Paul Ecke Ranch
IndustryHorticulture
Founded1909
FounderAlbert Ecke
Headquarters
Encinitas, California
,
U.S.
ProductsPoinsettias
Websiteecke.com

Paul Ecke Ranch is an American florist. Located in Encinitas, California, with production facilities in Guatemala, Ecke has grown to become the world's largest poinsettia (christmas star) producer with 50% market share.[1]

German emigrant Albert Ecke began cultivating poinsettias in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles in 1909. Paul Ecke Jr. took over the family business in 1963 and expanded it heavily. Paul Ecke III took over Ecke Ranch in 1992 and started the business in Guatemala.[2] Over the years, Ecke donated substantial money to the Encinitas Union School District. He also donated 92 acres of property to the North Coast Family YMCA, Quail Botanical Gardens and the California Department of Parks and Recreation for a beach park in Carlsbad, California. [3]

In August 2012 it was announced that the company would be sold by the Ecke family to the Dutch Agribio Group.[4] The regional Leichtag Foundation received a purchase option for the Encinitas, California location, which was implemented in May 2013.[5] Paul Ecke III withdrew from the company after the sale, but it continued to be run under the Ecke brand for a time.[1]

In February 2013, it was announced that Agribio would merge with German company Dümmen Group.[6] The family-run Dümmen Group is the European market leader for poinsettia cuttings and young plants as well as one of the most important in the field of bedding and balcony plants.[7] The merger was completed by April 2013, with the combined company operating as the DNA Green Group with headquarters in De Lier, Netherlands.[8] The company was re-branded to Dümmen Orange in 2015.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 Cox, Lillian (19 August 2012). "Paul Ecke: Selling Ecke Ranch "Hardest Decision I Ever Made"". Patch.com.
  2. ↑ Kragen, Pam (3 February 2014). "University to launch Ecke history project". The San Diego Union-Tribune.
  3. ↑ "Paul Ecke Sr., 96; He Perfected Poinsettia and Began a Tradition". Los Angeles Times. 24 June 1991. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
  4. ↑ "Firmenakquisition: Ecke Ranch Jetzt Bei Agribio" [Company Acquisition: Ecke Ranch Now at Agribio]. Taspo.de (in German). 26 August 2012. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016.
  5. ↑ Medford, Marlena (6 April 2012). "Leichtag Foundation to Purchase Ecke Ranch Property". Patch.com.
  6. ↑ "Dümmen Und Agribio Group Kündigen Fusion An" [Dümmen and Agribio Group Announce Merger]. Taspo.de (in German). 21 February 2013. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015.
  7. ↑ Brück, Mario (26 November 2011). "Weihnachtssterne: Billige Blüten" [Poinsettias: Cheap flowers] (in German).
  8. ↑ "Agribio und Dümmen: Fusion abgeschlossen" [Agribio and Dümmen: merger completed]. Gabot. 2 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016.
  9. ↑ Drotleff, Laura (29 April 2015). "Dümmen Orange Is The New Name For DNA Green Group". Greenhouse Grower.
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