Well Organised Production of Gentiana in Japan Proves a Big Success
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:19AM ;)
A farmers co-operative in Northern Japan has found a new way to prosper by growing Gentiana, a highly prized cut flower in Buddhist Japan - it is common practice for families to place Gentiana on ancestors graves.
In 1971, beginning with wild varieties, Mr Kudo and other farmers tried growing a different crop instead of rice - Blue Gentiana, (otherwise known as 'Gentians').
From these humble beginnings the co-operative have created an industry of cut flowers and pot plants worth more than 13 million USD and the products are now sold world wide.
The ten most popular varieties of Gentiana are now licensed to growers as far away as Chile and New Zealand and the varieties are registered to protect the breeding rights - a practice that should secure the next generation of Japanese breeders.
Please sit back and enjoy the video below that explains the story in much greater detail:
Gentiana, Japanese Flowers 
