Evaluators: “Deep Purple was selected as the best flower by consumers due to its size and outstanding quality”

◇ On October 26, the Gyeonggi Agricultural Research and Extension Services announced that ‘Deep Purple’, a thorn-less rose developed by Gyeonggi Province, won a Grand Prize in the Overseas Grower division at the International Flower Expo (IFEX) Tokyo 2015 that ran from October 14 and 16. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News

‘Deep Purple’, a thorn-less rose developed by Gyeonggi Province, won one of the most prestigious awards for growers at a floricultural exhibition. 

On October 26, Gyeonggi Agricultural Research and Extension Services (GARES) announced that ‘Deep Purple’, a thorn-less rose developed by Gyeonggi Province, won a Grand Prize in the Overseas Grower division at the International Flower Expo (IFEX) Tokyo 2015 that ran from October 14 and 16.

The Deep Purple rose was entered into this exhibition in the Overseas Grower division as it was produced at Carlos’s Flower Farm in Ecuador.

The eight-member judging panel, including Flower Auction Japan CEO Fujisawa and Fukunaga Architecture Research Institute CEO Toyoake Keisei, observed, “Deep Purple’s flower size and quality is excellent.” The panel also noted, “The flower has a distinct color and a delicate fragrance. It also doesn’t have any thorns on its stems so was selected as the best flower by consumers.”

Deep Purple won the Grand Prize at the Flowers Expo 2012 in Moscow, Russia, and the Best Flower Award as selected by consumers at Keukenhof 2014 in the Netherlands, which makes this award its third on the international stage. 

Olij Rozen Division Director Philip Veys, who is responsible for offshore sales of Gyeonggi Province’s roses, said, “With Deep Purple winning an award in Russia, the Netherlands, and now an award at an expo in Asia, roses developed in Gyeonggi Province now rank among the top ten roses in the world. It continues to grow by gaining more credibility.”

Approximately 49,900 Deep Purple flowers were sold in 2011, 423,625 in 2012, 1,033,058 in 2013, and 2,339,614 in 2014. In 2015, 2,639,551 flowers were sold in 13 countries including Ecuador, Columbia, and Kenya. 

A total of 3.17 million roses developed in Gyeonggi Province including Deep Purple were sold in 19 countries to date, and the province has been reaping royalty fees from the sales. 

With Deep Purple’s latest award, Gyeonggi Province expects sales to increase worldwide in Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News | Kim Jin-kyoung jinkyoungkim@kg21.net

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201510261316387055C052&s_code=C048