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UW-RF Home > Public Affairs Home > This Month's News Releases University CommunicationsFor more information contact news@uwrf.edu. UWRF Horticulture Professor Judges at International EventBy Trista Gropp
Proflora offers a technical contest for producers and breeders, in which a panel of international and Colombian judges evaluates the quality of cut flowers and foliage entered. Ferriss served as a judge for this year’s “diversification” category--one of only three international judges. Other judges included Terri Starman (seond from left, below) of Texas A & M University, who judged the rose category, and Gerard De Wagt (third from left, below) of Holland, who judged the carnation category and served as lead judge. In the “diversification” category, a variety of species were lined up for judging, including gerbera, alstroemeria, hydrangea, delphiniums and others. “The quality of product was so good,” said Ferriss. “It was fun and enjoyable to see such quality, making the judging more challenging.”
The awards given out to the Colombian growers are very prestigious and it means a lot to take their well-earned awards back to their individual businesses, said Ferriss. More than 450 entries were in the three categories. Lindner attended to gain insight on her independent study project, “FlorVerde and its impact on the Colombian flower industry.” Colombia’s FlorVerde Certification is a program promoting the commitment that flower growers have to their workers and the environment, said Linder, and certification is a benefit to the consumers, traders, flower growers and society in general. “When you see the certification as a consumer you can be assured that the people behind the product are being treated well and the environment is being safeguarded,” she said. The floriculture industry is looking to create more worldwide standards in these important areas. Ferriss and Linder had the opportunity to visit a FlorVerde-Certified flower farm. The farm had 80 acres of flowers and a workforce of 1,000 people. “They are taking care of their employees from a holistic viewpoint- being healthy on the job and at home,” says Ferriss. On site the employer provides a doctor, dentist, a daycare, and offered workshops on topics like health and nutrition. During their week in Colombia, Ferriss and Lindner also had the opportunity to observe Columbian culture and visit a post-harvest lab where research is being conducted on the long-term storage of cut flowers, a research presentation about potentially using radiation as a means to control insects and diseases. Seeing the global aspect of the floriculture industry and getting first-hand exposure to new products and ideas made a great first visit to Colombia for both teacher and student. “It was a unique opportunity that Anna truly appreciated and enjoyed doing,” said Ferriss. -30-
Last updated:
Monday, 02-Nov-2009 12:08:51 CST
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University of Wisconsin - River Falls |
UWRF horticulture student Anna Lindner (right) of St. Paul, Minn., attended the event with Ferriss (left).
Proflora is the largest international flower exhibition in Latin America and the second largest in the world. Set in the country that is the second largest flower exporter in the world, Asocolflores (Association of Colombian Flower Exporters) has hosted this event biannually since 1991.About one-fifth of Proflora’s 5,000 visitors are international guests. 
The judges looked at quality differences like bud count, stem strength, flower form, condition and maturity of the entries with precision. 