Kenyan Rose Industry

Kenya's Rose industry is the oldest and largest in Africa. The industry has grown to become the biggest exporter of roses in the world. In 2003 sales of roses was worth £77million, which was 8% of Kenya's Rose Export earnings.

Kenya has some of the largest flower farms in the world, employing up to 10,000 workers. They usually live on the farm where they work. Millions of roses are flown from Kenya to Europe every year. The peak period for export is in early February around Valentine's Day.

All Kenyan Rose Importers and Exporters agree that it is always like this just before Valentine's Day. Even though the popular "Lovers Day" is not celebrated in rural Kenya in the way it is in the USA and Europe. Most of the Kenyan Flower farms earn 20% of its year's income in the ten days running up to Valentine's Day.

Even though Kenya has a good climate for flower growing, most flowers are grown in greenhouses to protect them from rain, wind or hail storms that reach the highlands in the rainy season from April to July. Wet roses rot easily and the Batian Flower Farm takes special care in growing their flowers the right way.

After harvesting, the freshly cut roses are placed in buckets of water and environmentally friendly chemicals to protect the roses against germs and diseases and to prevent them from drooping after harvest. Men workers wearing red protective clothing and gas masks spray the flowerbeds regularly with eco friendly chemicals to prevent germs and diseases.

Upendo Flowers supply the finest roses that make for an ideal gift for your special someone. Grown with extra care, these roses are the ideal representation of love and beauty, captivating your loved ones with their unique sent. Their exceptional growers have specialised rose farmers who grow these roses with love and care, bringing out their true natural glamour.

Rene Mulder, the director of Batian Kenyan Flowers has a long association with high quality roses. Together with his father, Rene worked to ensure that the roses from De Driesprong were nothing but the best - something particularly important when supplying special orders for the likes of Queen Beatrix (Holland), President Francoise Mitterand (France), Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (United Kingdom) and for other exclusive clients.