in 

relation to imported plant protection 

and quarantine regulations. Similar to 

Japan, the USA is also a market where 

the interest among growers in the mini 

plant production is increasing; the production 

in 6 cm pots having primarily 

been popular in Europe.” ||| 

by Kerry Herndon 

Floralies 

Stuff 

Once every fi ve years the greatest and most beautiful fl ower show in the 

world happens in Gent, Belgium. For more than two hundred years the 

Royal Society has organized this international spectacle. Well the Royal 

Society was not called the Royal Society until the mid 1800’s but it was 

the same plant loving people. April 17, 2010 the doors will open to an 

expected 300,000 visitors. For me it will be the sixth time to the show. 

My fi rst visit was thirty years ago. It was beyond imagination then and it 

still is. If you never go to another show this is the one to see. 

When I started in the business (more than thirty years ago) Belgium and 

Holland were both very important and powerful in ornamental horticulture. 

Th e was a lot of money to be made in tropical plants and the fastest 

to market was the one who made the most money. Plants were coming 

from all over the world and selling as fast as they could be potted. Th is 

huge demand led to a huge expansion in supply. Th e Dutch with large 

automated greenhouses and cheap gas were able to overwhelm and displace 

the Belgium growers. One generation did not follow the next into 

the greenhouses in Belgium. Only a few of the old Belgian growers have 

passed into this new century intact. 

Fortunately the Floralies has survived the passing of so many growers. My 

wife, Nancy, and I will spend at least a week in the area as will several of 

my friends from the States. Th is is an opportunity to enjoy the beauty 

and grace of a small, but very rich in culture, country. I have always loved 

to visit Belgium but now, with less business reason to go, I just don’t. 

Once every fi ve years the attraction is too great to miss. 

My son, Andrew, is at University in Lugano, Switzerland so he will be 

able to join us for his fi rst Floralies. I hope Andrew loves it as much 

as I do. I cannot imagine anyone not loving this great display of living 

beauty. Only the Tokyo Dome orchid show is in anyway comparable. But 

it is a totally diff erent thing, focused completely on orchids. Floralies is 

the whole ornamental industry, all displayed as fantastic temporary art. 

Floralies is a show with roots that go very deep. People like me that have 

only been a judge for thirty years are still newcomers. Fifty years is not 

uncommon. Still, it is a great honour at any time. 

While the industry as a whole continues to struggle with high cost, 

oversupply, and soft demand the Floralies attracts 300,000 visitors. 

Th e artistry is what brings all those people into the halls. Artistry that we 

must bring to our products and consumers, to get people excited about 

plants again. More than anything else Floralies is a celebration of life, 

and the beauty of living things happens to be plants grown by people. 

Kerry Herndon owns Kerry’s Bromeliads, 

a tropical potted plant nursery 

in Homestead, Florida, United States. 

kerryherndon@msn.com 


Classifieds 

FOR SALE 

Trump Coir Products (PVT) Ltd. 

Newly formed company in Sri Lanka to export 

premier quality coir and foliage products. 

M: +94-772443000, +94-777363531 

www.trumpcoir.com 

COMPANY SERVICES 

Valley Horticultural Seeds, Inc. 

Mission, TX, USA 

International Flower Seed Distributor 

valleyhort@aol.com 

HELP WANTED 

Florasearch, Inc. In our third decade of 

performing confidential key employee searches 

for the horticulture industry and allied trades 

worldwide. Retained basis only. Candidate contact 

welcome, confidential, and always free. 

1740 Lake Markham Rd., 

Sanford, FL 32771 USA 

Phone (1) 407 320 8177, 

Fax (1) 407 320 8083, 

E-mail: search@fl orasearch.com, 

Website: www.fl orasearch.com 

Advertising Index 

COMPANY PAGE WEBSITE 

AMA Plastics Ltd. ....................................................22 ...........................www.amaplas.com 

Aqua-Hort ..................................................................22 ............................ www.aqua-hort.dk 

BASF – The Chemical Company .........................10 ................................... www.basf.com 

Callas New Zealand Ltd. ........................................30 .........www.callasnewzealand.com 

Container Centralen ................................................02 .....www.container-centralen.com 

Cubecap .....................................................................35 ..............................www.cubecap.ca 

Danziger “Dan” Flower Farm ...............................03 ............................www.danziger.co.il 

DLV Plant ....................................................................30 ..................................www.dlvplant.nl 

Ellegaard A/S ............................................................14 ...................................www.ellepot.dk 

Ex-Plant A/S ..............................................................07 ............................www.ex-plant.com 

Fair Flowers Fair Plants ..........................................22 .....www.fairfl owersfairplants.com 

Floricultura B.V. ........................................................22 .......................www.fl oricultura.com 


M 

NEWS ARKET 

SERVICE 

NEW 

(MNS) 

Up-to-date 

price and 

market 

information 

MNS ON THE WEB! 

WEEKLY: Fresh cut flowers 

93 varities in selected European markets 

30 varieties in selected 

North American markets 

65 varieties in selected Asian markets 

FORTNIGHTLY: 

Tropical ande Oriental Plants 

45 varities in selected European markets 

PRICE TRENDS: 

Available on request for the 

past 3-5 years on specific products 

Web subscribers can access 

ITC/MAS product maps (72) 

For subscription and further information contact: 

MARKET NEWS SERVICE 

ITC, Palais des Nations, 

1211 Geneva 10 Switserland 

Tel: +41-22-730 0531 Fax +41-22-730 0906 

E-mail: MNS-subs@intracen.org 

www.intracen.org/mns 

FloraCulture 

internationalizes 

your future... 

www.fl oracultureinternational.com 

FCI_Stopper_54x124.indd 1 25-11-2009 10:30:16 

COMPANY PAGE WEBSITE 

Jiffy Products International B.V. ..........................07 ...............................www.jiffypot.com 

Koppert Biological Systems .................................02 .............................www.koppert.com 

Lutgo Global ..............................................................14 ..................................www.lutgo.com 

Peerdeman Orchideeën ........................................29 .... www.peerdemanorchideeen.nl 

Pöppelmann GmbH & Co. KG ...............................30 .................www.poeppelmann.com 

Pothos Plant Nederland B.V. ................................22 ..........................www.pothosplant.nl 

Roses Forever ApS ..................................................14 ..................www.roses-forever.com 

SCOTTS International .............................................36 ........www.scottsprofessional.com 

Stal & Plast A/S ........................................................28 ........................... www.staal-plast.dk 

Sudlac .........................................................................10 ...............................www.sudlac.com 

Takii & Co., Ltd...........................................................10 ...................................www.takii.co.jp 

This index is provided as a service to our readers. The publisher does not assume responsibility for errors or omissions. 

Visit FloraCulture International advertisers on the internet by linking to their Websites from our Digital Online Advertiser Index at 

www.fl oracultureinternational.com. For readers who do not have internet access, please send your request for additional information from 

any of our advertisers to FloraCulture International B.V. (claudia@fl oracultureinternational.com). Be sure to include your name, company name, 

address, faxnumber and the name(s) of the companies about which you would like to receive additional information.

Thank you for 

40 years of confidence 

This year, we are celebrating 40 years of Osmocote in Europe. 

We could not have done it without your vote of confidence. Thank you. 

You can call Scotts +31 418 655700 or mail us at info@scottsprofessional.com 

or visit www.40yearsosmocote.eu 

1970 

2010 YEARS IN EUROPE

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