Jul 26, 2016

Fleuroselect Members Meet in Chicago

The Fleuroselect delegation gathered in West-Chicago during the organization’s Annual Member Convention that took place July 13-15.

Members made the trip to Chicago, with 113 persons representing 42 companies from 15 countries, to visit the Ball Horticultural Company.

The delegation received a company tour, starting at the Ball Premier Lab with its facilities for pelleting, coating, germination testing and priming, and ending with a visit to the packaging and distribution center. Afterwards, the delegation visited the Ball gardens with display beds for annuals and perennials with a range of novelties from industry breeders, including a full Fleuroselect trial.

Bill Doeckel, retail director of Ball Horticultural Company provided insights on the changing retail market in the U.S. In 2015, the total U.S. floricultural production sales added up to $3.8 billion, of which 48 percent applied to pot and bedding plants, according to the company. The market is characterized by a 50/50 split in between independent garden centers and chain stores, according to Ball.

During its Annual General Meeting, the Fleuroselect membership accepted Celex and Shanghai Yuanyi Seedling as new members. The Dutch Celex is an independent company specialized in the breeding and selection of Celosia cut flowers as well as pot and garden plants. Shanghai Yuanyi Seedling Co. is the largest horticultural enterprise which initially worked with plug seedling production in China. The main products of the company are bedding plant seedlings, which include annual and perennial flowers, hanging plants, potted plants, vegetative plants, ornamental vegetables and fruits and mosaiculture materials.

Fleuroselect awarded honorary membership to Cees van Diepen and Josef Clodius, two retired seedsmen, during the gala dinner in Chicago.

Cees van Diepen was honored for his participation on the board of directors, his presidency from 1997 to 1999 and his membership of technical committees over a period of 22 years. Under his ownership, Kieft Seeds was a major contributor to Fleuroselect through the many varieties entered for trialling, the very best receiving a Fleuroselect Gold Medal for excellence in breeding.

Josef Clodius (Syngenta) was honored for his contribution to Fleuroselect via his participation on the board of directors and as special advisor. He was also recognized for setting up the Young Plant Conference and running the Market Survey.