Kenyan Roses and Why they stands out

Why are Kenyan Roses so loved?

There are thousands of flowers in farmed in Kenya but roses stand out: Kenyan Roses are by far the country’s most popular and on one farm alone, you’ll find 30 different colors or even more. High quality growing as well as technical and devoted post-harvest and packing procedures make Kenyan Roses of high-standard and reliable partner.

Kenyan Roses are well known throughout the world for its high quality, large headed and Intermediate head roses due to the altitude location of its rose farms, good growing techniques, a solid infrastructure, a productive workforce, and favorable climatic conditions that allow for a year-round production of a wide variety of quality. Roses from Kenya are well known for being long-lasting with a vase life double its competitors.

Kenya is the third largest exporter of fresh cut roses in the world and in Africa, Kenya is the largest exporter.

Kenya also has excellent transport links to Europe, and from there, the rest of the world through Nairobi airport, which has a terminal dedicated specially to the transport of flowers and vegetables. This means that delicate floral cargo which is perishable in nature can be shifted from growers to consumers swiftly.

Kenya is the lead exporter of rose cut flowers to the European Union (EU) with a market share of about 38%. Approximately 65% of exported flowers are sold through the Dutch Auctions, although direct sales are growing. In the United Kingdom, supermarkets are the main retail outlets. Other growing destinations include Japan, Russia and USA. Over 25% of exported flowers are delivered directly to these multiples, providing an opportunity for value addition at source through sleeving, labeling and bouquet production.

The main production areas are around Lake Naivasha, Mt. Kenya, Nairobi, Thika, Kiambu, Athi River, Kitale, Nakuru, Kericho, Nyandarua, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gichu and Eastern Kenya.

Nearly two thirds of exports are destined for Holland, where they are resold to florists through auctions which present a safe avenue into the market

The floral industry around the world essentially consists of three major components: the growers, the wholesalers and the retailers. The recent trends are more towards eliminating the intermediaries, the wholesalers between the growers and the retailers, so that the flowers are made available at considerably low prices. The marketing of Kenyan roses is also trying this approach by exporting more flowers to direct buyers other than through re-exporters.