From Flower&Floriculture Newspaper　January 5th,2008

A Happy New Year .

　In last year, we have heard the long-term economic recovery generally in Japan, but our flower industry continues to be still hard. Market price of flowers could not go up, on the other hand, the grower’s cost that are heating, materials and freight rates went up more and more.

　We, Japan Flower Bulbs Traders Association (JFTA) was founded in 1989, in order to develop flower ＆ floriculture industry with growers and forcers, by import and export high quality flower bulbs. In those days, soon after Dutch tulip and lily bulbs became PQ-free, our main theme was making a proper system between import & export and a construction of trading relation smoothly under cooperation of MAFF, Dutch embassy and IBC etc.

　As time goes by, we have been able to import from Chile and New Zealand, our activities of JFTA have gradually changed.

　“Ms Lily Event”(the last year was 6th, and the winner was Ms Ryoko Yonekura who is a very famous actress) that we supported, received many media’s attention, its poster was so popular and we succeeded in more demand for red coloured lilies that was the theme colour.

　And also, IFEX (4th International Flower Expo Tokyo) that was taken place on last October, we had a “Japanese Lily” booth there, we showed to appeal Japanese high-quality cut flower lilies greatly.

　In this year, we would like to try to expand our operation more, strengthen a combination with flower auctions, exchange with other organizations and associations actively for more effective promotion and information offer.

　Dutch IBC and we revised “Lily Picture Book” totally in several years, and collect about 600 varieties including many new varieties in a book, so please inquire it of JFTA member’s companies or an association’s secretariat（http://www.e-jfta.com）.

　Lastly, I would like to send a New Year’s greetings, with wishing more growers profit, jump and development of flower and floriculture industry.