Keigo Nakamura

Thank you for your cooperation and highly supports for us.
We have visited Chile in Jan 15 to 21, New Zealand in Jan 23 to 27, and investigated all the growers, here I report.

Hot Chile, Cool NZ!
Climate of 2 countries are opposite, Chile is hot, and NZ have been cold.
Chile
Weather in planting time was bad, but temperature stayed high afterwards, so even 1 week late planted one could be disbudded 1 week earlier than normal year. Dec to Jan was specially good climate, and growers kept irrigation by day and night shift.
Chile climate for last 3 years we…
2010 crop, low temperature (very low buds count)
2011 crop, average to good (normal to better bud count)
2012 crop (till summer), higher temp and sunshine than 2011.

New Zealand
Weather in planting was good, and finished earlier. Then it had been little cooler till December, specially, October was less sun shine, and late frost happened in Rakaia in November.
During our visit in end of January (mid-summer), max temp was 12-20 degree, which is very low temperature in that time of year. It rained certain amount in sometimes this summer, so number of irrigation is not much.

Production acreage is more, or less ?
Result of total acreage of 2012 by hearing at all growers is
NZ : 100%, CH : 102% , compare to 2011.
Total SH is 102%, is just 10 ha increase.
But what we say and felt was that scaling and tissue field (for mother bulbs) are increasing, which correspond with comment of growers too.
(Maybe commercial part decreased 10% ? I don’t have exact figure.)
Part of lot was thrown away due to Virus problem, so couldn’t prepare planting material as their original schedule, and new material was just started now (takes several years).

Also influenced by new variety is replacing old variety decreased much.
Lexus and Signum from Van Zanten is suitable for winter time, so production is increasing gradually. Rialto decreased in both country and Santander replaces that.
On the other hand, 2 year grown field increased, which is little higher productive in RR.
Also size of planting material was generally bigger because of good enlargement last year, which can aim to concentrate the size according to worldwide demands.

Good enlargement, various quality

Although climate of 2 countries are contrastive, bulb enlargement at this moment compare to last year’s checking data is
Chile is almost same (to little better)
NZ is advanced.
Visiting time is just 1 week difference, so both seem good.

We have checked over 600 lots in this trip, and found 68 (CH43, NZ25) problem or suspicious lot. I refrain to explain details.

The way of my checking is walk into the bed one by one, and crouch to watch carefully, so sometime I came across something difficult to see normal.

(It takes more time, after PV problem)
We admit what we can check in fields are limited, but these information together with result of test greenhouse and customers flower result will compose our purchase.
Concerning virus, most grower will collect leaf samples in field in March and will take Eliza test.
In fact, even if we ask exporters “please don’t send virus lot”, it’s not simple like they answer “OK, we carry out” and problem finish.
That why field checking every year is very important for us.
Caribbean NZ 2011 (Virus test was acceptable low level) shows high infection and symptom in Japan.
Island Bulbs already dug out that variety and made it out of production, which I think proper decision.
Still method of spread infection is not detected, bulb grower side also has anxiety.

Virus problem at VanZanten

Regarding mosaic virus problem of Van Zanten caused with Siberia and some other varieties, we uploaded their official explanation on our website on Feb 7th, please refer it for details.
Problem spray nozzle was corrected since this season, and they are testing by put sheet on leaf to check spray spreading is even.
Also, they shortened interval of spray from 1 week last year to 5 days, which is same spray program as other contract grower without problem.

This problem became the occasion that we consider of “Risk”.
Our company import bulbs from almost every grower in Chile and New Zealand.
It was just result by making the best use of character of growers, produced variety and each climate, but it also was function to alternate shortage or limit the damage of problem happened, now I feel.
Whether we can work like that is related with quantity for transportation too, so we are supported by customers, thank you.

Stock and price list

World situation is unstable nowadays, global demand is not expected increase, and less factor to increase the price level.
Exchange rate now is stronger Yen at this moment, so we seem to set price for you lower than SH 2011 crop.
To publish price list will be later, but already we are getting more inquiry than usual pace, so we try to make it as early as possible, but first priority is quality, and discuss with exporters to arrange proper price level.