Rose Grower Extends Invitation to 'Farm Friends' in Bogotá
Visit to Alexandra Farms Highlights Sustainable Rose Production and Collaborative Efforts
The winners of the 2024 Garden Rose Design Contest recently visited Alexandra Farms in Bogotá, Colombia, to explore sustainable practices, trial new rose varieties, and engage in collaborative rose production efforts.
Certified by Florverde Sustainable Flowers for responsible social and environmental practices in rose production, Alexandra Farms offers an ideal setting for such a visit due to its commitment to eco-friendly cultivation and worker welfare.
During their visit, the contest winners were led through the dahlia greenhouse, given talks on composting and diversification, and saw the farm's garden rose greenhouses. The second day included a tour of El Jardin farm, a dahlia presentation, a rose grafting exercise, a post-harvest tour, and a fragrance workshop.
Key points about Alexandra Farms and its sustainable rose production relevant to the visit include:
- The farm's Florverde Certification (2024-25) signifies its adherence to stringent environmental sustainability, safe working conditions, and employee benefits beyond governmental requirements.
- Alexandra Farms' sustainable practices encompass water management, waste reduction, and responsible growing methods that align with the global floral industry's move towards eco-responsibility.
- The farm likely showcased trial varieties of garden roses during the visit, which is common in such contests and farms aiming to promote innovation and improved rose genetics for durability, vase life, and aesthetic appeal.
- Collaborative production efforts often include partnerships with designers, growers, and industry experts to enhance rose quality and marketability, fostering shared knowledge on sustainable cultivation and breeding.
Although specific details on the contest winners’ activities during their visit were not directly found in the available sources, the connection between Alexandra Farms’ sustainability certification and the focus on innovative rose variety trials strongly suggests the visit centered on integrating design excellence with responsible rose production.
The visit included hands-on learning, behind-the-scenes access, and presentations about the arduous work and process behind each garden rose. Urban Petals CEO Anna Stouffer found the recycling process intriguing and spoke to the high quality of the farm's products. Dafne Gonzalez, an account manager with Sunburst Farms, found the discussions surrounding new varieties and the testing and breeding process especially beneficial.
Marcy Almoney, a winner of the Everyday Design category, was excited to tour the farm and learn about the processes. She described her trip as transformational, a dive into the heart of floriculture and celebrations of floristry on every level. Marcy was surprised by the many layers of sustainability woven into the growing practices at Alexandra Farms.
The tours and demonstrations show the precision and care that go into every stage of production, from breeding to harvesting and beyond. The rest of day two was spent socializing and sharing design ideas with other visitors. On the third day, guests went on a sightseeing tour of Bogotá, including visits to La Candelaria and the Jardin Botanico de Bogotá. The group participated in constructing flower arrangements with a wide variety of fresh-cut garden roses from the farm.
Pieter Filius, sales manager at Parfum Flower Company, was impressed with the diverse group of industry professionals who attended the tour. Alexandra Farms aims to offer an educational and enjoyable experience for all visitors, inspiring passion for floriculture.
[1] Florverde Sustainable Flowers: https://www.florverde.org/ [5] Proflora 2025: https://proflora.org/
- The Garden Rose Design Contest winners visited Alexandra Farms to learn about sustainable rose production methods and collaborative efforts.
- Alexandra Farms, with its Florverde Sustainability Certification, showcases eco-friendly cultivation and worker welfare in rose production.
- During their visit, the contest winners were shown various flower greenhouses, participated in composting talks, rose grafting exercises, and a fragrance workshop.
- The visit to Alexandra Farms emphasized integrating design excellence with responsible rose production, highlighting the trials of new rose varieties and innovative breeding techniques.
- Urban Petals CEO Anna Stouffer found the recycling process intriguing during the tour, while Dafne Gonzalez of Sunburst Farms appreciated the discussions on new varieties and testing processes.
- Marcy Almoney, a contest winner, described her experience as transformational and was surprised by the numerous layers of sustainability incorporated in Alexandra Farms' growing practices.
