Flowers

The history of flower cultivation started 1875 when American, Lewis Barman, planted 74 foreign species in the green house he built in the Sapporo Agricultural School. At that time, flowers were planted as ornamental plants in parks all over Hokkaido.

After World War II, with increasing demand for flowers from people in cities, farmers living in suburban areas began growing then. In 1960, hothouse flowers went to market and production of whole flowers increased alongside rapid economic growth. In late 1965, cut flowers were produced in fields which used to be rice paddies. In late 1975, baby's breath in Hokkaido was highly evaluated nationwide and large shipments of cut flowers started going to other prefectures from Summer to Autumn. Areas for their growth were created following this evaluation.

Cool Summer weather in Hokkaido allows farmers to supply flowers to other prefectures in Summer and Autumn when it is changeover period for other prefectures. In addition, the climate gives flowers vivid colours which create a huge demand. Shipments of flowers from July to September accounted for 65 % of annual total shipment of 147,500,000 in 1996. In 1997, 921 hectares of flower acreage produced 15.1 billion yen (12 % increase from previous year). Cut flowers accounted for 70 % of total output and potted flower 10 %.

Carnations, lilies, baby's-breath, prairie gentian, and startice account for 56 % of total cut flowers. Cyclamen and begonia account for 46 % of total potted flowers.

At the present, we try to develop unique Hokkaido flowers by making the most of cool climate and promoting flower shipments to other prefectures during their changing period.