" Calla is definitely not an easy heyday to grow , it requires passionateness , noesis , and solitaire . In China many growers want to get straightaway lucre by investing minimum exploit or knowledge , this does n’t work on callas , " says Shurui Zhang of Kunming Caima Horticulture Co. , Ltd ( KCH ) . He and his business partner Wayne farm and promote Captain Callas , calla lily varieties from Dutch calla stock breeder Kapteyn to Chinese cultivator . In this clause , he tells more about his journeying from a horticulture student towards becoming the exclusive pardner of Kapiteyn in China . He also discusses the development of KCH , that was established more than a decennium ago , and the chances and challenge of the Taiwanese genus Calla market .
From left to rightfulness : Wayne , Bo Schilder ( Account Manager at Kapiteyn ) , and Shurui Zhang during an open daytime at Kapiteyn in June 2023 .
CoincidenceZhang sharpen out that promote Captain Callas was far from planned . " It was pure coincidence that I got acquainted with Kapteyn . In 2008 , I lead to the Netherlands to canvass International Horticulture and Marketing at Van Hall Larenstein in Wageningen , the Netherlands . During the launching hebdomad , I met Lenn Kapiteijn , that ’s how we were connected with each other , " he says . After commencement ceremony , Zhang started his life history at a Dutch lily upbringing company , where he was introduced to Kapiteyn . " Since my previous boss would like to formulate the Chinese calla market he introduced me to Kapiteyn , again a coincidence . In 2010 , I started working at Kapiteyn and that was the first moment that I get to lie with about callas . I was amazed by their unequalled lulu , elegance , and versatility as decorative plant . In 2012 , I survive back to China and pop promoting Captain Calla varieties to Chinese growers . "
Risks and successesBack in China Zhang and Wayne started to grow callas , he explain why . " In the showtime , it was quite challenging to promote Calla to local raiser : Maria Callas were not popular among Chinese consumer , and there was only one local cultivator who offered a modified range in circumscribed quantities . Moreover , calla cultivation occur along with high-pitched genus Tuber prices and high cultivation risks . We decided to bulge out growing callas ourselves to provide Chinese growers with cultivation tips and to select varieties that are suited for the Chinese market . As a result , we found KCH in 2013 . We prove all the mixed bag from Kapiteyn , and we present them to growers and jobber when they were blossom . In 2014 , we set up the first stack callas in the Chinese mart , and they were well find . Many consumers and wholesalers were not aware that there were so many dissimilar calla colors aside from white-hot and yellow . They also appreciate the long vase life history of Captain Calla variety ) . Nowadays , our varieties , such as Captain Solo , Captain Cheerio , and Captain Ventura , are quite famous among Chinese calla cultivator . That ’s how we became Kapteyn ’s undivided partner in China . "
Zhang foreground that the Formosan calla market has advance over the past tense decennium , he illustrates : " At this present moment , there are about 1.2 million can genus Calla planted in China . The apex was in 2019 , with almost 2 million pot . The highest cut calla yield is bear this year , currently , there are about 3 million undercut callas produced in China . Currently , Taiwanese growers grow about 4 - 5 hectares of pot Maria Meneghini Callas and 2 - 3 hectares of cutting off callas ( including the small seasonal family growers ) . In 2020 , KCH fully end pot calla cultivation because 95 % of our customer are toilet calla growers , and all of them are well prepare for growing pot callas . There was no need to keep on get potbelly Zantedeschia aethiopica at KCH . I ’d say our strategy has been successful till now . Part of our scheme is that we were strict in selecting our agriculturalist . Before we sell our tubers , we always sing to our client and claver them . Also , after trade , the ongoing services are important . I still remember our first client , Kunming Trifecta . I was place at their greenhouse for almost half a twelvemonth to make certain everything was done correctly . Now Kunming Trifecta is our braggart customer and also the with child pot calla grower in China . "
Callas are being reap in the KCH greenhouse in China .
Exploring new cut calla marketsAll those years KCH has been face the challenge of genus Calla cultivation in China . " Calla is a harvest with high net but also very eminent risks in China . Aside from the tuber quality , the climate and irrigation control condition in the greenhouse is very essential . When you make a small mistake , it can cause really big losses for arum lily growers . Thankfully , Kapiteyn has made a lot of significant improvement and renovations on the calla field . They overcame the difficulty of quality red ink during farsighted storage , and they acquaint a batch of really potent varieties , including Captain Solo , Captain Cheerio , Captain Hollywood , and Captain Miro . The most important thing is that Kapiteyn has really rigid genus Tuber timbre inspection standard to check that the growers receive high - quality tuber . That ’s the first guarantee of successful cultivation , " Zhang elaborates . He sum up that they are also confront with a changing saving . " The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affect the Formosan thriftiness , resulting in a reduction in the slew flush market . We do n’t await the Chinese pot calla market will amplify in the coming 2 - 3 years . "
In brightness level of these challenges , KCH is research ways to expand its patronage to neighboring countries . " At the moment , we only sell pot and cutting callas in China . However , we think that there are opportunity for the exportation of cutting callas . We think of area such as Japan and Singapore . As well as Vietnam , in March , we attend to the Hortex fair to see if there are any business sector chance in Vietnam . KCH might duplicate the emasculated calla output if the international mart is well recrudesce in the coming years . But as mentioned before , calla lily is very risky , we still have to carefully inquire before the expansion , " Zhang conclude .
For more information : Shurui ZhangKunming Caima HorticultureEmail:[email protected ]
