WORKING AS A FLORAL JUDGE AT FLORIADE WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE

NETHERLANDS

The inaugural spring edition of Plantarium|Groen-Direkt

Two-thirds of the floor space at the inaugural spring edition of Plantarium|Groen-Direkt, which will be held on the 7-8 February 2023, has been sold.

So far, more than 150 growers have booked a stand. The spring edition of Plantarium|Groen-Direkt will begin a new selling season with the green sector’s leading plant nurseries, horticultural suppliers and hardware companies showcasing their latest products and services. Visitors can find thousands of products in all shapes and sizes on display and plenty of opportunities to place orders directly at Groen-Direkt’s Spring Fair. This Spring Fair is arguably Europe’s largest wholesale plant/nursery stock sales event featuring 5,000 sample batches of plants on raised beds and a ‘Danish trolley fair’. The latter allows Groen Direkt’s 1,000 active European buyers to buy plants in smaller quantities per Danish trolley layer. Two purpose-built pavilions will host a wide range of potted bulbs, pansies and bedding plants and examples of budget-friendly marketing concepts. The first edition of the Plantarium|Groen-Direkt Fair took place on 24 and 25 August. The AIPH-approved horticultural trade exhibition provided an opportunity to see the newest plants and reconnect with growers and horticultural suppliers. Registration for the spring edition of Plantarium|GroenDirekt is now open. Visit www. For more information and to reserve your spot until 1 December 2022. PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt – The Green Retail Fair (plantariumgroendirekt.nl)

USA

IFPA ignites industry in Orlando

International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) hosted its first-ever Global Produce & Floral Show (GPFS) in Orlando, Florida. The show is the only event globally that brings together the entire global supply chain for produce and floral.

With just over one buyer for every three attendees, the show offered a critical opportunity to make connections and create new partnerships. Attendees from approximately 40 countries attended the show, creating a buzz of energy from the education sessions to the show. The Expo floor opened a day earlier than in previous years, allowing attendees to visit with Business Solutions Providers and technology partners. They joined a record-breaking 217 first-time exhibitors sharing their products this year.

‘WORKING AS A FLORAL JUDGE AT FLORIADE WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE’

Ilona Mars was one of the 40 volunteering industry professionals at work during Expo 2022 Floriade. Until 9 October 2022, she spent much of her time in Floriade’s Green House, judging hundreds of floral presentations from national and international participants vying for the top awards in the 13 alternating flower and plant competitions held throughout the six-month Expo.

“I am 25 years old and represent the next generation of florists. Since completing an advanced national certificate in floristry, I have worked as a part-time florist at a high-end flower shop in my hometown Ommen, Netherlands. To make ends meet, I work as a teaching assistant. However, floristry is my passion, and this Spring, I set up my Ploon Floral Concepts business in Hellendoorn.

In 2021, I competed in the Netherlands’ Junior Floristry Competition. I was awarded the fifth position in a group of 11 enthusiastic finalists. The event organisers wished to connect us to top-class floral events so that we could gain hands-on experience.

One of the experiences on offer was to serve as a professional judge at this year’s Floriade in Almere. This was the perfect challenge because this was about judging tried and existing flowers but also seeing exciting new varieties and assessing them on exclusivity, uniformity, and application value within flower arranging.

The latter interested me more because it would allow me to use my expertise productively.

I served as a volunteer judge, presenting at five of Floriade’s Best in Green House Competitions. I joined forces with many other judges from different disciplines in the industry.

Teaming up with growers, wholesalers, breeders, and educators gave me great insights. It made me sometimes wonder how well the other partners upstream of the supply chain are aware of the florist’s needs and the end consumer.

The judging work at Floriade led to meaningful discussions for me about, for example, the proper maturity stage of cut flowers. Growers also were surprised and happy to hear my point of view.

When I looked at the different floral arrangements in preparation, I loved the beauty, but I was also attracted to the ‘flaws’ like a twisty stem and distorted flower head. I saw that not-so-picture-perfect flowers could also be great fun to work with in a floral display. Because, in the end, it is all about creating innovative arrangements that provide the wow factor among consumers.”