Queens, the largest of the five districts that make-up the metropolis, hosted the XII Flower Festival, an event where color, fragrance, and the diversity of our flowers promoted our culture and heritage.
“The New York Flower Festival has been supported for more than 10 years by Asocolflores, in an effort to promote the culture, economy, folklore, traditions, and heritage of Colombia in the United States. We are a privileged country; we are colorful, pluralistic, and emotional, trends which are positively conveyed by our flowers in more than 100 countries to which we export”, said Augusto Solano, President of Asocolflores.
On the other hand, Marcos Ossa, Director of Asocolflores in the Region of Antioquia, stressed that “60 thousand stems of our roses, carnations, alstroemerias, and crysanthemums, amongst other varieties, were sent from our country to New York City ―described as the capital of the world― to support this event showing our flowers as good-will ambassadors of a nation that works every day to improve the equality, social development, and economy of its people”.
New York is one of the top cities in the world and a first-rate cultural center. Therefore, the Colombian flower-growers, headed by Asocolflores, are once more participating in the Flower Festival activities, as a way of showing why Colombian flowers are an endless source of inspiration for designers and artists around the world, as well as a true work of art on their own.
The 60 thousand stems were used to build 25 silletas [a chair-like contraption for carrying flowers on a person´s back at the Medellín Flower Fair] which paraded down the streets of Queens carried by farmers from Santa Elena (Antioquia) and they also embellished a number of artistic and cultural performances evoking some of our dearest cultural traditions such as the Barranquilla Carnival and the Black and White Carnival, amongst others.
“Thus, the Colombian flowers continue to be present in the most prominent cities around the world, conveying a message of international recognition for the work of over 80 thousand women of the flower sector in rural areas and showing their commitment with the economic and social development challenges and environmental issues which, today more than ever, concern humanity”, Solano concluded
