Local Autumn Flowers

Eric Morrow of T. Morrow & Sons is a fourth generation family horticulture business established in 1938, based on the outskirts of Newry, Co. Down. The business concentrated mainly on the growing of salad crops up until three years ago when it diversified into the growing and supply of seasonal cut flowers with the assistance of CAFRE Cut Flower Development Adviser, David Davidson. T. Morrow and Sons have adopted the production of cut flower crops which could be grown and marketed successfully in Northern Ireland.  “It gives me real satisfaction as a CAFRE Development Adviser to witness T. Morrow and Sons benefiting from adoption of the CAFRE cut flower technology programme and short course training courses”.

CAFRE continue to support the sustainable growth and development of the cut flower sector in the north of Ireland by working in partnership with businesses to facilitate technology adoption, delivering short course training and development plans along with benchmarks to improve cut flower business performance.

The current list of cut flowers grown by T. Morrow and Sons includes tulips for supply in early spring, with scented stocks, oriental lily and gladioli being the mainstay during the summer months. The lily crop however has been successfully extended on into autumn using grow lights, while bloom chrysanthemums are being grown for supply from October to December. All these products are packed and marketed for various outlets including a multiple retail buyer based in the south of Ireland, a supermarket chain and local retail florists throughout the growing year such as George Preston Florists, Newry and Woodlawn flowers in Bessbrook.

Eric Morrow Says “In the short-term the objective of the business is to expand, with extending the growing area by the introduction of a new one-acre block of glass, and to increase production efficiencies with investment in automation and accreditation achievement”.

In a more long-term strategy the business wants to achieve industry longevity through human resource development and embrace ‘green’ technology, as T. Morrow & Sons realise the importance of a sustainable future.

For further information on cut flowers, contact David Davidson, Cut Flower Development Adviser, CAFRE, Greenmount Campus on 028 3751 5605, mobile 07776 152 524 or e-mail david.davidson@dardni.gov.uk.

From left to right David Davidson CAFRE, Eric Morrow, c/o T. Morrow and Sons, Siobhan Hughes, Asia Szott and Karen Sherwin of George Preston Flowers, Newry and Philip Dodds of Woodlawn Flowers in Bessbrook viewing bloom chrysanthemums’ before harvest.