Grocery Store Orchids

[boardybell]

Hi Guys,
I have a question about grocery stores orchids. Around these parts, central atlantic usa, almost every non orchid specific retailer that carries orchids will carry the phals with the pink tag that has the newbies guide to carring for your new loved one on it. Does anyone know who the wholesaler is that provides these orchids to grocery stores etc? They are usually priced 19.99-24.99 if that helps. Thanks all. I have really loved looking at your orchids and set ups.
B

[Ross]

First of all welcome to the board. Glad you chose to join.

As for the wholesaler, I don't think it is one grower. Ask the manager of the store and see if they know where the plants come from. I did that here and found out they come from western Michigan grower. So I suspect there are lots of growers involved.

[boardybell]

Thanks for the input. I guess the tag is not something that is specific to any one grower. I will check and see. Always on the lookout for deals. A deal is almost as good as the orchids themselves.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by boardybell

Thanks for the input. I guess the tag is not something that is specific to any one grower. I will check and see. Always on the lookout for deals. A deal is almost as good as the orchids themselves.

Yeah, I've seen the same background tags at Costco in Hawaii as well as here in Michigan. Can't be same grower

[ruthann]

Here at in So Cal at Ralphs (Kroeger in East) it is Grublers who is the supplier of orchids.

[dave b]

More and more they come from mega farms...make that mega greenhouses, that produce meristem clones by the 100,000s if not millions. There are a few outfits in the US doing this, but more and more they are coming in from overseas. China, Japan, and Taiwan are flooding the market with mass produced orchids. Its starting to affect local orchid growers across the country, especially ones who grow lots of Phals. Its like a mega store coming into town and pushing out the mom and pop shop.

There is an outfit in Florida, Worldwide Orchids that produces the mass market varieties. Ive seen them here in ohio at times. They use the 'Grower Ron' tag on the plant for growing tips.

The real big player is Taiwan Sugar Co. This place produces orchids by the millions and exports to the world. Even if a wholesaler in the US supplies the local market, chances are the orchids originated from someplace like Taiwan Sugar. The size and scope of their operation is mind boggling.

[mayres]

At least one huge grower in California that supply grocery and wholesale establishments across the country is Matsui - 4 million plants last year! 2.5 million square feet of greenhouse space. Matsui Nursery, Inc.
Another good sized California business is Gallup & Stribling Farms - who proclaims on their web site to be "America's Largest Orchid Grower". Gallup & Stribling - Orchid Farms

[SheilaJ]

I bought a couple of orchids at BJ's Wholesale Club after Valentine's Day that were on a stand marked DeLeon's. I believe they are the same Florida company that grows bromeliads for the interior landscaping trade. I suspect that those generic care tags can be bought anywhere - I've seen racks of similar tags at wholesale florist supply houses.

[susiep]

I agree, Dave. Taiwan Sugar had a lot of space at the IOC in Miami last month. $10 each blooming phals with no ID tags. Smallish flowers but brilliant colors. Also I have seen an increase in the number of Hawaiian vendors over the last 4 years at the annual Miami show. I agree that in the end this is probably not a good thing. I prefer to buy orchids from local growers. The plants seem to do better in this climate if raised in this climate (more hardy). I bought 2 plants from a German vendor at the Miami show and have a bad feeling that they will need special care to survive the summer. Northern Germany hot house--> south Florida sun, rain/drought. Back to those tags that come on plants... their recommendations aren't accurate for everywhere in the country, especially here.

[GreggC]

in Illinois. It is really too bad that they do not put a real tag in it, because that allows the buyer to know a little more about the plant, which would be a help.