Cut flowers

The British Protected Ornamentals Association (BPOA) has joined the British Growers stable for its administrative and office functions.

BPOA was founded to promote the interests of the UK bedding plant industry, and has a membership drawn from growers and the allied trade. They will be joining 13 other specialist crops associations which make up the British Growers membership.

The association’s primary aim is to support the needs of growers, particularly in R&D, marketing and wider sector representation. By helping the bedding plant and pot plant, cut flower and other ornamental plant growers to work together, the association aims to achieve common goals, enabling all growers to move forward in an ever-changing marketplace.

Coral Clark, crop association executive at British Growers, said: 'We are absolutely delighted to have been given the opportunity to work with BPOA. The British Growers mission is to support growers to do what they do best, by providing shared administrative and accountancy provisions. Our unique shared services model will allow BPOA to access the skills they need to function effectively, while they retain their own strong identity.'

BPOA chairman James Alcaraz added: 'BPOA works to support growers through its technical committee activity, the promotion of ‘Home Grown’ and other marketing initiatives which support members’ plant sales and to give a voice to the membership on political issues.

'I'm delighted to be working with Coral and all the team at British Growers. BPOA would also like to take this opportunity to thank Simon Davenport for his longstanding service to the association as executive officer and the British protected ornamentals industry.'