International flower industry gathers in Odense

Over 110 delegates participated in Fleuroselect's 44th Convention, which was held in the surroundings of Odense, Denmark from 3rd to 5th July 2013. The Convention is a major international networking platform for key players in the ornamental plants industry and during this annual event, Fleuroselect awards its Gold Medals and reveals the new FleuroStar winner.

Congratulations, Sakata!
Welcome to Sakata!		Sakata played main host to the delegates at its European Ornamentals Headquarters in Denmark as part of the company's Centenary celebrations. President Mr. Hiroshi Sakata presented the history and current activities of the company inspiring the group with Sakata's success stories including Danova primula, Impatiens Sunpatiens and the Profusion Zinnia series.
He was congratulated on behalf of the Fleuroselect by its President Mr. Nils Klemm, also owner of a family-based business. In addition to a trial of its current top-selling varieties, Sakata planted a full Fleuroselect trial of the new varieties entered by its members. Delegates were able to observe how these varieties thrive versus top comparison varieties from the market in North European weather conditions after a particularly cold spring.   Mr Nils Klemm offers Mr. Hiroshi Sakata, president of Sakata a prestigious painting.   Sakata Flower Trials

A second Japanese member, Takii Seed partnered in the event with a visit to its Global Flowers Research Station, also in Odense. This Japanese breeder recently launched Cannova, a large Canna, and is renowned for its Violas and pot Gerberas. With both companies having their roots in Japan, the central theme of this year's Fleuroselect Convention was appropriately: 'A taste of Japan in Denmark'.

"Global Flowers Research Station" Takii Seed

2014 Gold Medals awarded at Slot Holckenhavn

Mr. Ruud Brinkkemper from PanAmerican/Kieft Seed received the Gold Medal for the Penstemon x mexicali Carillo Red. Mr. Jean-François Ignasse from PanAmerican/Kieft Seed accepted the prize for the Gaura lindheimeri Sparkle White. Mr. Andreas Rinnergschwentner of Selecta Klemm stepped forward to accept the Gold Medal for the Petunia cultivars SweetSunshine Provence. The prize for the Pelargonium x hortorum Pelargonium Pinto Premium White to Rose was accepted by Mr. Luit Mazereeuw from Syngenta Flowers. Mr. Hiroshi Sakata stepped forward to receive the Gold Medal for the Zinnia Profusion Double Hot Cherry. Finally, Mrs. Anne Leventry from PanAmerican/Kieft Seed picked up the Gold Medal for the Zinnia marylandica Zahara Sunburst.

Mrs. Anne Leventry from PanAmerican / Kieft Seed receives the Gold Medal
Award for the Zinnia Zahara marylandica Sunburst.

Mr. Hiroshi Sakata receives the Gold Medal Award for the Zinnia Profusion
Double Cherry Hot

Delegation visits new member Gasa Young Plants with 2 other companies joining Fleuroselect

Fleuroselect is particularly pleased to announce that the membership application from three companies was accepted during the Annual General Meeting. The organisation welcomed Impecta Seeds, a family company which sells seeds to the Swedish home garden market through their webshop, the Dutch company Sluis Garden Gardenseeds which produces more than 1000 species of flower/vegetable seeds and supplies to consumers through brokering and shop and GASA Young Plants, member of the GASA BØG Group, a broker in young plants and finished products from both Danish growers and other suppliers.
Gasa also hosted the group at its Odense facility as part of the Convention with a tour of its facilities. Gasa Young Plants already has close cooperation with Fleuroselect members and by joining the Fleuroselect, the organisation intends to strengthen this relationship.

New Laureate and Honorary Member

At the Gala dinner, Fleuroselect was pleased to present its Laureate for services to the Ornamentals Industry to Mr. Wim Nijssen, former Managing Director of Takii Europe. "Without Trade Organisations no Trade" is a vision which Wim Nijssen has always shared and it is for his services to Trade Organisations in the sector that he has been awarded this special honour.
The Organisation for the Ornamental Plants Industry also conferred an Honorary Membership on Joel Goldsmith from former Goldsmith Seeds for his exceptional contribution to Fleuroselect and for the support given by the Goldsmith family to the organisation for over almost 40 years. Following on from his father Glenn Goldsmith, founder of the company, Joel Goldsmith was heavily active in Fleuroselect during the 1990s and President of the organisation from 2005 to 2009.

And a new FleuroStar winner! Gerbera jamesonii Cartwheel® Strawberry Twist is the new FleuroStar! Syngenta Head of Sales Mr. Luit Mazereeuw accepted the Award from Fleuroselect President Mr. Nils Klemm and Mr. Jan Sijm, Chairman of the FleuroStar Committee. Cartwheel® Strawberry Twist offers the colour explosion of a cut flower Gerbera bouquet to pots and containers for both the home and patio."