There is a small handful on GW who are vocal about seeking RMV cleaned material, particularly OGRs. I’ve found it speaks volumes that this material HAS been available, and presumably offered commercially, yet it’s been kept secret. Malcolm stated that no list had been kept stating what nurseries had received which material, and none of the nurseries are talking. Why?
Personally, I don’t believe most consumers nor nurseries are that concerned about RMV or any other virus. It’s something we’ve successfully lived with for the majority of the last century. It is a marketing tool for Heirloom and Pickering, probably a bit more for Pickering as they do provide wholesale business. Being able to say with certainty theirs is cleaned from RMV puts them in a very desirable position and affords them the ability to have the work accomplished. Both nurseries advertise ALL of their roses are free from RMV.
From pretty much every other American nursery’s position, it is potentially disastrous. Advertising some of your material as “cleaned from RMV”, but not all, raises too many questions. It requires each individual nursery operator to become more expert with the virus issue. An issue which the majority have already chosen to avoid entirely. Some state they rough out any plants which exhibit symptoms and will replace those shipped which do, but most simply don’t even address it, and historically haven’t. Particularly those who have reportedly obtained cleaned stock.
Nurseries making a greater issue of RMV infection in their catalogs and web sites make themselves greater targets. As has already been mentioned, it’s surprising more litigation hasn’t been initiated against suppliers of infected stock. Advertising this or that variety has been tested/treated potentially creates customer service issues with those, and the other varieties the nurseries offer. Both Uncommon and Euro Desert experienced over the top customer service issues with unstable sports reverting and causing them enormous service issues with customers who refused to be satisfied, even though their web sites clearly stated no guaranty could be made against the sport reverting. Even after replacing the plants at no charge and refunding them, their customers pushed the issue further, reporting Uncommon to the BBB and trade organizations for shipping the “wrong plant”. That mentality exists in the market. All it takes is one of those to monopolize you for weeks to months. I would suggest for many, operating these businesses is more a labor of love than a profit engine. The profit really isn’t there and keeping them alive and well is increasingly more difficult with each passing season.
Electronic media makes dissatisfaction an immediate fire to be dealt with. It can, and has, dented many reputations. There are many ways for one disgruntled person to cause grief, and many who are more than willing to engage in it. There was a particularly ugly thread a few years ago on GW concerning exactly this. A contributor railed against Arena Roses for “infecting” Sombreuil with virus by budding it. No reasoning could get through to the poster that Arena had not necessarily been responsible for the infection. Arena had obtained VI root stock and had made every effort to obtain VI material, when and where it was available. The variety had been budded for countless generations prior to Arena obtaining it and any of those buddings could easily have been the source of infection. That wasn’t good enough. The plant originated from Arena, therefore Arena was guilty of the infection.
Advertising cleaned from RMV (or any other issue) material automatically makes that variety and the nursery offering it, a target. If the material exhibits any symptoms, whose responsibility is it to prove whether it is RMV or not? The testing facilities assume no responsibility for anything. They test and clean the stock, but if something goes wrong, it is not their fault nor their responsibility to do anything about it. They assume no liability for any legal issues arising from the sale of material they processed. The nurseries are expected to guaranty the material. Avoiding the issue entirely and simply replacing or refunding a plant to provide good customer service, affords them the protection of not having to engage in lengthy correspondence and continuing defense against why their VI material showed this or that symptom. Not to infer that treatment isn’t effective. That’s been beaten to death already. I maintain that material promoted as VI or otherwise tested and cleaned, becomes a potential liability, especially for a small nursery. Quietly obtaining what there was to obtain out of pride for your product and business, and offering it without fanfare seems to have been the preferred choice for many.
RMV infection is out of the control of most nurserymen. Too few varieties exist and are easily available for most of them to obtain. I agree, I would rather have plants without RMV. I don’t believe it is fair, or even realistic, to expect small nurseries to expose themselves to the kinds of costs, service issues and other problems associated with having to educate their customers to the whole RMV issue. Yes, all that information can be explained on the web site or in a catalog and some will actually read it. For the zealots who push such things past the point of absurdity, this paints too large a target on the nursery and nurseryman. I honestly believe this is why most have chosen not to advertise the fact they have obtained and are offering this material. Better to do what you can quietly and not potentially expose yourself to time consuming, expensive incidents.
