LivRio December Issue 2017

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ISSUE No. 10

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AIR FREIGHT CHALLENGES - WINTER COLLECTION 2018 PANTONE COLORS - NEW RIO BLOOMS - BREEDER'S CORNER

LIVRIO | DEC 2017

LIVRIO

THE E-MAGAZINE OF RIO ROSES Issue No.10 DEC 2017 IN THIS ISSUE: People of Rio Bloom of the Month Air Freight Challenges Winter Collection 2018 Pantone Colors Ready to Move You Breeder's Corner Community Outreach FOR INQUIRIES marketing@equiflor.com

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM VICTOR GIORGINI & RAUL MARRERO

“During the Holiday Season more than ever, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our progress possible. And in this spirit, we sincerely say Thank you and Best Wishes for the holiday season and a Happy New Year!”

RIOROSES.COM 3

PEOPLE of RIO

WHAT IS YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION? < LUPE BARRERA MARKETING DEPARTMENT “I would like to be able to reach my new goals.

I would like to further develop myself intellectually and spend more time with my family.”

“FOCUS MORE ENERGY INTO INCREASING MY SUCCESS”

JULIE STEINER ^

MAYA SAGASTUME >

SALES DEPARTMENT

MARKETING DEPARTMENT “My New Year’s resolution is to continue to develop myself professionally by learning and acquiring new skills. I’m at the point in my life where I know where I want to be and I will be driven and dedicated to bettering myself. “

< JESUS GOMEZ SALES DEPARTMENT “For the new year, I would like to continue to not let the things out of my control bother me. I would also like to increase my

“INCREASE MY ROLL AT WORK AS A MORE PRODUCTIVE SALES PERSON”

role at work as a more

EMILIO MARTINEZ >

productive salesperson.”

IT DEPARTMENT “To continue my professional growth in the IT field with the

“ENHANCE OUR INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY”

new technologies coming out on the market every day to enhance our industry performance and efficiency.”

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“Worrying about insignificant things seems to be common, and I want to do that less because it gets in the way of what does matter. So, my New Year’s resolution is to focus more energy on increasing my success, as a salesperson and a person in general.”

BLOOM of the MONTH handpicked, fresh from our farm

Rio White Magnum Disbud

Rio White Magnum Disbud is the perfect flower for the Winter season. This variety is a subtle white flower boasting a broader spectrum of white hues with a bright green center. Ideal for all events due to its elegant color, and especially suitable for holiday parties.

RIOROSES.COM 5

AIR FREIGHT CHALLENGES

6 LIVRIO | DEC 2017

FREIGHT COSTS ARE TAKING OFF A lovely bouquet may brighten up your dining room table, but those flowers have quite a long journey before making it to your home. The voyage from farm to vase is carefully constructed to ensure that flowers are in top condition when they arrive, beginning the moment the stems are harvested. Most of these flowers make the journey by airfreight via privately chartered flights.

Throughout most of 2017, importation of fresh-cut flowers to the United States increased by 5%, with top exports from South American countries, as well as the Netherlands, Canada, and Mexico.

Miami is the top destination for flower imports, with 91% of the product arriving through what is often considered the “gateway to Latin America.”

RECENTLY, THE FLORAL INDUSTRY has responded to specific challenges facing airfreight and the import-export process. Flowers are usually shipped by air as part of the “cold chain,” which requires a special packing and transport process to ensure flower quality upon arrival. Flowers must be placed in specific temperature conditions, palletized, stored in cold facilities at the airport, cleared through export customs, obtain a phytosanitary certification, and loaded onto commercial or cargo flights.

These airfreight costs are continually rising for a variety of reasons. For example, the price of jet fuel has increased and continued to do so almost weekly. Similarly, a higher demand for aircrafts in Asia and the Middle East has presented more competition in the airline industry. Other factors affecting airfreight costs include political situations in countries (such as elections) and competition for aircraft space from Industries such as fruit, seafood, and art.

MOTHER NATURE, OF COURSE, is an unavoidable factor where airfreight is concerned. During the most recent set of hurricanes in September, there were no flights for three days, which is challenging to an industry that flies flowers six days a week. What’s more, flights regularly being used for flower transport were being repurposed by FEMA to bring supplies and emergency aid to affected areas.

Flower companies have started to explore other options, such as sea freight to alleviate expensive air costs and lack of space. Even though that alternative is a possibility, more tests and efficiencies need to be completed before that becomes a viable solution. All indications are that airfreight for the upcoming valentines holiday will prove to be very challenging.

We at Equiflor are working extremely hard to avoid delays during shipping for Valentine’s Day 2018. We will continue to update our customers, as more information becomes available.

RIOROSES.COM 7

RIOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S 2017

WINTER COLLECTION

HAND CURATED BY OUR

FLORAL DESIGNER

8 LIVRIO | DEC 2017

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GET READY FOR WINTER WONDERLAND...

The natural phenomenon of Winter Wonderland inspires this collection. During a few weeks in the winter season, the leaves of many trees and shrubs are covered in Snowflakes. This collection aims to celebrate those hues of covered trees and the beauty of winter wonderland.

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IN THE BOUQUET: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Rio Rio Rio Rio

Strawberry Scabiosa Magical Triumph Red Hypericum Peppermint Carnation Magnum Disbud

5. Rio White Lisianthus 6. Rio Green Trix 7. Rio Corazon

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1 PANTONE Pink Lavender 14-3207

2 PANTONE Almost Mauve 12-2103

3 PANTONE Blooming Dahlia 15-1520

PANTONE FOR 2018 STRAYING AWAY FROM THE TRADITIONAL AND EMBRACING THE SEASON; THIS YEAR WE WANT TO SEE THE BRIGHTEST AND BOLDEST BLOOM COMBINATIONS. 1. RIO MOODY BLUES 2. RIO MENTA 3. RIO AMSTERDAM

4. RIO DON PEDRO CARNATION 5. RIO PURPLE LISIANTHUS 6. RIO SKY BLUE DELPHINIUM

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PANTONE Chili Oil 18-1440

PANTONE Ultra Violet 18-3838

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PANTONE Little Boy Blue 16-4132

LIFE IN “TRENDING” COLOR: PANTONE’S COLOR OF THE YEAR Every December, the Pantone Color Institute (known as the “global color authority”) selects a

Color of the Year that not only influences design and fashion industries, but also captures the spirit of the times. Pantone has once again hit a perfect note with their 2018 Color of the Year: Ultra Violet – a dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade. Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity and visionary thinking that points us to the future. According to Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, the ultra violet color represents a true reflection of what’s needed in our world today.

Now that Pantone has announced the color of the year, it is certainly worth looking at what colors are expected to trend next year. Keeping in touch with market trends will help flower businesses predict their customer’s demands, especially for high volume order times like Valentine’s Day and wedding season.

On the “trending colors” for 2018, experts agree that millennial pink is here to stay. This popular light shade of blush most closely resembles “rose pink” in the flower world, but the definition has broadened to include a wider range of shades. From lighter neutrals to brighter summer hues, millennial pink is a common choice for retail packaging, makeup palettes, accessories, and home décor.

This particular shade takes on a more social context, as it is a less feminine pink that rebrands the color in a more thoughtful and mature way. Millennial pink speaks to a generation that strives for gender equality and questions traditional norms, redefining womanhood and femininity.

Similarly, iridescence is irresistible. According to Pantene Color Institute executive director Leatrice Eiseman, the human eye can’t avoid anything or translucent. In the same vein, eye-catching metallics in more neutral tones are expected to remain popular.

Finally, bold colors are expected to take over.

Eiseman predicts a move away from pastels and toward more intense colors, which reflect our more intense lifestyles and thought processes.

These are all great colors to keep in mind when planning signature arrangement, marketing designs, and social media campaigns for 2018!

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MOVIN G YOU TO THE NEXT LEVEL INTRODUCIN G THE NEW RIO BLOOMS We are excited to announce the launch of multiple premium product lines.

Our new product lines will enhance our product portfolio by offering our customers the trendiest products in the market on a daily basis.

We looked long and hard to find the right selection of products and exceptional quality with enough volume to support our customersʼ requirements on an everyday basis.

CHECK OUR WEBSITE TO DISCOVER OUR VARIETY SELECTION

VARIETY INNOVATION

GROWING FOR YOU

SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES

Guaranteeing you

Constantly meeting our

Our new products are

the best and newest

customer needs by providing

certified by the Rainforest

varieties in the market

the best in demand products

Alliance since 2007

R I O R O S E S . C O M 13

BREEDER'S CORNER BUILDING YOUR PERFECT FLOWER

Seedless

grapes and watermelons, year-round strawberries, and zucchini the size of your

forearmâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;these are all examples of foods that have been genetically engineered to meet the demands of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s society. When it comes to the floral industry, The same concept applies.

Science plays a significant role in creating those picture perfect arrangements our clients look for, and our breeders work hard to engineer the ideal flower every time.

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PLANT BREEDING IS BOTH AN ART AND A SCIENCE that has been practiced for thousands of years. It involves changing the traits of plants to produce desired characteristics via different methods. These methods may range from more simple tactics, such as selecting plants with ideal qualities for reproduction, to more complex strategies involving knowledge of genetics and chromosomes. A plant’s genes determine what type of traits the plant will have (i.e., bigger blooms or longer stems). Plants that have been altered using complex molecular techniques are called cultivars (cultivated varieties) or cultigens (any plant modified by humans).

WHILE FLOWER BREEDERS AROUND THE WORLD create millions of new flower varieties annually, only a few hundred of these varieties are deemed distinctive enough to reach commercial production. Such varieties are made using classic breeding techniques, such as crossing cultivars and mutation of plant genes.

Thanks to advancements in DNA technology, breeders have more tools to help create new and alluring varieties. Most recently, breeders have experimented with introducing new genes from unrelated species to produce groundbreaking traits in flowers. Examples include carnations that don’t produce ethylene (a naturally occurring chemical that causes fruits and vegetables to ripen, or flowers to wilt faster), allowing the flower to last longer; chrysanthemums that are resistant to common agricultural pests; and roses, petunias, and carnations in exciting new colors.

CULTIVARS THAT RESULT FROM THESE BREEDING PROCESSES enter the market as soon as patent negotiations and regulatory approvals are completed.

These trials are an integral part of the breeding process, and help ensure that these innovative new flowers will be successful on the market. Wholesalers and retailers can work with breeders to offer a competitive product that is unlike anything on the market. In some cases, businesses can also use new breeds in unique situations, much like the “Lynn rose” created by Rio to honor Lynn Lary Mclean! These processes help ensure that the flower business remains an ever-growing, ever-adapting industry, prone to a myriad of possibilities for new products.

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COMMUNIT Y OUTREACH

THE SALVATION ARMY: ANGEL TREE PROGRAM In the spirit of the giving season, Rio’s generous employees put toys under the tree for those who usually have to go without Christmas gifts. All donations are then passed on to children from poor and low-income families for the holidays. At Rio, we are always looking for ways to give back to our local communities. The Salvation Army Provides family dinners and helps to put presents under the tree. Anonymous donors adopt these little “angels” in an expanding Christmas tradition that makes the season brighter for both the gift giver and receiver.

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COMMUNIT Y OUTREACH

THE ULTIMATE GOLF EXPERIENCE FOR THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION Members of the Rio family donated more than 1,500 stunning color roses to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Golf Tournament. The CF Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s golf tournaments raise money to cure cystic fibrosis. The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to cure cystic fibrosis and to provide all people with the disease the opportunity to lead full, productive lives by funding research and drug development, promoting individualized treatment, and ensuring access to high-quality, specialized care.

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ANNIVERSARIES + BIRTHDAYS

“Happy Birthday, may all your B-daywishes come true on your special day”

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Guadalupe Barrera 12/12 Jorge Parra 12/12

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T H A N K S

S E E

F O R

Y O U

R E A D I N G

N E X T

rioroses.com

M O N T H