Interview with a flower farmer
My name is Hernán and I have been working on this farm for 14 years. My wife's name is Mercedes. We have 4 daughters and all of them love flowers....
My name is Hernán and I have been working on this farm for 14 years. My wife's name is Mercedes. We have 4 daughters and all of them love flowers. Sometimes we ask for permission and I take some flowers home to my family.
How did you come to work in the world of flowers?
The plantations are located very close to our communities, so I looked for a job nearby and they hired me. It takes me only 2 minutes to walk to work! I live in the province of Cotopaxi in the parish of Pastocalle. It is a quiet place surrounded by forests and meadowland. This farm where I work pays us very well and helps the development of nearby communities.
Tell us a little about the rose production process.
To begin with a seed is planted and grafts are made on the plant. From this point, it can take around 90 days for the harvest to begin.
All roses are developed in greenhouses, the Ecuadorian Andes allow an ideal climate for the development of large roses with long vase life. Unlike most other countries, the climate is regular throughout the year, which allows the production of roses to be constant.
During the whole process it is very important to control pests and diseases that can affect the growth and development of roses. Part of my job is the control of pests and diseases.
What is a day's work at the farm like?
The harvest starts early, at 6:30 or 7 in the morning. At noon, we do pest and disease control work. We have lunch here at the farm and after a couple more hours of work we go back to the community which is very close by.
What is your favorite flower?
I like roses but I feel connected with Ranunculus. It is a beautiful flower and I like it because I am very familiar with its production. The blocks where I work produce Ranunculus and Anemones.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Growing our flowers takes a lot of hard working people, technical resources, and patience. Thank you to our customers that support us!
