Our Story
Founded in 1972 by Peter Ullrich, ESMERALDA FARMS comprises ten flower farms, and Genviv's breeding unit, spanning diverse growing regions in Ecuador and Colombia. State-of-the-art production and unyielding dedication are the marks of excellence that elicit our international recognition for leadership, innovation, consistency and quality.
Esmeralda’s world-renowned growers apply innovative agricultural practices to increase productivity while ensuring environmental sustainability. Our flowers are a direct result of the unrivaled passion and loyalty of our team.
In February 2022, Esmeralda Farms acquired the variety portfolio and all the operations of Genviv, Tecnoviv's breeding division in Ecuador and the United States. A leader in innovation in the floriculture breeding sector, Genviv has introduced some of the most recognizable rose and summer flower varieties in the market since its inception as Esmeralda Breeding & Biotechnology in 1999. With this acquisition, Esmeralda and its parent company, Sunshine Bouquet, will gain Genviv's rich pool of genetics and R&D capabilities.
A few months afterwards, Esmeralda acquired the variety portfolio and operations of Sande Flowers in Ecuador and the United States. Sande’s high-quality products makes a perfect complement to Esmeralda's current catalog, which will result in more superior floral offerings for our customers.
At Esmeralda Farms, we strive to exceed expectations by providing optimal customer service and supplying flowers that are a cut above. It is our goal to set the standard for excellence in fresh cut flowers.
Peter Ullrich, Founder
“I look at our business like the hi-tech business. If we don’t improve what we have, if we continue to sell what we have, we cannot expect that our business is going to grow!” – Peter Ullrich
Peter Ullrich built Esmeralda Farms by growing and breeding the best fresh cut flowers in the world. The ...read morestory begins in 1942 in Bad Wildungen, Germany, Ullrich’s birthplace. It was at his parents’ small flower shop where Ullrich was first introduced to flowers.
In 1962, Ullrich moved to the United States with a dream. Among other part-time jobs, he began peddling flowers to earn extra money. Twice a week, he would drive to the airport, load up two or three boxes of flowers, and sell them to local stores. Finding success in these activities, he set his sights on building a career around selling flowers full-time.
Ullrich opened his first wholesale operation in 1971 in Queens, New York, where he sold cut flowers imported from South America. It was here where he realized that selling flowers wasn’t difficult—it was sourcing them that was challenging.
It was then that Ullrich invested in the flower farm, Flores Esmeralda, located in Medellín Colombia. Without knowing a word of Spanish, Ullrich became one of the first growers to establish a presence in South America. Taking advantage of the lands’ high altitude and favorable climates, he began cultivating top-quality, fresh cut flowers available for year-round purchase. For the next four decades, Ullrich would continue to grow Esmeralda Farms as a company, establishing additional operations in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico and Africa.
In 2006, for introducing new Hypericum varieties to the U.S. market, Ullrich was honored with the prestigious Gold Medal Achievement Award by the Society of American Florists. Two years later, Ullrich was awarded with the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supply Association’s highest honor, the Leland T. Kintzele Distinguished Service Award, for his substantial contributions to the floral industry.
In 2013, Ullrich announced his retirement as President and CEO of Esmeralda Farms. The marketing and distribution of the company's products in North America continued under the Connectaflor brand. In June 2020, Sunshine Bouquet Company acquired Esmeralda Farms. Two years later, in February 2022, Esmeralda acquired the variety portfolio and all the operations of Tecnoviv's Genviv breeding business unit in Ecuador and the United States. With this acquisition, Esmeralda Farms and its parent, Sunshine Bouquet Company, gain Genviv's rich pool of genetics and proven R&D capabilities.
Today, Esmeralda Farms remains one of the most prominent players in the floral industry, still committed to Ullrich’s incomparable vision dedicated to quality, beauty, longevity and value.
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