My recent visit to Floritec during Week 35 in Colombia was a truly inspiring experience. As a young breeder in the chrysanthemum and celosia industry, Floritec not only showed their innovation and talent but also organized an event that reflected their passion for floriculture during Chrysanthemum Week, which they aptly named the 'Festival of Flowers'.
A Pleasant Visit That Left Me Surprised
I was surprised to discover that, despite being one of the youngest breeders, Floritec has a wide and special selection of chrysanthemum varieties that meet all the needs of the market. Their ability to combine unusual aesthetics and advanced genetics in their chrysanthemums was a clear reflection of their commitment to quality and effort in their work. The Japanese genetics of their chrysanthemums add a distinctive touch that stands out in each flower, which particularly appealed to me due to my passion for different aesthetics, characteristics, and cultural influences in floral design.
Meeting and Greeting Part of the Floritec Team
During my visit, I had the privilege of meeting many members of their team, who kindly shared with me their most recent advances in chrysanthemum genetics. This opportunity to exchange views and perspectives on the industry was invaluable. It was evident how much importance the breeder places on the genetics of its flowers, which not only improves the quality of its products but also reinforces the respect and recognition for its hard work.
Another aspect that fascinated me about the visit was the openness and receptivity to listening to experienced floral designers like myself. This collaborative approach is essential to fostering a genuine connection between breeders and designers, allowing innovations to be guided by both science and art. I felt like my opinion was valued, and that made me feel special. During my tour, I was welcomed by Juan Carlos Naranjo, Floritec’s representative in Colombia, who accompanied me throughout the visit, explaining every detail of their impressive display case.
Never Stopping Learning and Gaining Extra Knowledge From Professionals
Later, I was joined by Jeroen Ravensbergen, the passionate and visionary director of Floritec, who loves to listen and complement with his extensive knowledge. His eagerness and vision brought a fresh and enriching perspective to the experience. In addition, I had the honor of meeting Kohei Tahara, who is part of the genetic development team at Inochio Seikoen in Japan, their sister company. His presence highlighted the international collaboration that underpins the company's success and reaffirmed the importance of genetic innovation to maintain the quality and uniqueness of its varieties.
Something very personal and emotional about this visit was discovering an unexpected connection with my own work. A few years ago, during a floral project in Madrid, Spain, I used a very special variety of disbud, but I never knew who it was from. In this display, I found something very, very similar, which turns out to be part of the same genetics.
This encounter made my visit even more multisensory and meaningful for me as a floral designer. In addition, it gave me great happiness to know that in Colombia there are varieties like Chrysanthemum Florencia, which will undoubtedly be perfect for high-impact designs. This variety is ideal for floral compositions where the passion for unusualness will be the central theme, creating arrangements that will not go unnoticed.
My experience with Floritec was enriching and reaffirmed my belief in the importance of collaboration between breeders and floral designers. I am excited to see how they will continue to innovate and raise the standards in the chrysanthemum industry.
