Qatar Fertiliser Company (Qafco) has announced the winners of the 28th edition of the “Qafco Flower & Vegetable Show 2015,” which attracted a record 17,500 visitors during the two-day event held at the Al Banush Club in Mesaieed.
Qafco chief administration officer Dr Hamed al-Marwani awarded prizes to Anitha Jomon, who was the “Overall Winner of the Show” in the amateur category and winner of the “Flower of the Day” contest.
Qafco Primary School took home the “Talent of the Day” award while Simi Paul was adjudged “Queen of the Show” in the amateur category and Damac for “Queen of the Show” (professional).
The Garden Centre won the “Overall Winner of the Show” (professional nurseries) while Mercury Grand Hotel was selected as “Overall Winner of the Show (professional carving).
Al-Marwani also distributed awards to winners in the live competitions: Wyndham Grand Regency Hotel (vegetable carving), Gardenia Flowers (ice carving), Wvone (flower arrangement, ladies amateur), and Damac (flower arrangement, professional).
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Due to its popularity, this year’s flower show was held for two days to accommodate more visitors.
The show competitions included vegetable and fruit carving and ice and butter carving for professionals in the hotel industry, as well as various types of flower arrangement competitions for nurseries, flower shops, and professionals.
Also, more than 90 categories in various competitions were opened to allow contestants from all levels to take part in the event. Special categories were also created to accommodate schools and students in both the junior and senior levels.
The highlights of the event were the ice carving, vegetable carving, and flower arrangement live competitions where contestants displayed their skills using ice, watermelons, and pumpkins.
Professional chefs from Doha’s major hotels and clubs, as well as amateurs took part in the contest.
Al-Marwani said: “At Qafco, we devote special attention to community engagement through various activities that range from sports to cultural events. The flower and vegetable show is of immense importance as it showcases our spirit of industry and community engagement. It encourages the strengthening of social bonds between all company employees and their families beyond the formal work context.”
Qafco vice chairman and CEO Khalifa al-Sowaidi said: “The show showcases our commitment to the environment and is an example of community and industry co-operating to forward a cause that is important to all of us – the environment we live in.
“We are duty bound to hand over to the next generation a world that is similar to what we live in, if not, better. In the 27 years of its existence, the flower and vegetable show has grown by leaps and bounds in terms of the number of visitors.”