The Bad News

Last September Asocolflores announced that there were some problems with some of the flowers farms. The announcement consisted of the second alert because of white rust on three farms, for a total of six affected properties.
Asocolflores as the corporation in charge of Colombia's flowers, and more important of making Colombia the number two exporter of flowers in the world, decided to reinforce the methods of prevention to continue offering quality, beauty, and color to the world.

Every corporation has problems, but when it comes to announce the bad news to the public, corporations try to make it sounds as pretty as it can sound. Therefore, I doubt that every time corporations have problems they announce it to the public. Hopefully, by now Asocolflores has managed to give a solution on those farms affected. Even though six farms are nothing compare to the amount of plantations Asocolfores owns in the entire country.

Have Your Ever Heard of a Flowers' Parade?

Well, believe it or not, there is a flowers' parade that lasts 10 days. Now, you might be wondering, how can flowers walk through a parade? Simple, the flowers are arranged together, forming different figures, shapes, and designs. These particular art representations are called silletas, and they are transported on people's backs (the people that carry the silletas are called silleteros). These silleteros could be anyone, whom with their silletas usually carried an inllustration of their life, land, culture, country's history, or even about a cause.

 Every year in Medellin, Colombia during the first week of August, the flowers come alive and become the center of attention. For 10 days, Colombia focuses on traditions to reaffirm its identity and bring together the entire country, but also, it offers the world Colombian essence, culture, taste, and color.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWdXHX7d3AM

You could find silletas with around 70 different types of flowers

Medellin, the city where this fairs takes place is known as "the eternal spring city," especially during the 10 days of blooming. Since 1957 flowers have given Colombia 10 days of spring in a country with no seasons. Colombia has flowers year around, but at the flowers parade, the entire city of Medellin seems to even be designed with flowers. The color, culture, and Colombian passion wins everybody's heart.

If you are ever wondering about an exotic and full of culture vacation, I recommend traveling to Medellin during the first week of August. I am pretty sure you will enjoy it, and you will love to see the different kinds of flowers Colombia offers to the world.

If you would like to know more about this particular fair/parade, or about Colombia you can go to the following link:
http://www.colombia.travel/en/international-tourist/sightseeing-what-to-do/history-and-tradition/fairs-and-festivals/august/the-medellin-flower-fair

Most of Your Flowers Come From....

Colombia's national flower (Orchid)

I have been living in the United Sates since 2008. The same year I met my love, who is now my fiancé. He has been spoiling me since then; I have been getting flowers almost every two weeks. I am from Colombia; not Illinois, not South Carolina, not anywhere in the states, but South America. By being from Colombia, I was never curious about where my flowers come from since there are many flowers year around at home.

However, I started to think about where the flowers in United States come from, or at least most of them, knowing that my country has the most beautiful flowers. After a simple investigation to the closest flower shop, I found out that most of these flowers come from my beautiful country, Colombia. Asocolflores, the Colombian Association of Flower Exporters is in charge of bringing color to United States. According to the trade between Colombia and United States, three out of every four flowers sold in the U.S. are grown in Colombia, making it the number one exporter of flowers to the U.S.

Asocolflores last report was about a year ago and it was surprising to me. I knew we were a large flower exporter, but not among the top three worldwide. Flowers, of course after coffee, are Colombia's second leading agriculture export, distributed to 89 countries, making Colombia the number two exporter worldwide of flowers. Asocolflores is a non-profit corporation which has been exporting since 1973 looking to share color, love and passion with the world through its flowers.

I am a big patriot; therefore my flowers need to be from Colombia. My fiancé needs to keep bringing me flowers, but he better make sure they come from Colombia, especially knowing how hard the Asocolflores farmers work daily to bring smiles to woman worlwide. We all deserve quality and lovely flowers once in a while! :)