The virtual monopoly on commercial poinsettia production by the Paul Ecke family for almost 80 years is a great example of floral industry economics.

Paul Ecke developed a technique for making poinsettias grow multiple branches from a single stem. The creates a fuller more colorful poinsettia plant we are accustomed to seeing at Christmas.

The Ecke family kept this a secret of poinsettia cultivation until around 1996 when university researchers were able to independently make the same discovery.

The result has been good for consumers, since poinsettias are much more plentiful and therefore less expensive than before.

The Paul Ecke Ranch has adapted by selling part of the ranch land to finance construction of more modern and efficient greenhouses. The ranch is still a major grower of poinsettias as well as a source of technical information for growers and consumers alike. Many of the best varieties of poinsettia are produced by the Paul Ecke Ranch.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Until a few years ago, the Paul Ecke family of Encinitas, California, had a virtual monopoly on poinsettias. The reason: a technological secret that made it difficult for others to compete. One key to poinsettia profits is getting the plants to grow so that multiple branches come off one stem, creating a fuller, more colorful plant. The Eckes' technique, which involved grafting two varieties of poinsettia together, made it possible to get every seedling to branch. About 10 years ago, however, a university researcher discovered the phenomenon and published it; now everyone uses the same technique.