Goldfisch For The Future
While Fischer currently is producing only geraniums and poinsettias at Eastfields, Falkenstein says he expects Eastfields could begin producing other vegetative varieties bred by Goldsmith as early as next year. Currently these genera are being produced at Fischer's facilities in Israel, Portugal and Mexico and Goldsmith Guatemala. He says the new Nirvana vinca series, which is currently coming from Guatemala, would thrive in China's climate.
Buildup of Goldsmith-bred vegetative varieties has overall been challenge, Falkenstein says. "For the most part we are on line with good numbers," he says. "The bigger challenge is having the varieties in so many locations, which is an issue of space for this year. We have higher minimums in certain classes of the varieties because that is the only item shipping from that farm and cannot be combined with other varieties on the same order. The Fischer Systems handles the splitting of the order with no problem."
This space and logistics issue is truly a concern for some of the growers and brokers who visited Eastfields. "One of the biggest problems right now logistically is that they've got product coming from different locations," says Vaughn Fletcher, McHutchison Co. "They need to centralize the vegetative unrooted program so when they book the order, it all comes from the same location."
Meanwhile, Falkenstein says the feedback Fischer has received about its partnership with Goldsmith, forming GoldFisch, has been nothing but positive. "When we are talking Goldsmith genetics, we are not just talking geraniums but also an impressive array of spring vegetative products," he says. "To this the responses have been overwhelmingly positive and the fact that these wonderful genetics have been available at all for this market and this season has been a positive. The relationship between the two companies and the employees of Goldsmith and Fischer (GoldFisch) has never been stronger."
And Fischer couldn't be happier about the partnership, according to Falkenstein. "Fischer has been built on producing and distributing its own genetics. We have not represented a collection of others - that was never our strategic direction. Prior to our arrangement with Goldsmith, one of our weaknesses was a rather limited line of products - geraniums, poinsettias and New Guinea impatiens. Now that we have acquired exclusive rights to all of Goldsmith Seeds' vegetative breeding, that is not the case. Now our strategic direction is to produce and distribute GoldFisch genetics.
To put it more simply, Falkenstein grins, "With the breeding power of Goldsmith and the products that are coming in the pipeline, Karl (Trellinger, co-president) and I are not just kids in a candy store - we are actually inside Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory."
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