What we are planning for 2015

Kitayama Brothers - CA Grower since 1948

2015 Growing Plan:

We just returned from the KB December board meeting where I presented plans for 2015.  We are expecting a 5% growth in sales and here is how we hope to accomplish this:

Increase:

Gerbera Daisies: We will increase gerbera daisies in all types; standards, minis and gerrondos. We are also increasing gardenias, asiatic lilies, stock and mini callas. 

Gerberas

Gardenias

About the Same:

Oriental lilies will be about the same, but we will produce less in the summer and more in the fall and winter. 

Lilies

Snapdragons, tulips, lisianthus and iris will stay the same. 

New Test Flowers:

We will test a few new items such as astible and anemones.

What we are Not Growing:

The board asked about growing Cannabis.  It is still illegal and we are not willing to risk our assets until the Federal Government changes the law.

What do you Suggest we Grow?

Send us your suggestions, if we take your suggestion, we will send you the first box of whatever it is.

Still Thinking about Growing:

Carnations: The board was very encouraging on bringing back a California carnation.  Now if we could just find some cuttings…

RHK

Kitayama Brothers

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The Stemmed Gardenia

Who came up with the stemmed gardenia idea?

Kitayama Brothers would love to claim that we created the stemmed gardenia, but we have to give credit where credit is due, to our customer and friend Michael Miyashiro of Rainforest Florist in Honolulu, HI.  

Four years ago while I was attending a trade show in Honolulu, Michael advised Kitayama Brothers to “burn” all our roses and grow gardenias.  He also said to keep a stem on the gardenias and ship them in a bud stage.  To be honest, at that time I thought he was “just being Michael.”  Michael always asks for the most bizarre and extreme forms of flora.  Half the time I don’t even know what type of flower or green he is talking about.  However, he has a booming business in Honolulu and his work is in high demand because of his fun and exotic look. 

Today, Kitayama Brothers has pulled out every rose plant and I believe we must be the biggest gardenia grower in the USA.  And with the introduction of the stemmed gardenia, our customers can get a new use for an old flower.  The stem allows the gardenia to be used in arrangements.  Also, because of the bud stage, the flowers can be ship in greater quantity and are much better priced than traditional select gardenias (3 in a box).  

Hopefully we are creating a new generation of gardenia lovers.  I will be back in Honolulu this Fall, (it's my duty to visit once a year), and I will visit Michael again, there just might be a new idea..

RHK

KB California Carnations

Intrigued by the title? Read more...

 

We're just back from Fun N Sun in Santa Barbara and a lot of attendees said it was the best Fun N Sun yet.  Kitayama Brothers staff and shareholders had a great time and I think we may have gained a little business.  Imagine that, actually feeling like a trade show was worth all the effort. Thanks NORCAL!  

One of the reasons the show was successful is because the flowers, the farmers and the programs were genuine. Nowadays consumers want genuine. Fun N Sun was a collection of the finest growers in California and each has a genuine story about how they have survived and thrived in this great but challenging industry. 

Another reason we like to attend these events is we have to periodically think outside of the box. I attended a presentation by J Schwanke where he lamented the fact that there might only be one carnation grower left in the USA.   

Later on that evening after a few drinks, J had me almost convinced that Kitayama Brothers should grow carnations again. “You were once the carnation kings!”  It is true, we once were the biggest carnation grower in the USA.   

It's so retro it might work. So if anyone actually reads this blog, let me know your thoughts. Does KB California grown carnations sound like a good idea?

Introducing KB Mini Gerberas!

NEW, NEW, KB Mini Gerberas

 

I am proud to announce Kitayama Brothers now grows mini gerbera daisies. We have had requests for mini gerberas for years but we felt like we weren’t large enough to handle both standard and mini gerbera programs. 

However, after expanding to more than 300,000 sq. ft. of gerberas, we felt that mini gerberas would enhance our gerbera program along with standard and gerrando gerbera daisies.  

 

Mini gerberas are smaller and compliment standard gerberas or other flowers very well. They are long lasting, hardier and a little less money than standard gerberas. In the US, more standard gerberas are grown, it is the exact opposite in Europe where mini gerberas are the dominant type. 

Go ahead and give us a call regarding our mini gerberas, oh and if you don’t know what a gerrando is, ask your KB salesperson to describe it.

KB Fall Novelties in Season!

mini pumpkin trees, yellow yarrow, billy balls (craspedia) and flame mini callas

Forget your pumpkin lattes and your eggnog shakes. We are looking at real Fall seasonal products here at Kitayama Brothers. We have Japanese lanterns, mini pumpkin trees, yellow yarrow, billy balls (craspedia) flame mini callas, and 3 different types of cut peppers. The novelties are just starting to roll in. I love this time of year.

~ Tony Scalisi

Japanese lanterns

3 different types of cut peppers

KB showing at SAF Convention

Jimmy Zheng and Dave Kitayama

Jimmy Zheng and Dave Kitayama preparing some of the OUTSTANDING VARIETIES Dave will be showing at this years SAF Convention in Florida. We will be well represented with lilies, mini callas, gerberas, and lisianthus. Which will be the BLUE RIBBON winner this year?

KB's Lisianthus & Mini Callas