TM
Sanctioned Event !
We experienced an incredible amount of participation in our first ever Florida based Coral Farmers Market SM 2010 event. The South Eastern Coral Farmers Market SM was also our first east coast coral show. Thanks to all the participants who made the 2010 SE-CFM May 23rd coral show our best ever first year event. The vendor participation was strong. Public attendance was our highest ever for a first year event. Total attendance including vendors but not staff was 355. The public was very excited to see the captive grown and cultured corals that were offered for sale. Vendors were pleased with the economic activity that was generated during the show. The corals that were available were also very healthy. Images of almost all the actual coral displays can be seen below. Operationally the event was completely flawless. Our Golden Sponsor World Wide Corals provided some valuable logistical support. They not only provided all our saltwater requirements, but WWC even housed corals flown in by some of our vendors. These corals were in excellent condition at the coral show event. Reef Nutrition another one of our Golden Sponsors also continued their support for our Coral Farmers Market SM events. Thanks to all the vendors that assisted with the setup of our pipe and drape infrastructure on Saturday night. The Orlando Reef Caretakers Association (ORCA) also provided assistance with setting up and tearing down our coral show equipment. Overall the CFM staff experienced some fine southern hospitality during our visit to Florida. We definitely will make this an annual event that always occurs some time during the second quarter every calendar year. Thanks to everyone who helped to make this event a very successful coral show.
SE-CFM and CFM Staff
2010
South Eastern Coral Farmers MarketSM Images
(Images copyright of South Eastern Coral Farmers MarketSM unless otherwise noted.)
The SE-CFM attendees were very active and auctions for the more exotic corals drew large crowds.
Here Art Petit of the CFM is the performing auctioneer interacting with the SE-CFM crowd.
The Raffle Grand Prize coral display system donated by Reef Savvy can be seen on the table.
Image copyright Bonnie Alexander.
Jason Fox Signature Frags put together an incredible display of very exotic LPS and SPS corals.
Jason has acquired an amazing collection of corals over the years.
Click on image for closeup coral view (use browser back arrow to return).
World Wide Corals and Jason Fox both displayed their corals within the same system.
This was a very popular display that was crowded the entire coral show.
Image copyright Bonnie Alexander.
Unique Corals from New York made their first appearance at a CFM coral show event.
They loaded up their CFM rental display with over a couple hundred coral fragments.
Click on image for closeup coral view (use browser back arrow to return).
Felix Bordon of Reef Savvy made the trip up from Miami to display his fabricated aquariums.
He ended up selling all of these systems. Felix also donated the SE-CFM Raffle Grand prize.
Image copyright Reef Savvy.
Cherry Corals also made their first appearance at a CFM coral show event.
This was just one of Cherry Corals two display systems.
The display contains an eclectic mix of LPS, SPS and soft corals.
Click on image for closeup coral view (use browser back arrow to return).
The Orlando Reef Caretakers Association (ORCA) setup a booth where they promoted their upcoming
hosting of the 2010 MACNA event. They even sold tickets to attend MACNA from their booth.
In addition to all that, they also won the largest booth banner contest. Nice banner !
Our Golden Sponsor World Wide Corals put together another incredible display of exotic corals.
This display system contains a strong mix of LPS, SPS and a couple of soft corals.
Click on image for closeup coral view (use browser back arrow to return).
Rule number one for doing a coral road show is that you can never have enough dollies.
Rule number two is that you need to make sure no one attempts to steal one of your dollies.
Image copyright Bonnie Alexander.
Reef Empire made the long trip all the way from San Diego California.
They had a jammed packed display of imported cultured and domestically farmed exotic corals.
Click on image for closeup coral view (use browser back arrow to return).
The exhibitor Brightwell Aquatics displayed a diverse and ever growing product line.
Local and online retailer Aquarium Fanatics put together a very good captive coral mix.
Their display included exotic SPS, LPS and soft corals.
Click on image for closeup coral view (use browser back arrow to return).
A CFM tank rental helped Reeffarmers make the long journey from Southern California.
A properly designed coral show display should be able to accommodate at least 4 viewers.
Image copyright Bonnie Alexander.
Cherry Corals also displayed this second system containing an exotic collection of LPS corals.
Click on image for closeup coral view (use browser back arrow to return).
Vince from Unique Corals may have been the first New York coral farmer at a CFM sponsored event.
There were three coral farming vendors from Colorado that attended the 2010 SE-CFM event.
Gonzos Coral Frags put together this diverse collection of LPS, SPS and soft corals.
Click on image for closeup coral view (use browser back arrow to return).
World Wide Corals general partner Lou (left) with Coral Farmers Market SM general partner Art (right).
Image copyright Bonnie Alexander.
Steel City Corals is another coral farmer to make the long trip from Colorado.
Their left display tank contained a large collection of soft corals and LPS.
Click on image for closeup coral view (use browser back arrow to return).
Salty Supply filled their booth with reef related equipment and additives.
Image copyright Bonnie Alexander.
The right display tank of Steel City Corals contained exotic cultured clams and LPS.
Click on image for closeup coral view (use browser back arrow to return).
The CFM front desk was well organized thanks to support from volunteers such as Kelly Martin.
Image copyright Bonnie Alexander.
Reeffarmers put together a strong selection of exotic SPS corals along with some LPS corals.
Click on image for closeup coral view (use browser back arrow to return).
Some of our help however appeared to be a little on the crazy side.
So we did have to implement some of our typical CFM disciplinary actions.
Our lawyers recommended we pay the help in the future to lessen liabilities
Art Petit and Mike Martin. Image copyright Bonnie Alexander.
ReefKoi also made the long trip from Colorado. This display contains exotic soft polyps and LPS.
The rumors that Chris of ReefKoi rode a bellmans cart down a flight of stairs are simply untrue.
From the video we have seen, he definitely fell of the cart on the way down.
Click on image for closeup coral view (use browser back arrow to return).
Negotiations between vendors and buyers can get quite dramatic at times,
but the CFM does not condone stare down tactics, although they can work.
Terry Alexander and Steve Tyree. Image copyright Bonnie Alexander.
Frag-A-Holics shared a vendor booth with Rogger's Reef Food.
Their display contained a mix of LPS, SPS and soft corals.
Rogger's reef food also donated product items for our door prizes.
Click on image for closeup coral view (use browser back arrow to return).
ReefKoi from Colorado demonstrates how the latest LED lighting fixtures can
be effectively utilized in a coral show display system.
This was the display tank of Jeff D'huyvetter located in the middle island.
The display contained some rather large captive grown fragments and colonies.
Click on image for closeup coral view (use browser back arrow to return).
The SE-CFM work crew. From left to right. Bonnie Alexander - Photographer and Front Desk.
Steve Tyree - Drove the CFM Cargo Van from California. Art Petit - Operated the SE-CFM Show.
Kelly Martin - Front Desk organization and operation.
This was the display tank in Casey's middle island booth.
It contained a mix of exotic SPS captive fragments along with some LPS.
Click on image for closeup coral view (use browser back arrow to return).
Our Golden Sponsors support the SE-CFM with critical infrastructure and monetary support.
This support is vital to the success of the event and we sincerely thank them.
Golden Sponsors
 |
||
 |
||
We would also like to thank the following companies or individuals who have donated either products or services to the 2010 South Eastern Coral Farmers Market SM event. These companies and individuals help to make this event a success !
|
Ian@ReefOdyssey |
 |
|
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
'Coral Farmers Market' is a Common Law servicemark of the Coral Farmers Market company.
'South Eastern Coral Farmers Market' is a Common Law servicemark of the South Eastern Coral Farmers Market company.