Dümmen Orange steps into Calla breeding market

Dümmen Orange expands its position in bulb and tuber breeding by entering the Calla market.

Netherlands, June 12 2017 – Dümmen Orange expands its position in bulb and tuber breeding by entering the Calla market. The companies G. Geerlings & Zonen B.V. and Sande will join the Dümmen Orange family of businesses. This enables Dümmen Orange to offer a broad portfolio of Calla varieties to new and existing customers, strengthen its retail relationships and deepen its R&D investments in bulbs and tubers. In addition, Dümmen Orange has bought Golden State Bulb Growers (GSBG) (California, USA) seeds stocks and breeding pipeline of “Callafornia Calla” with the aim to offer an even broader portfolio of Calla varieties to new and existing customers.

The new, combined Calla business creates the global leader in Calla breeding: Geerlings’ experience in cultivation and processing of different kinds of Calla tubers, combined with the established portfolio of products from GSBG & Sande, and the leading breeding programs from Sande & GSBG.

In combination with Dümmen Orange’s global sales reach and modern breeding capabilities, this will result in a superior offering to customers worldwide and bolster innovations, especially in the introduction of disease resistance and yield traits.  This step into Calla breeding is a clear demonstration of Dümmen Orange’s commitment to become a leader in bulb and tuber breeding that started in 2016 with the acquisition of Hobaho.  

GSBG in California will continue its business until September 2018 to assure delivery of orders to its customers. Production of Callafornia Calla has started in the Netherlands, with the first supply expected by the end of 2018. As of that moment, Dümmen Orange will take over the supply to GSBG customers.

This step underpins our firm belief in the importance of scale. A broad portfolio is the strategic response to the trend of consolidation amongst growers, driven by the growing influence of retail markets. In taking these steps, Dümmen Orange makes the Netherlands the undisputed center of Calla breeding in the world.

This addition also means a broader range of cut flowers and pot plants in the assortment of Dümmen Orange. In addition to Calla, Dümmen Orange also brings the other bulb and tuber crops from GSBG into its portfolio including Zantedeschia aethiopica, Scilla peruviana, Scented Begonia and Eucomis hybrids.

Company information:

Golden State Bulb Growers
Golden State Bulb Growers (GSBG) is a fifth generation family business located on California’s Central Coast. The Company has been growing flower bulbs since 1911. GSBG is focused on the development and production of bulbs and cut flowers for domestic and international retail and wholesale markets. Their primary products are Callafornia Callas, AmeriHybrid Begonias, Aloha Lily Eucomis, Caribbean Jewels Scilla and Callafornia Diva Aethiopica. They are a vertically integrated company controlling all aspects of research, breeding, production and sales. GSBG is the world’s foremost and largest producer of both tuberous Begonias and coloured Callas. The Company is known globally for its unsurpassed quality bulbs.

Sande
Sande is a world-leading company in breeding and propagation of callas. Founded in 1972 Sande has more than 35 years of experience with breeding for both cut flowers and potted plants. Started as a nursery for a variety of products, including lilies, Sande nowadays is completely specialized in callas. Located in the north part of The Netherlands, right in the middle of the largest calla growing area of Europe, Sande creates, grows and trades calla tubers. In their research laboratory, they continuously develop new calla varieties and improved propagation techniques. By being directly involved at the start of the production process, Sande aims to reach the highest quality starting materials, resulting in high quality tubers for potted plant and cut flower growers all over the world.

G. Geerlings & Zonen B.V.
Geerlings is market leader for growing and trading Zantedeschia in Europe. Since 1882 Geerlings is know as bulb grower with renown knowledge, global network and superior quality of products. Supplying the Calla growers with bulbs and know-how for cut flowers and pot plants, around the world. Next to the professional growing market, they supply bulbs to retailers for consumer markets.  Geerlings has over 60 Ha of quality Calla, trades more than 100 varieties having state of the art facilities and machines located in Noordwijkerhout.

Dümmen Orange
Dümmen Orange is a leading company in the breeding and development of cut flowers, bulbs, succulents, pot plants, bedding plants and perennials. Its turnover is approximately EUR 240 million. The company employs more than 7,000 people worldwide. In addition to a large marketing and sales network, Dümmen Orange has a strong network of production sites. The key to Dümmen Orange’s success is a broad and deep product range, supported by a global supply chain. The company embraces its social responsibilities and invests in the health, safety and personal development of its staff.

For more information:

Rob Geerlings - Geerlings / rob@g-geerlings.nl - +31 655 398 750
Martijn Dettmers - Sande / martijn@sandegroup.nl - +31 650 252 877
Walter Petuck - Golden State Bulb Growers / wpetuck@goldenstatebulb.com - +1 831 728 0500
Hahn Nguyen - Dümmen Orange / h.nguyen@dummenorange.com - +31 612 187 130