Who distributes orchids to Trader Joe's?
 

I just bought a noid purple mini Cattleya from Trader Joe’s and was hoping to maybe id it. I have read that Matsui orchids provide their orchids to Trader Joe’s but their web site doesn’t show them actually growing Cattleyas. Does any one know another nursery that provides orchids to Trader Joe’s? thanks, Jack

I have been wanting to know the same thing. Maybe someone knows the inside scoop.

I heard some place that Trader joes orchids that don't sell go back to the grower when the next shipment comes in. This is one reason the flowers are so cheap there. No Flowers are left to die in the store. I am not sure if this is true or not.

I am always amazed at how nice the selection of orchids are at Trader joes.

They told me that they get a sweet deal on orchids because the vendor doesn't have to bother with labels. I have to say their orchids seem amazingly healthy.

They just started building TJ stores around here. Looks like it's time for a trip down there!

Yeah you need to check it out or not. Depends on how much space you have for plants. Every time I go I find a few I want I try and keep it to one plant a trip.

Who distributes orchids to Trader Joe's?
 

I don't live in the US and I've just been in orchid board for a month, but Trader Joe's sounds amazing! Many of you bloomed great Catt, Phals (even though no id Phals and catts) and it comes from them!

In here, the only supermarket chains that carry live orchids are those high end ones and those which attached to high end department store chains; and they only stocks standard white/pink Phals, dendrobiums, occasionally Vandas. They priced them at least twice or thrice the price of vendors at orchid vendors complex.

Why not explain your interest, and simply ask the manager of your TJ's where they come from?

I think that OB members are rather envious of your access to orchids in-situ. All you have to do is take a nature hike at the right time of year!

After I hit about my 30 orchid mark, I got a bit more specific and descriminating. I have all the phals and catts (except brassovola types) that I can handle. The same goes with most common oncidiums. Now the plants I want don't come from the local shops and I would rather make a big enough purchase to get free shipping or a free plant. They call me Doctor Thrift! No Id phals don't do a thing for me any more.

---------- Post added at 05:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:20 PM ----------

I fogot to mention I do love TJ but its a 3 hour drive to anything like it. I am stuck with just add ice orchids and a Lowes that has gotten very bad in the garden department. I'll visit Lowes for valentines day and see what's up but I am only in the market for dendrobiums.

Next time I go to trader joes I will ask them where the orchids come from.

I agree I try and stay away from Phals I have 4. The grocery store does not do it for me any more. I do like the mini hybrids. Trader joes has some really cool plants. It's a good thing I live 45min away because if it was close I would be there every time new ones came in and I would be in trouble.

But I will ask them maybe I will go tomorrow.

Optimist where do you get a sweet deal like that, free ship and free plant with order?

Without a picture or description can I take a guess?
The only purple cattleya I've ever seen for sale at my Trader Joe's is potinara paradise beauty 'marcela'
Could it be that one?

it is Matsui Nursery, Inc. - Orchids

That's the type of deal most large retailers get from their suppliers. I do not 'get it', as the profit margin at wholesale level is very thin, and growing non-ID plants another cycle is too expensive.

they dont go BACK to the grower they get a credit for the plants then off to the trash bin behind the stores.. ya you can go dig for orchids in the trash at TJ's too.
:)

Yup.
Dig around in their trash bin.
They throw them out when they aren't in bloom anymore.
I got my oldest orchid that way.
And my first ever species.
Phal amabilis.
Faithfully produces two spikes every year.

RJSquirrel
Matsui orchids web sight doesn't show them growing Cattleyas.

---------- Post added at 07:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:12 PM ----------

Thanks Ordphien, but it's not potinara paradise beauty 'marcela' although I wish it was.

According to their website, Chisan Orchids supplies Cyms to TJ's and others.

Send Matsui an email. They are usually happy to help you come up with an ID, it's how I got an ID for my NOID Den that I purchased at TJs along with a couple of other plants.

I would bet that the TJ's in different parts of the country have different suppliers.

It seems unlikely that east coast stores would get plants from California.

They would. If it's cheaper. :-(

In the past I have purchased a couple of Cattleyas from TJ's.

One was labelled Half Moon Bay Nurseryman's Exchange which I understand is now part of Rocket Farms.


Maureen

Orchid lover and TJ's employee here. Trader Joe's east coast stores do indeed receive Phals from Matsui, which makes sense being that their greenhouses are in South Jersey. I know we receive orchids come from Midwest and West Coast suppliers too. Most boxes of plants arrive at the store level with generic packaging, not stating their company of origin. Yes, we do receive plant material and cut flowers from California. Product can be trucked from California to the Philadelphia region in four days, which just happens to be the lead time for our orchid orders. We do not get credit for any plants that don't sell, unlike a Home Depot. Once a plant is out of bloom, it is discarded unfortunately. We can offer great prices on orchids because we buy "grower mixes" where growers can package for us plants that they have not sold elsewhere. We never know what will arrive in our "assorted 4 inch" case , for example, until it arrives at
the store. Orchids never stay in the store for more than a week and arrive daily if sales dictate. Stores in different regions of the country have different suppliers and variety of orchids available. TJ's is a debt free company and pays vendors cash, therefore helping us, and our customers, get the best plant material possible for a very good value.

Thanks nutgirl, lightseeker01, and everyone else who has replied to this topic. Jack

I am pretty sure Matsui orchids provides a good portion to TJs. They supply the Fred Meyers around me, and even though TJs bags up orchids with their own namesake, I know that the same distributor is getting the orchids out.

So Matsui Orchids is one vendor. There are several more that supply stores near me, but Matsui often provides my favorites.

So does Matsui sell/grow cattleya orchids? Their web sight doesn't show them growing them. Jack

I haven't seen any cattleyas from Matsui. I did see a mini cattleya for $8 at the Trader Joe's on Burnside in Portland, but it wasn't from Matsui as far as I could tell. There are a few other distributors here.

Newman's nursery! I'm pretty sure that's who supplies most of their cattleyas.

Me too! :lol:

Sometimes the quality is horrible and other times it is amazing! for the price.

I really need to quit bringing home orchids from TJs. I grabbed another one today. The gal was stocking and they had this great yellow-green Brassia hybrid that just made me go, "Oh! Pretty!" And she needed room for one more plant, so, of course I said, "Give me a second to choose one of these and I'll make a spot for that last plant for you." LOL!!

Is Matsui orchids the same as Luna rivers orchids. I wanted to get 2 of mine an I.D but I can't find Luna rivers on the web. :( I am hoping it is one in the same?
Random- I also picked one up lol