| Cut flower has in the past decade been a major boom time for Ecuador flower growers and exporters while the rose has been the main leader. Export plantings are currently over 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres), with the main importers being United States, Italy, Russia, Germany and Canada. Lesser quantities are shipped to Argentina, Switzerland, Spain and France among other countries although most shipments are by air. The major advantages springing from climatic, geographical, technological strengths are coupled with infrastructure factors making Ecuador's cut flower industry one of the strongest in the world market place . A further catalyst to growth in the industry has additionally given wider diversification from roses to other profitable ornamental
flowers. Gypsophila ("Baby's Breath"), Limonium and Liatris species and "Summer bloomers". Other highly popular non-active species are currently in cultivation in Ecuador, such as Gerbera daisies, sunflowers, and showy annuals of the genus Geodetia (Clarkia). Ecuador's bio-diverse geography from the low coastal highlands to the high Andes (Sierra) plus the lower tropical Oriente and Amazon area paves the way for great diversification and varieties of flowers. When you compound the former with expertise of national growers in cultivating and marketing flowers, this has consequently created the way for a range of tropical species, like the genus Heliconia, which are grown in warm and humid areas. Today there are around 60 varieties of roses which are grown in Ecuador
for exportation. These include the red varieties First Red, Classi, Dallas, Mahalia, Madame del Bar and Royal Velvet, the yellow varieties Allsmer Gold and Skyline, in addition the pink-blossomed Anna Nubia and the purple-colored Ravel and Gretta plus other roses of other shades. Cut roses are put in bunches of stems and packed 10 bunches per box for shipping. Within the Carnation range, Cultivated types would be Norla Barlo, Charmeur, Dark Organe Telster, Dallas, and several others too numerous to mention. The flowers are shipped in boxes containing on average 35 bunches, consisting of 20 to 25 stems each. Also grown are three kinds
of chrysanthemums: Daises pomporns, Ornamental pompoms and Novel pompoms. Ten-stem bunches are put into each box , around 25 at a time. See The exporters list for this product. |