New varieties and new market trends were seen at this year's Expo Flor Ecuador event. In this article, breeder representative Plantec offers an in-depth look at what to expect.
The Future of Roses - Insights From Plantec’s Expoflor Experience
Ecuador just wrapped up one of the biggest flower expos in the world, Expo Flor Ecuador, where Plantec made quite an impression by showing the newest rose varieties taking the world by storm. Among the highlights were their latest rose varieties, each making waves in the floral industry.
From the striking Rose Shocking Blue and Rose Pink Puma to the fresh EXOTIX line of gardenesque roses among many more, Ecuadorian breeder Plantec showcased their ongoing innovation. Visitors were also treated to fragrant varieties like Rose Mademoiselle, adding a sensory twist to the experience. But it wasn't just the roses drawing attention – the growing global demand for flowers from Ecuador and Colombia has sparked industry-wide conversations about the future of supply. Will these countries keep pace, or will people see new players enter the floral scene?
It seems that the supply from Colombia, and Ecuador, two countries that dedicate most of their flower production to international exportation, are not meeting the increasing global demand. This is a very interesting development in the industry, and Aviram Krell and the entire team are curious to see if the supply from both of these countries will increase, or if more countries are going to include themselves in the industry in significant quantities.
Plantec's Facilities Hosted a Welcoming Experience for Visitors
Plantec also had the pleasure of co-hosting a VIP group along with their friends from Expo Flor Ecuador. The group, consisting of international flower press, and figureheads of the industry, arrived at their facilities looking to learn more about the process of what needs to happen for a new rose variety to hit the shelves. The esteemed guests saw and went through the rose propagation process, from rootstock, cutting, and plant. Visitors also explored the world of variety selections, learning about the improvements that the Ecuadorian breeder enjoys in the current bloodlines, and how the close link with their breeders allows them to consistently and constantly improve the varieties in the Latin American market.
As a fun project, they set up some varieties for the industry experts to grade, and share their notes with the team. The feedback they receive from people in different locations of the market chain is invaluable for the selection process. The result of this project was in some ways surprising. In the grading valuation, some codes received incredibly high scores from some of the experts, and low scores from others. It goes to show that depending on what market segment each person specializes in, the rubric, and the traits are seen differently.
It was an excellent reminder for the entire team that during the selection process, they must always keep in mind every facet of the industry, and every important niche to make sure none of the industry is stagnating in terms of innovation and options.
Aviram states that receiving visitors to their farms and attending the event was a remarkable experience and he cannot wait to share more as the newest varieties get named and start making their way into the rose farms.
