Stacey's Excellent Ecuador Adventure

[FlowersForKids]

This has been stolen from Stacey Cofka's "I'm in Ecuador" journal:

It all started by attending a FFK class at Delaware Valley Wholesale back in 2007. I was lucky enough to be trained by Ramiro himself. After teaching that first class, I knew this was the best marketing program for my shop. In 2009 I met up with Ramiro at the CT Floral Expo. We talked about the success of FFK at my shop. Ramiro asks me to be a trainer for florists. I reluctantly agreed thinking how can I do this plus run my shop and care for my family....

Fast forward to today. After training 5 other florists, with another 10 interested, I am in Quito, Ecuador thanks to FFK!!!! I have had the privilege to visit farms that support FFK and tell them face to face how FFK has continued to help my business. Yesterday we visited Latinflor and today we visited Rio Roses and Esmeralda. I was impressed with each and every operation. The people I was lucky enough to meet were wonderful and gave amazing tours of the farm operations. Ecuador is a beautiful country and I am so thankful for this experience.

We will be visiting other farms next week. I am looking forward to sharing my experiences when I get home with various new outlets and sharing the good work of the Ecuadorian flower farms.

Stacey Cofka

 

[FlowersForKids]

More Ecuador Visit
Visited Valleflor this afternoon. Got to see beautiful varities and colors of deliphinium, statice, limomium and veronica as well as many others. Valleflor has an amazing operation and is a valued supporter of FFK. Most everyone I talk to says it is the most professionally run summer flower farm in Ecuador. I believe it by seeing the flower quality.

Tomorrow I get to see the "Flowers for Flower Growers" program at a rose farm. Looking forward to it even though I won`t understand a word of it!!!
Stacey Cofka

 

[anytimeflowers]

I had the honor of being taught by Ramiro, too, at Len Busch Roses in MN. Must admit to falling madly in love with him. Dynamic.

(too bad I never put the program into practice, had an employee who was interested in doing it, but now she's gone and I'm all alone. Perhaps by next fall I'll be able to get someone trained to do it)

 

[FlowersForKids]

Re: Ecuador Visit
« Reply #4 on: Today at 10:24:04 AM »

The adventure continues....visited Business Roses yesterday. I was given a tour of the greenhouses as well as post harvest areas. Business Roses is a new sponsor for FFK. All of their employees were treated to the Flowers for Growers program. They were able to see what florists in the states are doing to promote flowers through FFK. Everyone seemed to enjoy the class as they made their flower bouquets to take home.