New plants and display devices offer small-scale fashion and décor
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Many of the award-winning plants and products at the 2014 Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition in Fort Lauderdale, FL, last month showed a trend toward small-scale fashion and design, geared toward urban residents living in apartments, condos or town houses where space is at a premium.
World Floral Expo makes move to Chicago
The World Floral Expo 2014 will take place at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, just a 10-minute ride from O’Hare international airport and only 45 minutes from downtown Chicago. After stops in New York, Miami and again in New York, it is Chicago’s turn to host the international flower trade show with exhibitors from all major flower producing countries.
Flower growers from Ecuador, Colombia, Kenya and Ethiopia will be among those displaying fresh-cut flowers, ready for immediate shipping, both through individual stands and national pavilions.
Westland Floral buys Gallup & Stribling Orchids
Gallup & Stribling Orchids, a provider of Cymbidiums and other tropical orchids since 1959, was recently sold to Westland Floral. Both firms are in Carpinteria, CA, and their combined experience in the orchid trade is over 90 years.
Westland Floral will add expertise in the areas of sustainable growing techniques and natural pest management to the proven orchid program at Gallup & Stribling Orchids. Gallup & Stribling will continue to operate under its name and in the same location.
Radiant Orchid named color of the year
The Pantone Color of the Year for 2014 is Radiant Orchid, which represents emerging global trends in design. Color is critical in creating, merchandising and selling consumer products because it influences human thought processes, emotions and physical reactions.
Pantone, a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite Inc., has been recognized as an authority on color by designers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers since 1963.
Connectaflor opens as Esmeralda closes
Esmeralda Farms Inc. closed its sales and marketing operation in Miami on Dec. 31, 2013. Jose Concepcion, who had been with Esmeralda for over 25 years in various management positions, launched Connectaflor on Jan. 1, 2014. His mission is to carry out the sales and marketing of Esmeralda products in North America. Connectaflor was established to serve as a direct link from the farms to the customers and will supply the North American market with Esmeralda and Esmeralda Breeding & Biotechnology brands.
Cut flower group elects 2014 officers
Michael A. Mellano, vice president of production at Mellano & Co. in San Luis Rey, CA, was recently elected chairman of the California Cut Flower Commission. Mellano will serve a one-year term ending in December 2014, according to a commission press release.
“I consider it an honor and privilege to serve my fellow flower and greens farmers in this capacity,” Mellano said. “Based on the work the CCFC has been able to accomplish for our farms over the last several years, I’m excited about the road ahead for our California flower farms.”
Two groups consolidate to form AmericanHort
The new year brought the horticulture industry a new trade association. AmericanHort formally launched Jan. 1 with the consolidation of the American Nursery & Landscape Association and OFA — The Association of Horticulture Professionals. The members of both groups have been automatically enrolled in AmericanHort. According to the organization’s news release, the effort to bring the groups together was initiated by the volunteer leadership of each organization, in order to better meet the needs of the industry and the respective memberships.
Andy Matsui: Investing in the future, appreciating the past
The surprise success of Andy Matsui’s gamble to transition his company to growing Phalaenopsis orchids more than 15 years ago also gave the company’s founder and president a new mission in life.
TPIE draws 6,000 to sunny Florida with exhibits, demos, new products
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — An estimated 6,000 industry professionals traveled to sunny Florida, escaping dismal winter weather in much of the nation, to attend the 41st annual Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition at the Broward County Convention Center here Jan. 22-24. Around 400 exhibitors filled 29 aisles in the massive exhibit hall with 200,000-square-feet of tropical splendor.
New film will show off a little ‘Watermelon Magic’ at NWA birthday celebration
Where does magic live? Is it in our imagination? Or is it real? That’s the question filmmaker Richard Hoffmann set out to answer with his masterful new family friendly IMAX short film, ‘Watermelon Magic,’ which will be shown at the National Watermelon Association’s 100th birthday celebration in Savannah, GA, Feb. 19-23.
Using unique stop-action photography to create movement (the 37-minute film consists of more than 200,000 still photographs) Watermelon Magic follows the story of Sylvie, a mischievous 5-year-old with a magic wand — and, unbeknownst to her, a green thumb.