The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) members consist of thousands of growers of flowers and ornamental plants around the world who are together united by one essential goal – promoting the place of plants in people’s lives.
AIPH is responsible for approving the world’s most exceptional horticultural expos creating long lasting green legacies in cities across the globe.
AIPH Blooming Economies & Cities to Inspire The World 2.0. Up-to-date statistics from recent Expos hosted in Asia and Europe.
Learn moreAIPH hosts several conferences, webinars and events such as the International Grower of the Year award throughout the year. Read about these along with the latest news about the association’s activities.
The AIPH International Grower of the Year Awards celebrate the best of the best in ornamental horticulture
Learn moreAIPH’s key aim is to stimulate demand for ornamental trees, plants and flowers worldwide. We are committed to supporting growers in achieving this by protecting and promoting the interests of the industry.
The AIPH’s Global Industry Intelligence Centre (GIIC) is an international hub for industry information and knowledge exchange.
The report contains insights on production and consumption of the floriculture industry in Thailand, imports and exports, and business opportunities
DownloadAIPH Green City activities promote the essential role of plants in creating vibrant urban areas in which people and businesses can thrive.
Botrytis grey mould incidence on ‘Freedom’ roses. Control (left), RipeLocker alone (middle), and RipeLocker with weekly ozone application (right).
Flower growers and shippers face the dual challenge of managing peak season demand while maintaining profitability throughout the year. RipeLocker introduces a unique patented solution that leverages hypobaric or low-pressure storage technology to address these challenges.
The rose industry in the United States, characterised by significant seasonal fluctuations, is particularly affected by this issue. Valentine’s Day represents the peak of rose sales, with other notable high-demand periods around Easter, Mother’s Day, and Christmas.
Ensuring the quality and availability of roses during these times is a complex task, involving next-day air transportation and rapid processing to meet consumer demand.
RipeLocker Quick Facts
RipeLocker is a science-based and data-driven company that is bringing disruptive technology to the post-harvest industry to extend perishables’ life.
The patented, dynamic, low-atmosphere vacuum chambers are used for storing and shipping fresh produce and flowers to prolong their post-harvest life by weeks, often months.
The team at RipeLocker has designed an innovative product, commercially testing its efficacy for several years with many of the largest growers/packers and shippers in the world.
Despite the year-round cultivation possibilities in countries like Colombia and Ecuador, where roses are grown in favourable climates, the journey from farm to retailer, which can take up to ten days, poses challenges to maintaining freshness.
Additionally, off-peak periods often lead to oversupply and surplus blooms are discarded to make room for new growth, even when potential buyers exist. The cost of shipping these surplus blooms during low-demand periods is not always justifiable.
RipeLocker introduces a unique patented solution that leverages hypobaric or low-pressure storage technology to address these challenges.
This technology reduces air pressure in storage environments, thereby extending the life of perishable commodities beyond the capabilities of traditional storage methods like Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) and Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage.
RipeLocker’s system functions by lowering oxygen levels to slow down the respiration rate of flowers, reducing water vapour pressure to prevent dehydration, and mitigating ethylene buildup that can accelerate ageing.
The innovation lies in RipeLocker’s chamber design, which enables the commercial-scale implementation of this technology. By using RipeLocker, growers can extend the storage life of fresh-cut flowers by up to five weeks without compromising quality and vase life. This capability allows for the efficient management of surplus inventory during low-demand periods and ensures a steady supply of high-quality flowers during peak seasons.
The economic benefits of RipeLocker are significant. Data from the USDA indicates fluctuations in rose prices throughout the year, reflecting changes in supply and demand.
Roses stored in RipeLockers for up to five weeks have shown no differences in quality and vase life compared to freshly harvested roses. This preservation of quality is especially crucial during high-demand periods like Valentine’s Day when prices are at their peak.
RipeLocker enables growers and shippers to smooth out supply fluctuations and capitalise on high-price opportunities throughout the year. For instance, one RipeLocker unit can accommodate approximately 2,500 rose stems. The added value per chamber is determined by the price difference between roses before and after storage, with values ranging from $0.16 per stem on Mother’s Day to $0.72 per stem leading up to Valentine’s Day. This added value highlights RipeLocker’s role in overcoming flower shortages and optimising pricing during peak market opportunities.
Another critical aspect of the rose industry is the management of Botrytis cinerea, a fungal pathogen that threatens both pre-harvest yields and postharvest quality. Traditional fungicides have been used to manage botrytis, but their effectiveness is diminishing due to the development of resistance. Botrytis infections can manifest during transit under conditions of high humidity and temperature fluctuations, leading to visible damage and reduced vase life. Despite various management strategies, no single method has been completely effective in extending rose quality.
RipeLocker’s hypobaric storage technology has demonstrated promise in extending the shelf life of cut flowers and reducing botrytis grey mould. By controlling oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pressure levels, RipeLocker has successfully reduced the incidence of botrytis grey mould for up to six weeks in cold storage. Recent trials have shown that roses stored in RipeLockers exhibit an 81 per cent reduction in botrytis grey mould after seven weeks, with additional reductions when ozone is applied. Ozone, a triatomic form of oxygen, has been explored for its potential in managing fungal diseases and has been shown to enhance further the effectiveness of RipeLocker in controlling botrytis grey mould.
In addition to managing fungal pathogens, RipeLocker also addresses the challenge of insect pests, such as Thrips. These pests are notorious for their destructive feeding habits and rapid reproduction rates. Historically, methyl bromide was used for thrips control, but its phase-out under environmental regulations has created a gap in effective pest management options. Phosphine, a common alternative, has limitations due to its hazardous nature and long exposure requirements.
Ozone has shown potential as an alternative to traditional fumigants. Research indicates that ozone can effectively manage pests like Thrips when combined with hypobaric storage conditions. Experiments with naturally infested peony flowers demonstrated that RipeLocker combined with ozone achieved 100 per cent mortality of Thrips, showcasing its effectiveness in sustainable pest management.
In conclusion, RipeLocker represents a transformative advancement in flower storage and management technology. By addressing challenges related to seasonal demand, surplus inventory, postharvest quality, and pest control, RipeLocker offers a comprehensive solution that enhances profitability and maintains high-quality products throughout the year. Embracing RipeLocker’s innovative approach enables growers and shippers to unlock new profit potential, preserve rose quality, and ensure a reliable supply of blooms during both peak and off-peak periods.
For more information, visit RipeLocker at www.ripelocker.com
RipeLocker partners with leading distributors in Ecuador
RipeLocker announces a partnership with AgroIdeas, a prominent supplier of storage and logistics in Ecuador. This collaboration aims to introduce RipeLockers, the cutting-edge technology for extending the shelf life of floral and fruit, to the Ecuadorian market.
RipeLocker is a revolutionary post-harvest solution designed to address the challenges of waste and loss in the perishables industry. By leveraging advanced low-atmospheric control technology, RipeLockers prolong the freshness and quality of fruits, florals, tree nuts, and vegetables, ensuring longer shelf life and reducing spoilage rates significantly.
Through this partnership, AgroIdeas will serve as the exclusive distributor of RipeLockers in Ecuador, bringing this innovative solution directly to growers/packers/shippers across the country. This collaboration signifies a commitment to sustainability and efficiency in the cold chain, aligning with the global efforts to reduce food waste and promote environmental responsibility.
“We are thrilled to partner with AgroIdeas to introduce RipeLockers to the important Ecuadorian market,” said Julian Lewis, VP of Sales of RipeLocker. “RipeLocker is disrupting the floral industry with a game-changing capability to store inventory for extended periods and grow profits for everyone in the supply chain. With AgroIdeas, we are the perfect partner to provide our patented technology and services to Ecuadorean growers. Juan Yazbek & AgroIdeas have the professionalism and experience to enable customers to revolutionise post-harvest storage practices in Ecuador. With RipeLockers, we aim to empower businesses to minimise waste, maximise profitability, and contribute to a more sustainable future.”
“We are excited to add RipeLocker to our portfolio of innovative solutions,” said Juan Yazbek, CEO at AgroIdeas. “This partnership enables us to offer our customers cutting-edge technology that addresses a critical need in the floral industry. RipeLocker aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering quality products and sustainable solutions to the Ecuadorian market.”
RipeLockers will soon be available through AgroIdeas’ distribution channels in Ecuador, offering growers a game-changing solution to preserve the freshness and quality of their florals, ultimately reducing waste and maximising profitability.
