In the more common items, many nurseries are pragmatic enough to grow their own liners, so they use us for backup supply on those. Almost everything Heritage Seedlings sells is under 4 feet tall. The company began exporting to the Pacific Rim about 10 years ago because of several connections. Jolly Krautmann is from Taiwan, and Heritage Seedlings initially imported plants and seeds from Japan. That has shifted in recent years with the dollar's rise.
Japanese inspectors are sticklers for cleanliness.
The product must be free of soil, lessening the chances of pests and diseases being brought to the country. They had three inspectors at the airport with white gloves on. That first experience made an impression on us. They've always been meticulous. That's another reason most nurserymen until recently haven't bothered exploring Japanese markets.