Production and Marketing of Organic Ornamentals Developments in Switzerland, the Netherlands and Germany

Publication of a study on organic ornamental plants (Billmann, 1996) commissioned by the Swiss Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) was the incentive for the first Organic Flower Meeting, which was financially supported by the World Wildlife Foundation Switzerland and the supermarket chain COOP Switzerland. This investigation showed that organic cultivation of cut flowers and ornamental plants was difficult because of the lack of information and experience. But it was possible and it was done! At that time, production was based on the EU's general organic standards or the standards set by organic farmers ' and vegetable growers ' associations. There were no specific guidelines on organic ornamental plants, hardly any advice available, and no training courses offered for growers. Nor were there specialised growers' associations. Only GEA, founded in the Netherlands 1993 as a subsidiary of the flower auction in Aalsmeer, tried to improve the production and marketing of organic ornamental plants by further education of growers and a special marketing concept. Marketing proved far more difficult than the production of organic flowers. Despite an increasing awareness of environmental and social issues, consumers had little knowledge of the problems that conventional flower production creates, both in Europe and in "Thir