Retirement party for Franz Fruehwirth, chief poinsettia breeder, Paul Ecke Ranch. Seated next to him is his wife Lilo. Behind - Paul Ecke III. At the podium - Steve Rinehart, COO of the Ranch.
From left to right: Joel Goldsmith, Goldsmith Seeds, Joseph Fischer, Fischer Geraniums, Paul Ecke III, Tom Doak, Yoder Brothers, and Richard Goldsmith, Goldsmith Seeds. The Flower Fields Alliance included four independent flower breeders.
Ricardo Campos, general manager, Paul Ecke de Guatemala (PEG) with employee, Andreas Kientzler, and Ludwig Kientzler of the Kientzler company in Germany (they licensed to the Ecke Ranch their New Guinea impatiens for the U.S.).
Paul Ecke III (center), Mrs. Amelita Ramos, first lady of the Philippines (wife of Fidel Ramos), and Paul Ecke Jr. (right), with the rest of the delegation from the Philippines.
Paul Ecke III (left) at the PLA booth at the Essen Trade Show in Germany. PLA was an Ecke company based in Denmark that managed licensing for poinsettias and other crops around the world.
From left to right: Lars Henriksen (general manager, PLA International, owned by the Paul Ecke Ranch), Ron Cramer (Paul Ecke Ranch), Paul Ecke III. Far right: Franz Fruehwirth (head poinsettia breeder, Paul Ecke Ranch).