Enhancing Protea Post-Harvest: Insights from Chrysal

1. Californian Protea Association & Chrysal An Update on post harvesting Date: October 2013 Location: Resendiz Bros. Protea Growers, Fallbrook, Ca By: Rolf Timmerman Technical Manager Manager

2. Content • Chrysal • Company Profile • R&D • Protea • Available Products • Flower Food

3. Company Profile • Worldwide staff of over 200 people (in Holland, Nordics, UK, Germany, France, USA, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, China, Japan and Kenya) • Offices in US, UK, Germany, China & France • Production sites in Holland, Colombia, Ecuador, Japan & Sweden • R&D centers in Holland, Japan & Colombia - (Staff of 14) • Technical Consultants in Europe, USA, Latin America, Asia & Africa (Staff of 16) • No.1 in Post Harvest products in Europe, the Americas and Japan

4. CHRYSAL INTERNATIONALHeadquarters in Naarden, The Netherlands

5. R & D • Lab Activities: • Applied research • Formulaimprovement • Benchmarktestingcompetitorproducts • Developregionalspecificformulations

6. FLOWER TEST ROOMS Over 500 tests per year Colombia Holland Climate Conditions Temp Controlled: 20C Relative Humidity: 60% 12 hrs - Light / Dark Over Pressure: no ethylene

7. Post Harvest Issue(s) Protea • Leaf blackening! • Bract browning • Botrytis • Flower quality

9. Why is Leaf Browning? • Still a mystery ? A little less now …. SUGAR! • Under fertilizing during Growing? • Immature cut stage? • Lack of (sun) light? • Flower development complicated, requires tremendous amount of energy • Long transportation time from Harvest  Consumer

10. Sugar Loving Cut-Flowers • Lisianthus • Galdiolus • Tuberrose • Tight Cut Sunflowers • Viburnum • Bird of Paradise • Baby breath • Brodiaea • Protea species

11. Sugar “Types” • Glucose • Fructose • Sucrose • Xylose • Etc…

12. South Africa@ growers level • Stellenbosch university still developing optimal treatment… • Some growers in South Africa do use Chrysal Professional 3 • some also use Chrysal professional 2 • Others do nothing, so more education still required. • 1 grower is trying Chrysal RVB non-clear and adding glucose

13. Netherlands & UK@ receivers end • Specialty Importers places product on Professional 3 solution upon arrival (Oudendijk / OZ import) • “General” importers; Bouquet Companies places Product on Chrysal Professional 2 • For auction supply now Professional 3 is compulsory! • Lighting in cooler not common • Stored in Cooler at 2º C or 34 F

14. USA Practices@ growers Level • Just plain water? • Other ideas or experiences!

15. Vase life Protea Treatment: Chrysal Clear Professional 3 liquid Total vase life: 20 days Photo taken: day 13 Treatment: water Total vase life: 12 days Photo taken: day 13

16. AVAILABLE PRODUCTS

17. Chrysal Professional # 3 Vase Solution • Has a higher food level! • The Carbohydrates in product is 100% GLUCOSE • Prevents Leaf Blackening on Protea • Ensures long lasting, more vibrant flowers • Develops shape, color and scent • Keeps vase water clear, clean and odorless • Leaves no sediment or cloudy residue • Works in all water qualities • Dosing rate: 10 gr/liter (~ 1.3 ounce / Gallon) • Lowers the water pH

19. Sugar • Whynotjustsugar? • Bacterialovesugar: • the more sugar the more bacteria -> • Stem blockage -> no water uptake -> nosugaruptake! • In Professional 3 next to the sugar: • - Acidifier • Mix of desinfactants • Optimaldosage is key!!!

20. Approximate volume & weight units of sugar per one (1) gallon (~4 liters) of flower food solution

21. Chrysal Professional # 2 Processing Solution • Liquid solution for Shipping / Display period • Hydrates flowers to prevent wilting • Keeps bucket water clean for up to 6 days • Limited amount of food • Lowers water pH • Clear, clean & odorless solution • Reduces flower waste • No need to re-cut stems • Saves labor & water • Available in 5ml and 10ml formula

22. Chrysal Professional 1.5 Qt. T-BAG • Low dose holding solution • Designed for the display period • Easy to use – No guesswork • Accurate dosing vs. Dosatrons • Visual control - Stays in bucket • Dissolves in minutes – No waiting • Reduces your shrink • Reusable for up to 6 days 3 Simple Steps

23. 2 Methods of Dosing Chrysal Clear Liquid or T-Bag • Easy to use • Provides nutrients • Keeps water clean & clear • Makes flowers last longer Add Water

24. Flower Food Packets • Full dose flower food for consumer use at home • Keeps stems firm, leaves green and helps buds open • Dissolves completely - Perfect for clear vases • Keeps vase water clean and clear • Available in Generic & Specialty formulations • Maximizes vase life and value for your customers • Consistent results are achieved when Chrysal is used on every bouquet you sell • Give away extra packets with each flower purchase

25. FLOWER SOLUTIONS Do they matter??

26. What is Flower Food? • Acidifiers lower pH of tap water • Clarifiers keep pollution in check • Nutrients provide energy for opening and holding in vase

27. Waxflower • VeryEthylenescensitive! • Bud, flowers and leavesabortion • Recommendation: AVB (STS) • Dosage: 1 cc/liter • Always first drink! • Re-cut stem first • Usevery clean water • Usevery clean buckets

28. Waxflower • Treatment time: minimum 2 hours, outsidecooler • Minimum 4 hours in cooler. • Idealyovernighttreatment • Whenvery clean practices: re-usepossible • Sometimesstillbud drop (after long transport or transport withvariabletemperatures): more stress = more Ethylene! • Extra Insurance: EthyleneBuster sachets (1-MCP) • Add 2 sachet in a box

29. Thank you!