“Ecuador’s unpredictable weather has been the major challenge this year, but all in all, we are very pleased”, says Michelle Jibaja of Rosaprima, Ecuador’s largest premium rose grower who recently expanded their assortment with Ranunculus and Anemones. Valentine’s Day is one of their largest holidays, and this year, they have processed and shipped over 7.5 million stems.
Major challenge
The weather has been the major challenge, explains Jibaja. “It was cold and rainy during the months leading up to the holiday. While November was filled with sunshine, just a few months later, in January, we saw large amounts of rain, which affect how the plants develop. With more than 27 years of experience, we were prepared to handle unpredictable weather. To prepare for this season, we focused on following strict soil and ambiance care processes to guarantee the quality of our flowers.”
Strong demand
According to Jibaja, the demand for their roses was strong this year. “For both red and colored roses. But also had a strong demand for our newest product lines, Ranunculus and Anemones.” They started to ship the first stems for Valentine’s Day the final days of January. All flowers that were preordered were already shipped last week, but they still had availability in Miami for last-minute orders up to the day before Valentine’s Day, she explains.
The majority of the products are shipped to the United States and Canada, but they also have large amounts shipped to Europe (mostly France, Italy, and Spain). “Our products travel as far as Australia and Asia.” From their 375 acres under greenhouses, over 7.5 Million stems were shipped to over +25,000 florists and wholesalers.
Pleased Valentine’s Day
All in all, Rosaprima is pleased with their Valentine’s Day season. “We have been able to fulfill all orders on time and we feel it has been a smooth holiday so far. We are hoping that our customers see strong sales this holiday. Now, we are hoping that our customers see strong sales this holiday”, Jibaja concludes. Eager to get a glimpse into the process behind crafting these flowers, click here to read the story.
For more information:
Rosaprima International
501 Brickell Key Drive,
Suite 201 Miami, FL 33131
Tel.: 1 (305) 644 – 8459
Tel.: 1 (866) 97-PRIMA
Fax: 1 (786) 409 – 6330
[email protected]
www.rosaprima.com
