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Pamphlet - Reference
guide Florissant products
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Florissant - Product Range
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Power
your flower
FLORISSANT®
Post-Harvest Flower Treatment
Back in 1983 the then Dutch Flower Auction
(VBA) felt it needed to improve the minimum quality of flowers sold on their
clocks. So in cooperation with buyers and growers they identified the main
problems effecting vase life and together with Laboratory van der Sprong
they developed the FLORISSANT range of post-harvest flower preservatives to
combat observed quality problems.
FLORISSANT does not cost, it pays!
Solutions
The Florissant product range offers the
grower, importer, retailer and consumer a product to help preserve the
quality of flowers and prepare flowers in such a way that they have minimal
vase life loss during the long journey from grower to vase and recover
quicker in better conditions after dry transport.
Quality
To increase the turnover of flowers and to
fulfil the wishes of the consumer, 60% buy a specific flower because of its
vase life.
Keep in mind that the average price of a product is based on the worst
quality, not the best.
Apart from creating a better product, FLORISSANT post-harvest preservative
products also help reduce the risk of having unsatisfied customers.
Procedure
Post-harvest products in general, can only
maintain the quality the flower has when it was put in the solution. It can
never improve the quality.
It can also prepare the flower in such a way that it will have minimal vase
life loss during the long journey from grower to vase. It can improve the
speed and extend of recovery after transport.
Cut Stage
Flowers should always be harvested at the
right stage, prematurely picked flowers will never come to full bloom.
Put the harvested stems immediately in a clean and disinfected bucket
containing the post harvest solution. In the first 30 - 60 minutes after
cutting they will take about 80% of their total water uptake.
Place the buckets in a cool area were the flower can absorb the FLORISSANT
and reduce the transpiration by closing the stomata.
Make the grading process as short as possible and minimise handling, please
note that every time flowers are being touched quality is lost.
Temperature
Prevent temperature fluctuations and aim
for a slow but steady decrease of temperature until the minimum temperature
has been reached. Grading should be done at a lower the temperature than in
the previous area to prevent condensation (= potential Botrytis).
Storage
Store the processed flowers in a cold room
at the right temperature. Treat the cold room with a bactericide and
/ or fungicide at a set interval. Put flowers on post-harvest solution or in
case of sufficient treatment put them on FLORISSANT 500 (slow releasing
chlorine to prevent bacterial growth).
Do not add any
sugar at this stage as the storing is meant to stop development of the
flower.
Packaging
Pack flowers only after adequate treatment
and cooling. Pack at cold room temperatures and pre-cool the boxes to
correct temperature. Some flowers become brittle when cold so these
susceptible flowers might be better off if cooled down after packing.
Temperature Recorders
The use of temperature recorders for export
can give a lot of information about the temperature changes during transport
to and from storage at the airport, the flight and transport to the importer
which could be on the other side of the world.
Rehydration
On arrival flowers should be unpacked
immediately, re cut and put in a FLORISSANT solution to help with
rehydration.
Ensure the best rehydration solution is being used, as not all flowers
require the same treatment.
Retail
During the retail phase we recommend only
to use FLORISSANT 500 to prevent bacterial build up. In some cases, whereby
flowers have travelled a long distance, they might need some food. Cut
flower food can be added and is available in bulk packaging or sachets.
Consumer
Only use a disinfected vase before adding
water and cut flower food. Dissolve the flower food properly before
inserting the stems. Remove foliage to prevent from being under the water
whilst in the vase.
Top up the vase every day, using fresh water and new flower food.
Treatment Requirement per
Flower
Click on the flower name to download more
detailed information in PDF format.
