“Fake Must Be Binned”: Viking Roses calls for return to authenticity in flower industry
KENYA/NETHERLANDS – In a world filled with artificial substitutes, Viking Roses is championing a return to authenticity in the flower industry.
The company’s owner, John Pouw, highlights the importance of real flowers and sustainable practices in a market increasingly dominated by artificial alternatives.
“Fake must be binned,” Pouw says, recalling his grandfather’s steadfast commitment to genuine beauty and care in flower cultivation.
Pouw’s grandfather was a lifelong flower enthusiast who retired at 82 to care for his ailing wife. Despite his advancing age, he maintained a daily routine of caring for fresh flowers, ensuring their beauty filled their home.
“Each morning, he would remove the dead flowers, change the water, and return them to the living room, one by one,” Pouw remembers.
“When I visited, we’d go through them all together—the new chrysanthemum, the dark red gladiola, his favorite peony. The roses often disappointed, but his love for flowers never wavered.”
This devotion to authenticity and care forms the foundation of Viking Roses’ mission today. However, Pouw laments the industry’s shift toward selling flowers as mere commodities.
“Too often, subpar products are pushed at premium prices. This disregard for the emotional value of flowers fuels a growing preference for artificial alternatives,” he explains.
Viking Roses and other industry leaders are responding to environmental challenges with a commitment to sustainability. Avinash Mokate of Sunfloritech Ltd. emphasizes the importance of natural farming practices, noting that pesticides and artificial fertilizers harm the environment and increase costs. “Efficiency and sustainability go hand in hand,” Mokate says.
Pouw agrees, highlighting Viking Roses’ efforts to breed more resilient flower varieties. “A decade ago, we began 100% biological outdoor trials in Denmark and the Netherlands, and the results are now visible in commercial trials in Kenya,” he shares.
These trials aim to reduce environmental impact while offering high-quality, durable flowers to consumers.
Viking Roses has introduced a wide range of colors and shapes in its collections, including the vibrant yellow ‘Under The Stars,’ which features six to seven flowers per stem.
Other varieties in the ‘Rosa Loves Me’ collection, such as ‘Inger Kristine,’ ‘Radicant Rebecca,’ and ‘Fatal Attraction,’ provide options for weddings and decorative arrangements.
Next week, Viking Roses will present its ‘Rosa Loves Me’ collection at IPM Essen, an international plant and flower exhibition in Germany.
Eight of the best varieties will be displayed, showcasing their long vase life and exceptional quality. “These roses excel from harvest to arrival in flower shops,” Pouw says. Buyers will also have the chance to place orders directly with producers.
Viking Roses is also competing in the 2025 Plant Novelty Contest at IPM. Entries include ‘Under The Stars’ in the Cut Flowers category and the garden rose Royal Victoria Plant’n’Relax® in the Three Nursery Products category. Another highlight, Princess of Orange Infinity®, will compete in the Flowering Indoor Plants category.
“These varieties reflect our commitment to beauty, resilience, and sustainability,” Pouw concludes. Through innovation and a dedication to authenticity, Viking Roses hopes to preserve the legacy of genuine care and quality in the flower industry.
“Fake Must Be Binned”: Viking Roses calls for return to authenticity in flower industry
KENYA/NETHERLANDS – In a world filled with artificial substitutes, Viking Roses is championing a return to authenticity in the flower industry.
The company’s owner, John Pouw, highlights the importance of real flowers and sustainable practices in a market increasingly dominated by artificial alternatives.
“Fake must be binned,” Pouw says, recalling his grandfather’s steadfast commitment to genuine beauty and care in flower cultivation.
Pouw’s grandfather was a lifelong flower enthusiast who retired at 82 to care for his ailing wife. Despite his advancing age, he maintained a daily routine of caring for fresh flowers, ensuring their beauty filled their home.
“Each morning, he would remove the dead flowers, change the water, and return them to the living room, one by one,” Pouw remembers.
“When I visited, we’d go through them all together—the new chrysanthemum, the dark red gladiola, his favorite peony. The roses often disappointed, but his love for flowers never wavered.”
This devotion to authenticity and care forms the foundation of Viking Roses’ mission today. However, Pouw laments the industry’s shift toward selling flowers as mere commodities.
“Too often, subpar products are pushed at premium prices. This disregard for the emotional value of flowers fuels a growing preference for artificial alternatives,” he explains.
Viking Roses and other industry leaders are responding to environmental challenges with a commitment to sustainability. Avinash Mokate of Sunfloritech Ltd. emphasizes the importance of natural farming practices, noting that pesticides and artificial fertilizers harm the environment and increase costs. “Efficiency and sustainability go hand in hand,” Mokate says.
Pouw agrees, highlighting Viking Roses’ efforts to breed more resilient flower varieties. “A decade ago, we began 100% biological outdoor trials in Denmark and the Netherlands, and the results are now visible in commercial trials in Kenya,” he shares.
These trials aim to reduce environmental impact while offering high-quality, durable flowers to consumers.
Viking Roses has introduced a wide range of colors and shapes in its collections, including the vibrant yellow ‘Under The Stars,’ which features six to seven flowers per stem.
Other varieties in the ‘Rosa Loves Me’ collection, such as ‘Inger Kristine,’ ‘Radicant Rebecca,’ and ‘Fatal Attraction,’ provide options for weddings and decorative arrangements.
Next week, Viking Roses will present its ‘Rosa Loves Me’ collection at IPM Essen, an international plant and flower exhibition in Germany.
Eight of the best varieties will be displayed, showcasing their long vase life and exceptional quality. “These roses excel from harvest to arrival in flower shops,” Pouw says. Buyers will also have the chance to place orders directly with producers.
Viking Roses is also competing in the 2025 Plant Novelty Contest at IPM. Entries include ‘Under The Stars’ in the Cut Flowers category and the garden rose Royal Victoria Plant’n’Relax® in the Three Nursery Products category. Another highlight, Princess of Orange Infinity®, will compete in the Flowering Indoor Plants category.
“These varieties reflect our commitment to beauty, resilience, and sustainability,” Pouw concludes. Through innovation and a dedication to authenticity, Viking Roses hopes to preserve the legacy of genuine care and quality in the flower industry.