1	Harvest & Distribution Chapter #20 Floral Design
2	The World Flower Market Lots of changes in past 25 years… Transportation Worldwide market Care & Handling Cultivation Crop Selection
3	The World Flower Market Flower Production Over 20 years ago, the US was nearly self-sufficient in floral production. Improvements in transportation Production areas in Third World countries Research in postharvest care and handling, crop selection and cultivation methods Leading cut flower production and exporters page 388.
4	The World Flower Market Flower Production Grown in nearly every country of the world Holland, Colombia, Israel, and Italy account for more than 90% of worldwide cut flower exports. Holland—dominant player Other prominent floral countriesàKenya, Spain, France, US, South Africa, Central America, and Jamaica
5	The World Flower Market Flower Production USàworld’s largest producer of floral crops Hollandàworld’s largest exporter of floral crops
6	The World Flower Market Flower Consumption Largest consumersàWest Germany, U.S., France, Switzerland, Holland, Great Britain, Austria, Belgium/Luxembourg, and Sweden
7	The World Flower Market Seasonal Availability Year round availability for staple crops in US. (roses, carnations, chrysanthemums) Shortage causes—season, weather…affect $ but not supply. Crops grown outdoors are still seasonal. Seasonal crops bred to produce year-round. Tropical flowers & cut greens available year-round, grown in N & S hemispheres.
8	Harvest Throughout the world, flowers harvested by hand. Usually harvested in early morning. Time of harvest and maturity of flower bud affect postharvest quality and longevity.
9	Harvest Time of Harvest Late afternoonà higher carbohydrate levels (more plant food). Not practical to cut in late afternoon. Harvested in morning and processed the same day.
10	Harvest Stage of Bud Development Ideal stage is different for all flowers. If flowers are harvested prematurely, they will not open. Too mature—will not ship well. Bud opening solution allows flowers to be harvested earlier.
11	Harvest Grading All flowers are checked for quality before packing for shipment. No U.S. state or federal standards for cut flowers Roses carnations, and gladiolià available by grades Gradingàbased on stem length. Also….stem straightness, flower quality, vase life, uniformity, freedom from defects, and foliage quality.
12	Harvest Grading ROSES… Sold according to stem length in 4 inch increments: 10-14”, 14-18”, 18-22”, up to 30”. Identified as shorts, mediums, longs, fancy, and extra fancy.
13	Harvest Bunching Flowers are bunched, except for orchids, anthuriums, and other specialty flowers. Single-stemmed flowers, roses and carnations, sold in bunches of 25.