By a Special Correspondent

Twelve growers of cut-flowers from East Africa will be leading the assault to conquer the US market during the World Floral Expo in Miami, Florida.

Currently, cut-flowers are finding their way into the US market through Europe, a clear sign that a market for East Africa flowers exists in the US, and that quality is not an issue.

Miami, which will be hosting the World Floral Expo for the second time, is the entry-point for over 80 per cent of all fresh flower exports into the US.

The 12 companies, predominantly women-owned or managed companies, are being sponsored to participate in the event by the East and Central Global Competitiveness Hub, an organisation sponsored by the United States Agency For International Development.

The African Women's Agribusiness Network East Africa (Awan-EA) are the co-sponsors.

Out of the 12 companies participating in the exhibition, which runs from March 15, six from Kenya, one from Uganda, and two each from Rwanda, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

In Kenya, for instance, floriculture has been a major foreign exchange earner, particularly in the past few years. Ethiopia has seen incredible growth in the past two years, while Uganda and Tanzania also have strong prospects.

Cut flowers do not face the same level of sanitary and phyto-sanitary restrictions that regulate and control entry of horticulture into the US market.

Indeed, the biggest challenge to large scale export to the US market is the lack of direct flight links with Miami.

The participating companies have been prepared through various activities, including workshops conducted by Dick van Raamsdonk, a cut-flower expert from the Netherlands, on the logistics involved in exporting to the US, including a database of fresh cut-flower importers in Miami.

Even though all the companies are first time participants to a US flower trade show, it is expected that they will establish market links and supply contracts, either as individual firms or through a consolidating agent.

Speaking to The EastAfrican Bettyann Mboche of Bawan Roses of Kenya, said she believed that East Africa's intermediate-sized roses are well suited for home use and therefore stand a good chance of performing well in the US.

"In Europe, it is common for buyers to grab a bunch of flowers at the check-out counter.

This is not very common in the US, and with our intermediate varieties, they may find our roses suitable for their dining or coffee tables," she said.

She said that even a small percentage of the US market will make a huge impact on producers in East Africa.