Valentine’s Day is the upmost important day for any florist around the globe. One of the hardest decisions a florist has to make is “which variety of Red Rose am I going to buy?” Florists are undecided whether to go with Kenyan or Colombian, imported or local. Many Challenges arise such as if the rose will last more than a week, will the stem size be thick enough, will the head size be large enough? These are all issues faced by florists which the public are not privy to.
No matter where you source your Valentine’s roses from, the quality of flower is what will ensure your customers are satisfied, FlowerFlow’s Rajpal Bains explains.
FlowerFlow, being a part of the Vegpro group (a global rose specialist and breeder), have developed one of the world’s most popular varieties of Red Roses available in the market. The T-hybrid “Incredible” variety is bred to have a 5cm+ headsize, guaranteed 7 days shelf life from cut and vase life tested to last in excess of 2 weeks. This rose is available from lengths from 40cm to 80cm in length.
As well as the variety, there are 3 main factors all florists should take into consideration when purchasing their Valentine’s Day roses include;
- Cool Chain Management
- Consistency
- Quality
Cool Chain Management:
Ensuring that the flowers have been treated properly along the whole supply chain is essential in the vase life of the rose. At Flowerflow, all flowers are sent directly from the farms via refrigerated transport to our facility located within Nairobi Airport Terminal. Prior to dispatch all product is vacuum cooled to ensure cool chain management from source to customer. Flowers are then checked-in via a cool facility at the destination, and transported to our facility with refrigerated transport for dispatch to customers.
Consistency:
Is this flower consistent all year round? Growers have been known to crop back for the large occasions to ensure that they meet the demand for quantities during peak periods. This in turn can compromise the quality of the flower. If your grower can provide you consistently all year with this flower, then it’s the safest option to go with what you know best.
Quality:
Insist information on the vase life testing performed on the variety you choose. On top of performing your own testing, documented vase life testing is an essential part of the quality roses. At Flowerflow, vase life testing is performed at source and on the distribution end of the supply chain. Temperature controlled rooms which circulate and recycle air to mimic a retail outlet to assess the appearance and longevity of the flower. Daily findings are recorded and documented for quality assurance purposes to prove as evidence to customers and relay vital information back to the farms.
So if you are thinking about what to get for Valentine’s Day’s this year, be sure to ask your local wholesaler for the “incredible” red rose. Happy Valentine’s Day!
