Dutch develop Obama flower
5th February, 2009
A flower farm in Valkenburg in the southern Netherlands has developed a special chrysanthemum that it has named after the new US President Barack Obama.
'We expect to sell 250 million Obama flowers in the next three years,' Ton Griekspoor of the Royal van Zanten farm told Dutch TV.
'Yes, we can,' he added, laughing.
Royal van Zanten says it has chosen a flower with the same characteristics as the US president, who radiates charisma, hope, change and strength.
Griekspoor associates the US president with peace and has therefore chosen white, 'the colour of peace', as the main colour of the new chrysanthemum.
But, he added, he may yet develop the same flower in a whole range of colours varying between white and red in the near future.
Royal van Zanten was the first Dutch company last year to register the name 'Obama' as a trademark.
Previously, Royal Van Zanten had developed the 'Reagan' and 'Bush' flowers.
The Bush flower failed and was taken off the market quickly, but the Reagan flower proved popular. Van Zanten sold more than 500 million Reagan flowers throughout Europe.
The ultimate test of the Obama flower will be completed in the next months, after which the chrysanthemum will become available in the market.
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