Production of cut flowers in the state o Minas Gerais

Cut flowers are important products of Brazilian floriculture. The characteristics of Minas Gerais production are, nevertheless, unknown. So, with the purpose of performing a study of the cut flower production in the state of Minas Gerais, a questionnaire was applied to flower growers of Minas Gerais state, in the period of 2003 to 2005. The visits were paid in loco and the growers were identified by means of visits to the flower-growing areas and the questionnaires were answered by them. By analyzing the answers contained in the questionnaires, it was identified that the cut flower production in the state of Minas Gerais is a business accomplished by 188 growers in a planted area of about 290.6836 ha. The main species grown in the state are: rose (151.5710 ha), sempre-vivas (57.26 ha), cala lilly flowers (16.0255 ha), carnation (12.6290 ha) and heliconia (11.7600 ha). The production is sold all over Brazil and it is also exported to countries of Europe, Asia and North America. The main exported produces are: cut roses, cut orchids and sempre-vivas.