January 20,2017, Nairobi. With a century of breeding experience globally and over 20 years in Kenya, De Ruiter is the oldest rose breeder in East Africa. The company considers rose farming as serious business ‘Every day is Valentine’s Day’ and we stick by our motto ‘Creating Flower Business’. With offices in the Netherlands, Kenya, Ethiopia, Colombia, Ecuador and China the company is truly a global brand.
De Ruiter (E.A) breeds bespoke rose varieties at its 4ha farm on the shores of Lake Naivasha which are then grown commercially on over 60 farms throughout Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and newly emerging Rwanda. Steady growth in sales year on year sees De Ruiter selling over 100ha of varieties annually.
The company has recently been striving to increase its market share in the low altitude T-Hybrid varieties and feels it has created enough synergy at this level with +5cm head sizes, +60cm stem lengths (Ensuring auction marketability), excellent vase life performance, good pest & desease resistence & 140 stems p/ sqm production figues. Varieties such as Kamala (Red), Militsa (Pink), Aisha (White), Lovely Rhodos (Light Pink), Pink Rhodos (Hot Pink), Navarra (Bi-Pink), Pink Ice (Pink), Opala (White/Cream), Royal Flush (Orange) & many Bi-Yellow’s.
This will provide the market with new lines and an improved quality and saleability of larger headsizes as demanded by most of the retailers and consolidators during the dynamic market changes and new demands It is estimated that during peak times like that of Valentine’s Day & Mother’s Day, one in three roses sold globally, earning Kenya in excess of Ksh75 billion annually usually passes through De Ruiters stringent breeding program.
What has contributed to this tremendous growth is an ever increasing competitive market which De Ruiter embraces with efficiency and delivery of strong, desirable varieties in a transparent manner, availing critical market information such as price changes & competitive rate structuring meeting grower’s needs.
De Ruiter’s selling point revolves around several key aspects but top of the list is our unique and agronomical approach where we update our growers with the latest advice to boost their production to earn more per stem at the market. De Ruiter believes in marketing strategies of its wide range of varieties in the world’s largest flower auction in the Netherlands, long shelf life, which are less prone to diseases and pests has also contributed to their prominence in the local and international markets.
With a continuation of rising production costs in an ever increasing competitive market, rose growers are relying more than ever on breeder’s knowledge and experience to produce better rose varieties year on year therefore De Ruiter is considered a breeder truly ‘Creating Flower Business’.
Edward Agg-Manning-edward.agg.manning@deruiter.com