Florida fern growers gear up for Valentine's Day
Cut fern growers in northwest Volusia County, Fla., are heading into their busiest harvesting period as they ship product for Valentine orders. Stacy Jones of Ronald Jones Fernery in Pierson told Daytona News-Journal that the busiest shipping period is between Jan. 24 and Feb. 10. Growers will be working 7 days a week to meet demand. Although leatherleaf fern is still the primary crop, many growers are looking to diversify. The News-Journal reports the fern industry in Volusia, Lake and Putnam counties has been declining since 1999, when nearly $63 million of leatherleaf fern was sold; that fell to less than $48 million in 2005. This decline has been accompanied by a reduction in production area. Most of the decline is the result of damage from the 2004 hurricanes, but imports from Central America and other parts of the U.S. are having an effect.
New alstroemeria likes cool climates
Mauve Majesty is a new patented alstroemeria that is one of the 1st cultivars in its color class to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6 and often to many parts of Zone 5. Developed by hort prof. Mark Bridgen at Cornell Univ., this Inca lily is a non-fragrant perennial that produces lavender-lilac flowers with dark speckling and a creamy yellow throat. In greenhouses, the plant never goes dormant and grows year-round. It is the 1st ornamental hybrid plant patented by Cornell. It took 5 years for Bridgen to develop the cultivar. He said alstroemeria, which are native to S. America, are the 5th most popular cut flower in the U.S. Bridgen was recently awarded the 2008 Herbert Medal from Int'l. Bulb Society for meritorious achievement in advancing knowledge of bulbous plants.
Imported roses are toxic — not!
No. 6 on American Council on Science and Health's list of Top 10 Unfounded Scares of 2007 is: roses are toxic. The unfounded scare is that Colombian flowers shipped into the U.S. for Valentine's Day orders are doused with chemicals and the residues can pose a health risk. Media coverage of an AP story that dealt with the potential hazard of chemicals to workers instead focused on consumers buying the flowers. ACSH reports there is no evidence that shows exposure to pesticides at trace amounts causes ill effects. ACSH reports high doses of chemicals can threaten the safety of workers, and eliminating or minimizing exposure should be a high priority.
Dole receives Florverde certification
Dole Fresh Flowers received the Florverde certification at its farm operations in Colombia. Florverde certification represents that its members grow flowers in compliance with environmental, social, labor and occupational health and safety standards. To receive the certification, farms must comply with standards and codes of conduct, including operational and social guidelines.
Seminis advises Dutch growers about tomato disease
Seminis, the vegetable division of Monsanto Co., is advising Dutch growers of tomato transplants and greenhouse tomatoes to carefully inspect plants for disease symptoms associated with Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm). The disease is highly contagious and can be introduced by various sources. Because 1 of its tomato hybrid varieties, Bizarr, has been associated with these symptoms, Seminis is having the seed retested by Dutch Plant Protection Service (PD). Tests by PD showed no presence of Cmm in Bizarr prior to sale. PD is monitoring the presence of Cmm in some greenhouse plant materials and is assessing the situation to understand the extent of the occurrence. In some situations, PD is requesting some plants not be released. If disease symptoms are observed, Seminis is encouraging growers to contact authorities for additional inspection or testing.
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Worth a visit
GMPRO editor David Kuack tells us the Southeast drought is putting a big hurt on horticulture. Only on GreenBeam.com.
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