Tico flower producers seek buyers in Europe

Eleven companies exporting flowers and plants will exhibit their products this week at the world’s largest flora fair, the IPM Essen 2013 in Germany.

The event brings together some 1,500 exhibitors showcasing their products to 60,000 buyers from 90 countries, according to Costa Rica’s Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER).

Company representatives also will participate in business meetings with buyers from Poland, according to PROCOMER Trade Promotion Manager Álvaro Piedra, who added that recent studies carried out by them show that the Polish market is very attractive for Costa Rican producers.

The results indicate that there are more than 200 Tico products with export potential to Poland, especially plants, flowers, foliage and fresh produce.

“Poland has a population of 38 million, is the sixth most populous country in the 27 that make up the European Union, and its economy has recently shown attractive economic growth,” Piedra said.

In 2010, Costa Rica exported some $140 million in flowers and foliage, especially to the United States and Europe.