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Welcome to the first edition of the pickOntario Newsletter for the year 2010! We are pleased to offer all users of the pickOntario.ca website valuable information on floral care and trends as well as keeping everyone up to date on the goings-on of the Ontario floriculture industry.
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Florist Design Contest
 PickOntario is asking Ontario florists to show them how locally-grown flowers can provide great variety and result in high quality, fresh designs. We are holding a floral design contest open to florists across the province. Florists will create a floral arrangement that best showcases the beauty of Ontario grown flowers and the winning entries will be voted for online at www.pickOntario.ca.
The grand prize is that the top florist and one guest embark on a limo tour of greenhouses in Ontario and this includes an overnight stay at the Sheraton on the Falls Hotel in Niagara Falls, Ont and an elegant dinner. The first place winner will also be included in the March edition of the pickOntario newsletter. The top three florists will get the chance to show off their designs in pickOntario's booth at Canada Blooms in Toronto and will be featured in Canadian Florist magazine as well as on the pickOntario website.
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pickOntario meets the Minister of Agriculture at Grocery Innovations Canada
 The Toronto Congress Centre was this year's location for the Grocery Innovations Canada (Oct 26-27, 2009). The annual show is presented by the non-profit trade association Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG), which represents over 4,000 grocery retailers across Canada.
This event was an outstanding success and pickOntario was exhibiting to increase exposure within retail grocery stores which represent a significant distribution of cut flowers and potted plants.
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If you pluck a flower off a snapdragon and pinch the sides of the blossom, you can make the dragon open it's lips and snap. These reptilian flowers are Ontario's 3rd largest cut flower crop and a florist staple as the classic line flower. They are available year round.
The brilliantly colored spikes and light, spicy fragrance of the snapdragon make it an old fashioned favorite. But time has not stood still for this flower. This industry staple is evolving into a modern floral diva.
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If there is anything that you would like to see included in future mailings, don't hesitate to drop us a line and let us know.
Don't forget to check out the website, blog or forum for more information!
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Until Next Time!
Stay Fresh. |
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Take part in our pickOntario survey for a chance to win an Ontario floral bouquet!
What is the most romantic gift you've ever given or received on Valentine's Day?
PS -Don't forget to tell your friends and family!
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Rosa Flora is a large family owned floral greenhouse operation based in Dunnville, Ontario. (We are currently in Haldimand County). With over 1.1 million square feet of growing space, Rosa Flora's 100 -150 employees take pride in every petal. So much so that President and Co-Owner, Otto Bulk, says his company's mission is devoted to the glory of God in growing fresh cut flowers of the highest quality.
Established in 1978, by Otto and Corine Bulk, Rosa Flora first grew only fresh hybrid tea roses. Today the company produces snapdragons (above), standard and mini gerberas, alstroemeria, sweetheart roses, and stephanotis in the greenhouses. "We also partner with reliable local growers to provide a large assortment of potted plants and an even wider range of fresh cut flowers, such as Asiatic lilies, anthurium, freesia, Oriental lilies and statice," adds Otto.
"We have highly trained growers who provide everything the crops require for optimal growth including misting, shading, lighting, irrigation, fertilizers and biological pest control," says Ralph Deboer, Rosa Flora's Operations Manager, proudly standing in a football field of perfect gerberas, with Otto and son, Josh Bulk, who works in Information Technology and Support.
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