Month: January 2012

The California Department of Agriculture secretary, partnering with farmers from the California Cut Flower Commission, recently certified two floats as “CA Grown” for the first time in Rose Parade history. “This means that 85 percent or more of the flowers used in the float were grown by California farmers,” said Kasey Cronquist, CEO of the California Cut Flower Commission (CCFC). Originally, all Rose Parade floats were adorned with California flowers, but in recent years trade agreements have made it easier for South American farmers to corner the cut flower market. …

In the Foggia region, where unemployment stands at 15%, Ciccolella is thriving. It is one of just four southern businesses in the Italian stock exchange out of 300, a family business started in the 1960s by farmers Paolo and Mariantonia Ciccolella. After rapid expansion of district heated greenhouses at Candela from 2004, Ciccolella bought three Dutch rivals specialising in logistics and trading. Now the group has an office in the Netherlands by the entrance to the most important market in the sector – the "Wall Street of flowers".

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The Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition (TPIE) 2012 delivered calypso music, beautiful tropical plants and foliage and an ideal tropical escape for more than 6,100 industry professionals as they gathered in sunny Fort Lauderdale, FL to take in the newest tropical plants, products and ideas which this exotic section of the horticulture industry has to offer. Taking place January 18-20 at the Broward County Convention Center, TPIE offered a trade show with nearly 400 exhibiting companies, a full-day nursery tour in Homestead, FL, a thought-provoking opening session, cutting-edge educational programs, dozens of hands-on demonstrations and a fantastic outdoor Opening Day Happy Hour. …