Colombian blooms won the top prize at an international horticulture trade show in Goyang, South Korea — a nation that is a growing destination for flower exports from the Andean nation.
Colombia’s stand the International Horticulture Goyang Korea 2012, organized by the government’s tourism and trade body, Proexport and the Association of Colombian Flower Exporters, was named “best stall” at the event, Proexport reported.
It said the Colombian flowers were some of the most visited, with a sizeable number of the 530,000 people stopping by to see the carnations, hydrangeas, mini carnations, roses, calla lilies and the South American lily alstroemeria.
The 18-day event featured 150 companies from 40 countries and 160 local companies.
Colombian flower sales to South Korea have more than doubled in the past year, from $540,000 to $1.2 million. Hydrangeas were the main export for 2011.
Total exports for the year stood at $1,239 million, up $10.8 million from 2010, according to Colombian government statistics agency DANE.