March 1, 2019 marks the one-year anniversary for Jet Fresh Flower Growers, S.A. in Cotopaxi, Ecuador. The rose farm, located 2,896 meters above sea level in Latacunga, has over 30 varieties available with many new rose varieties coming soon.
On February 26, 2018 the farm had their first anniversary celebration commemorating the great moments from the past year. Mike Black was in Ecuador visiting the farm and had the pleasure of celebrating this great achievement with his team. They were accompanied by a live mariachi band who performed Ecuadorian music for the team to dance as well as spend time together.
Spear-headed by Mike Black of Jet Fresh Flower Distributors in Miami, Fla., the importer, distributor and grower has made great changes since taking over the farm one year ago. Together with farm manager, Carlos Coloma and farm director, Juanita Coloma, Jet Fresh Flower Growers has built their twelfth greenhouse last summer, as well as grafted many new rose varieties throughout the year from renowned rose breeders such as United Selections, Conectiflor, S.A., Jan Spek Rozen, De Ruiter and NIRP International.
In September 2018, Jet Fresh Flower Distributors entered three of the farm’s existing rose varieties into the Outstanding Varieties Competition, hosted by the Society of American Florists: “Encanto,” “Milva,” and “Avant Garde.” Each of these varieties placed in the completion earning a blue and red ribbons for their quality and performance. “Milva” earned the blue ribbon, while “Encanto” and “Avant Garde” each received red ribbons.
“I was very proud to see that we entered three varieties [from our farm] and earned ribbons for all,” said Black. “I’m also very proud to see our new name as a grower amongst the most prestigious and established farms and Miami importers.”
Jet Fresh Flower Growers, S.A. supplies fresh-cut Ecuadorian roses internationally. Ecuadorian roses are widely recognized and requested in the floral industry because of the quality they produce. The high altitude, which these roses are grown, increases the roses’ production cycle that contributes to larger head sizes, longer and thicker stems, and luscious foliage.
There are over fifty members of the Jet Fresh Flower Growers team that work together in every stage of production taking extra care of the roses as well as the farm. The roses are cut and harvested by hand, and bunches are carefully wrapped and boxed with the ultimate care. Jet Fresh Flower Growers, S.A. is equipped with 14-hectares of land that includes 12 greenhouses, a reservoir, a large post-harvest, a full-sized kitchen, a guest house “casita,” and a soccer field for the team to enjoy.
Black was very touched during the anniversary celebration as they looked back on events from the past year with his Jet Fresh family.
“This inspires me to work harder and try even more,” said Black. “This tells me we are headed in the right direction.”
