Union Fleurs Members Gathered In April In The South Of France For A Productive General Assembly 2015
August 18, 2015 | 2 min to read
On the occasion of the Union Fleurs 2015 General Assembly, 40 participants from 15 countries headed from 16 to 19 April to Sainte Maxime, in the South of France and near the city of Hyères, one of the most dynamic flower production zones in the country and where the main French flower auction is established. Reflecting the global reach of Union Fleurs, participants came not only from EU countries but also from Kenya, Colombia, Japan, Turkey, Israel, and Morocco.
On Friday 17 April, participants visited the Hyères Flower auction at the peak of its morning activity. Guided by Gilles Rus, Development Director of SICA (Société d’Intérêt Collectif Agricole) – Hyères Flower Market and Benjamin Henault, Coordinator of Hyères Hortipole, the Union Fleurs group of delegates was introduced to the specificities and current strategy of the Hyères Flower market. The group then visited three flower growers specialised in mini-Gerberas, Peonies, Alstroemerias and Cymbidium, which provided an insightful overview of what the floriculture of the Var region has to offer.
The Union Fleurs General Assembly took place on Saturday 18 April. During the meeting, Union Fleurs members approved the administrative and financial reports of the association for the years 2014 -2015 and engaged with the Board of Directors into a fruitful discussion on a proposed revamping of Union Fleurs membership categories, which is expected to be finalised by the end of the year. The Secretary general briefed members on the association’s activities in 2014-2015 and on the various successful advocacy and lobbying actions carried out in the past year in the field of trade, market access and phytosanitary rules by the Union Fleurs office in Brussels, while also detailing the priorities identified so far for 2015 in the policy and market access area. Union Fleurs members reported on market performance in 2014-2015, with a specific focus on the impact of the recent currency fluctuations and economic turbulences on floriculture markets. A presentation on the main dynamics of the French flower & plants market was given on behalf of Val’hor, the umbrella branch organization for ornamental horticulture in France, by Maxime François, President of the FGFP (French Federation of wholesalers in cut flowers & plants).
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