For over five decades, the Baratta Family in Italy has been celebrated for their remarkable expertise in breeding carnations. However, it might come as a surprise to many that they’ve also been diligently cultivating ranunculus for the past 15 years. Recently, their efforts have borne fruit, with the first set of new ranunculus varieties entering the market via Florente s.r.l., a development showcased at the Proflora event held last week.
Gianfranco Fenoglio, General Manager, Mauricio Jimenez, Sales Manager, and Massimo Baratta, Breeder, have been at the helm of this horticultural venture. Their journey began alongside their long-standing carnation breeding activities for La Villetta s.r.l., and when Selecta one acquired La Villetta s.r.l., they continued their collaboration, channeling their energies into the development of ranunculus varieties. Notably, Florente was acquired in July 2023, further expanding their scope. Along the way, the company ventured into in-vitro and clone production, evolving to become a one-stop shop, from breeding to supplying rhizomes to growers.
What sets their ranunculus varieties apart is their suitability for the South American market, characterized by long stems, high-quality substantial blooms, impressive productivity, and rapid growth. The Baratta family’s reputation for producing top-notch flowers demands that their ranunculus varieties meet the same high standards before being introduced to the market.
Presently, they have six commercial ranunculus varieties on offer, with plans for future expansions. With 50-80 codes under evaluation annually, their aim is to provide fresh Corms year-round, taking full advantage of South America’s favorable light and temperature conditions, as highlighted by Jimenez.
Like their methods for La Villetta, the initial selection and testing of ranunculus varieties occur in Italy. Once the variety is perfected to their satisfaction, it undergoes trials in Colombia, Ecuador, and other South American regions. Early feedback from these trials has been positive, as noted by Fenoglio.
The timing of this introduction appears to be propitious. While ranunculus remains a niche product, demand for these exquisite flowers has been steadily rising in recent years, not only from the grower community in Colombia and Ecuador but also from buyers in various countries.