The flower industry in Ecuador has shown excellent receptivity worldwide, Ecuadorian flowers, especially roses, are the most marketed flowers for their incredible size, color and durability over time in terms of their useful life . But as of 2016, exporters of flowers from Ecuador, have begun to experience a decline in income, receiving only for that year a total of 802 million dollars in exports, this being the lowest amount received in recent years. 4 years.

 

The best years for flower exporters in Ecuador began in 2013, when billing amounted to 830 million dollars, for the following year (2014), billing increased by 918 million dollars, but since 2015 they have shown decreases from 820 million dollars to 802 million.

A reality that was presented before the Ministry of Agriculture 

This situation of declining economy experienced by Ecuadorian flower exporters was exposed by the sector to the Ministry of Agriculture, due to the dialogue tables that the government has implemented throughout the country with the different productive sectors.

In these meetings, the occasion has been provided so that the export sector of flowers can expose all the problems of their guild, especially the one that corresponds to the lack of competitiveness that the market of Ecuadorian flowers has lost.

Although the Ecuadorian product is of high quality, since it has roses and other beautiful species that are very well cultivated, the lack of commercial agreements that bring commercial advantages to Ecuador are causing the market to opt for other cheaper offers.

Exporters of flowers from Ecuador are urged by the existence of trade agreements

The reality of the flower business is that they are falling in price, in fact, there is an international drop in the value of commercialization of the flowers, but in this aspect Ecuador flower exporters are even more affected by the high costs Domestic production combined with the lack of trade agreements with large comparator countries of Ecuadorian flowers, such as: Russia, Canada and the United States.

Currently, orders for Ecuadorian flowers reach a percentage distributed as follows: 44% of exports go to the US, 21% of flower orders go to Europe, 17% of the orders go to Russia, 13% arrive in Canada, while the rest of the percentage goes to other destinations.

The request of Expoflores

The Federation of Exporters of Flowers (Expoflores) participated in this round table, where they concentrated their efforts on requesting the government to open more trade agreements that allow establishing tariff benefits to Ecuadorian flowers in the world, to finally achieve more competitive and cover a larger share in the world market.

For its part, the president of Expoflores, Alejandro Martínez, showed his expectations in front of these round tables, which is expected to be fruitful to meet the needs of producers of 629 flower farms, which are excellent sources of employment of which approximately 105,000 direct and indirect jobs depend.

The perpendicular light, the quality of the land and the height above sea level allow Ecuador to harvest flowers all year round and of unique quality, and that is why this country is the second largest exporter of flowers in the world.

An Ecuadorian rose can have an average life of four weeks from its harvest, but that is possible because the export floriculture of this country works as a “Swiss watch” and uses exceptional geographical and climatic conditions.

Agricultural conditions, as well as altitudes above 2,800 meters, give Ecuadorian flowers superior quality to those of its direct competitors, Colombia and Kenya.

For example, in this Andean country, located on the equator, there are four productive cycles in a year, unlike the two obtained in the northern and southern hemispheres.Thus, the production of roses is constant and plants receive perpendicular rays of light, so that their stems grow straight are wider and longer and have larger buttons. The roses of Ecuador are not distinguished, however, by their quantity, but by their quality. Exclusivity market “About 20 years ago, two different directions were taken in floriculture: one towards productivity and another toward exclusivity, and Ecuador opted for the second,” he says. The flowers that grow on the 2,800 meters are nourished and develop better, which at the same time allows to produce different varieties of roses that end up being quite exclusive.

Flower growers have bet on quality before the mass market, so “the great bulk of Ecuador is focused on fashion by 60%,” he explained. Swiss watch This strategy led national companies to work as a “Swiss watch”, improving their techniques and innovating in irrigation, nutrition and temperature systems, since each plant has an exact measure of fertilizer and water that it must receive. “The trick for the flower to last so long is not the packaging, it is the cultivation, the harvest, the post-harvest, the form of packaging, the cold work that is done to the plane, the logistics (…) is a whole process in which can not fail anything, “noted the executive.On the other hand, the cultivations of roses rotate annually by 10%, changing the varieties.

The whole farming system is computerized, because “mixtures are made that are injected by the irrigation system with barbaric precision because you can not overfeed a plant and you can not let it die of hunger.” To this is added the cutting technique, an ability developed by the flower cutters that requires a certain level of specialization, so that companies retain their staff as much as possible. Another issue that works is to satisfy the buyers, because the producers comply with “all the delicacies that the client requires, something that those who dedicate themselves to mass production can not do”.

Everything’s coming up roses—and we ain’t even mad about it! Poor old roses often get a reputation for being a cheesy, too traditional choice when it comes to wedding flowers. But these blooms are many a bride’s go-to for a reason: First, they’re absolutely gorgeous! (Obviously, right?) Plus, don’t let the flower’s classic status fool you. There are countless ways to rock a rose bouquet that are fresh, modern, and entirely unique.

A bouquet should always reflect the person carrying it, and from large, lush garden roses to the delicate spray variety, there’s a rose out there for every kind of bride—trust. For classic brides, there’s no going wrong with the standard red or white rose. A symbol of passionate love and purity, they’re perfect for weddings (especially those that fall around Valentine’s Day). And with flowing ribbons, leafy greens, or an oversized, overflowing, cascading bouquet, this traditional look can truly be one of a kind.

Garden roses in creamy, soft pastel hues tote an unmistakable feminine vibe for romantic and elegant brides, who can mix in a bundle of greenery to give the bouquet a more natural appearance. But don’t think that rosy blooms are all dainty blushes and off-whites.

Boho brides can also incorporate roses into their wedding mix by layering loose flowers in dreamy, dark, shades, unexpected touches such as succulents, and trailing greenery in a hand-gathered arrangement for a surprisingly sultry result.

With so many stunning colors, shapes, and unexpected textures, there is so much rosy room for creativity with this flower! To prove that there are still tons of exciting ways to include roses in your bridal bouquet, we found 32 of our favorite mixed arrangements.

So what are you waiting for? It’s time to stop and smell the roses! Browse below to see our fave rose wedding bouquets.

For instance, one out of every four roses bought in the U.S. comes from Ecuador (many varieties purchased from U.S. rose breeders).

The rose industry in Ecuador provides good paying jobs for thousands of poor rural women-many of whom are heads of households. Those jobs are draining the drug trade of recruits, which in turn helps keeps drugs off the streets of the U.S.

At the same time, tens of thousands of workers in the U.S. — from importers to cargo and transport to florists to supermarkets — depend on those flowers for their jobs.

And of course, roses add beauty to our lives.

In Ecuador, we call this phenomenon “The Flower Effect.”

Shelley Rosen lives in Chicago. She is living proof of the “flower effect.” She has a start-up business called Luxe Bloom that provides Ecuador-grown flowers to the U.S. commercial hospitality sector. Along with these great products, she has brought innovation to the sector — her roses do not require water or refrigeration — and her business is booming as a result. In her third year, she is expecting $25 million in revenues.

The flower effect is made possible by a joint commitment by the U.S. and Ecuadorian governments to the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA). The 20-year-old program was strategically designed to lower barriers to trade in certain sectors that are proven to successfully combat the drug trade, allowing Ecuador to exploit its comparative advantages in the growing of roses (not to mention the production of chocolate, artichokes, quinoa, and other popular products).

Now a major exporter in these industries, Ecuador has seen its economic growth and personal incomes increase dramatically. The program also benefits consumers in the U.S., who now have access to affordable high-quality products from Ecuador. American seed, fertilizer and farm equipment providers, distribution and transportation companies, and retailers all benefit from the ATPDEA production chain. Roughly 75 cents of every dollar spent on Ecuadorean roses stays in the U.S. economy, and tens of thousands of U.S. jobs have been created in the floral sector alone.

The program also benefits foreigners who export goods and services to Ecuador, for a stronger Ecuadorian economy can purchase more of those goods and services.

In a perfect world, such a trade relationship would be a model “win-win” situation. Jobs. Empowerment of women. Enhanced security. But we do not live in a perfect world. The APTDEA is now being threatened by special interests with private grievances. The whole benefit chain is at risk because an international oil company was found guilty of poisoning the Amazon rainforest. So the aggrieved company adds insult to injury by spending millions to derail renewal of the ATPDEA, which is due to expire on July 31.

We must not let special interests sink the lifeboats of economic recovery amid a rising tide of opportunity. We must encourage the U.S. government to adhere to the vision and strategic partnership between our two countries that has been so successful over the past twenty years. We must keep trade, and the flower effect, going.

by Nathalie Cely

Flower exports have exploded in recent years, and in less than a decade, Ecuador has captured a huge portion of the international market share. As with many other agricultural products, Ecuador’s geographical location and topography give the country a natural advantage over competition.

Ecuador exports numerous species of flowers, including Asthromelias, Carnations, Chrysanthemums, Daisies, Ghipsophylias, Limonium, and Roses (over 60 varieties). Canada, Germany, Holland, Italy, Russia, and the United States are the leading importers of Ecuadorian cut flowers. Ecuador also exports to Austria, Chile, the Czech Republic, France, Hong Kong, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Ideal climatic conditions and inexpensive production costs virtually guarantee that Ecuador will continue seizing market share around the globe.

The people of the small Ecuadorian town of Tabacundo are the proud creators of the biggest floral structure ever built — a life-size replica of an Indigenous pyramid made from 546,364 roses.

A judge for Guinness World Records took nearly all day to confirm that the Andean town had achieved the record.

The blazing red pyramid rises in the town square. Nearly all the flowers are red roses, with six per cent white, pink and yellow to provide white borders and a dazzling sun.

What makes Ecuador special?

If you have never visited Ecuador, you really should put it on your bucket list. The people are friendly, the food is incredible, and the prices are very reasonable. Also, as a florist, you will find the biodiversity, especially among flora and fauna, extremely fascinating.

Here are some fun facts about this enchanting place:

Ecuador’s national flower is the rose.
Ecuador is the smallest country in the Andean highlands.
Ecuador is named for the equator, which runs through the country.
Ecuador was the first nation to declare that nature has constitutional rights.
Ecuador is one of the countries in the world with the greatest density of volcanoes, many of which are active. One of these Volcanoes is the Cotopaxi. The Cotopaxi is host of many of the best rose farms in the entire world.
The Galapagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador, are where Charles Darwin noticed the diversity of species and began to study evolution.
What makes Ecuadorian roses superior?

The Ecuadorian rose is known around the world as the best rose in the world (actually Ecuadorian farmers grow around 500 varieties). Roses from Ecuador are judged to be superior in bloom size, stem length, vase life, and color.

As we said above, the climate in the Andean highlands is ideal for growing roses, but producing the highest quality, premium roses in the world goes way beyond the cooperative climate. The combination of the mountain altitude putting the farms closer to the sun (3000 meters above sea level); well fertilized soil from volcanic activity; and optimum lighting conditions (nearly 12 hours of natural light per day all year) due to Ecuador’s location on the equator gives it a huge advantage in producing roses. Also, in Ecuador, while there are periods of rain and drought, sunlight is always consistent (the seasons don’t change) making it possible for farmers to cultivate and produce these incredible blooms all year long.

The altitude gives the farmers in Ecuador two major advantages:

(1) The sunlight is purer because it is more direct, not having to travel through as much atmosphere as in other parts of the world. This contributes to the blooms’ vibrant color and deeper tone on buds and foliage. By contrast, roses that come from Colombia, for example, where there is less sunlight, often have thin, lighter green stems, and small, tight buds.

(2) Higher altitude means cooler temperatures too, which makes for a more sterile environment. Insects, bacteria, and diseases of all sorts have a difficult time surviving in these cooler temperatures. So Ecuadorian roses are healthier. Additionally, cooler temperatures ensure that it takes longer for roses to bloom. This extended growth period results in Ecuadorian roses having larger blooms than those grown in warmer climates. The cooler temperatures keep the pests away and also fight off disease.

It just doesn’t make sense to settle for roses grown anywhere else.