The Netherlands: Dutch tulip farmers are hoping for a post-pandemic boom

The Netherlands, which produces some 90 percent of the world’s tulips, has seen its renowned floral market wilt before. The most famous instance was back in the 1630s, when tulpenmanie (tulip mania) meant the value of a single flower bulb soared up to 10 times the average worker’s annual income before the market suddenly crashed in 1637.

Prices didn’t exactly bottom out in the spring of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced borders to snap shut. But lockdowns and market closures meant the worldwide demand for the country’s famed flowers and bulbs dropped significantly. Dutch growers had to destroy hundreds of millions of tulips, daffodils, and other blossoms or sell them at far cheaper prices than in past years.

“A total of 11.4 billion flowers and plants were traded in the Netherlands in 2020, a decrease of 7.8 percent compared to 2019,” says Michel van Schie, a spokesperson for industry conglomerate Royal FloraHolland. The country’s international export market wilted from 6.235 billion euros (7.583 billion U.S. dollars) in 2019 to 5.974 billion euros (7.266 billion U.S. dollars) in 2020.

Read more at: Dutch tulip farmers are hoping for a post-pandemic boom

The Netherlands: Dutch flower industry hit hard by the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has plunged the world’s largest flower auction on the outskirts of Amsterdam into chaos. As Europe remains in lockdown, no-one thinks of buying flowers and tons of them land in shredders. 

Read more at: Dutch flower industry hit hard by the pandemic | Business| Economy and finance news from a German perspective | DW | 24.11.2020

Dutch flower industry continues to wither amid coronavirus

Growers are preserving what they have in storage or fields, however the reality is that almost all of this 12 month’s harvest will possible go to waste.

“The loss is huge,” said Michel van Schie of FloraHolland, the world’s dominant flower clearing house for public sales.

“In the intervening time we now have solely 30% of our regular turnover, and ... that during the busiest period of the year.”

Each day gross sales in March typically move 20 million euros ($22 million) of flowers, which continue with strong sales into the Easter vacation and Mothers Day..

In all, 35% of the world's flower and plant exports, valued at 6.2 billion euros over a 12 months period, move through the Netherlands, principally from Dutch growers, but additionally from African and Latin American farms.

Van Schie said the situation became specially acute on March 13 with the  flight cancellations and bans on public gatherings at many international events. This meant almost 1 / 4 of flowers up for public sale that day went unsold and had to be thrown out.

“Subsequent on that Monday it was 50%, after which we had to take unpleasant measures and we had to tell our growers ‘please diminish your stock’ as a result much of the stock had to be destroyed.”

Read more: Netherlands willing to contribute €1 billion to EU coronavirus fund | NL Times

Dutch Flower Exports Climb 6% in First Half on Germany and U.K. - by Rudy Ruitenberg

The Netherlands’ flower and plant exports, the world’s biggest, rose 6 percent in the first half as increased shipments to Germany and the U.K. more than made up for falling sales to France, Italy and Spain.

Exports climbed to 3.1 billion euros ($3.79 billion) from 2.92 billion euros in the first half of 2011, the Aalsmeer, Netherlands-based Dutch Agricultural Wholesale Board for Flowers and Plants wrote in a report on its website today.

Flower sales to southern Europe are sliding on the back of falling consumer confidence there, with shoppers cutting the budget for blooms at weddings, funerals and birthdays, the board said.

Consumers in Germany, the U.K. and the Nordic countries all bought more greenery and flowers.

“Flowers and plants are products with a large emotional value and that could also be an advantage in this time of economic headwind,” the board wrote. In southern Europe, “there is no sign of improving confidence for the time being,” it said.

Germany, Europe’s largest economy, is the biggest market for flowers from the Netherlands. Flower and plant exports to the country rose 7.1 percent in the first half to 995 million euros. Shipments to the U.K., the second-biggest customer for Dutch flora, increased 12 percent to 437 million euros.

Read more: Dutch Flower Exports Climb 6% in First Half on Germany and U.K. - Bloomberg

The Netherlands: On the Grounds Of Floriade, The Willowman Lives In His Art - by Olivia Katrandjian

Tucked into a thick forest amidst the grounds of Floriade, an international horticulture festival held in Holland once every 10 years, is a village of enormous nests and caves made from willow and recycled materials. Inside lives the Willowman.

A bearded recluse inspired by the architecture of nature, the Willowman, whose real name is Will Beckers, works on the village by day, and sleeps inside one of his creations by night.

"As a Land Art artist I feel it is important to actually stay in my own installation that I have created, as much as a learning process for me as for others. I want to make people realize that there is more to life than the digital world we live in," said Beckers.

Beckers' wife Dominique and several animals -- birds, rabbits and chickens -- live alongside him. In an attempt to be self-sufficient, Beckers and his wife eat the eggs the chickens lay and vegetables they grow in a garden suspended from the trees.

"Already three times American visitors have hit the rabbit he has there, just to see if it's real. They can't believe that this is a real world. They expected a pre-fab, designed, and entertainment-park-produced plastic world. Well, it is not," said Loek Sijbers, the artistic director of Floriade's cultural program.

Read more: Olivia Katrandjian: On The Grounds Of Floriade, The Willowman Lives In His Art (PHOTOS)

Flower Industry: Teleflora Survey Finds That Unexpected Flowers Really Do Make Someone Smile -- Even Men - MarketWatch

According to the results of a US survey, both men and women are in agreement that an unexpected gift of flowers brings about smiles.

The survey, conducted online by Harris Interactive® on behalf of Teleflora, the world's leading flower wire service, offering only hand-arranged, hand-delivered floral arrangements, found that 71% of women ages 35-44 said that receiving a bouquet of flowers unexpectedly would make them smile and surprisingly, 49% of men in that same age group agreed. No matter the age, a bright bouquet of flowers can improve someone's mood, considering that 60% of US adults ages 55+ would smile upon unexpectedly receiving a floral gift. 

Read more: Teleflora Survey Finds That Unexpected Flowers Really Do Make Someone Smile -- Even Men - MarketWatch

Flower Industry: Free-trade discord takes toll on flower importers - by Mimi Whitefield

Since Valentine’s Day, Miami flower importers have watched their expenses climb, contending with rising fuel prices and surcharges and, most vexing of all, the expiration of an Andean trade program that allowed them to bring in flowers from Colombia and Ecuador without paying duties.

Now U.S. flower importers must pay duties ranging from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent on the billions of roses, carnations and other blooms imported from Andean countries — the source of about 90 percent of the flowers shipped through Miami International Airport.

So it should come as no surprise that those in South Florida’s flower importing industry, which handles around 89 percent of the cut flowers that arrive in the United States, were closely following this week’s maneuvering on the long stalled U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement and an effort to attach renewal of the Andean Trade Preferences-Drug Eradication Act to it.

For more: Free-trade discord takes toll on flower importers - Americas - MiamiHerald.com

Cut flower sales way down: Figures flower sales could rebound for Mothers Day

Maria Luisa Lopez Hernandez, said to be having a low of 60 to 70% in sales because unlike other years for these dates already had orders for Mother’s Day and actually have none. He said prices would remain for 350 dozen roses, a half-dozen 150 for the spring and already have exotic flower from 400 to 500 pesos, depending on the size. The owner, Paula Gonzalez, said that although sales have fallen by 30% are optimistic that this weekend will rebound with the sale of flowers for Mother’s Day and they have kept prices 350 a dozen roses and spring arrangementsMaria Luisa Lopez Hernandez, said to be having a low of 60 to 70% in sales because unlike other years for these dates already had orders for Mother’s Day and actually have none.
He said prices would remain for 350 dozen roses, a half-dozen 150 for the spring and already have exotic flower from 400 to 500 pesos, depending on the size. The owner, Paula Gonzalez, said that although sales have fallen by 30% are optimistic that this past weekend the sale of flowers for Mother’s Day will have rebounded because they have kept prices 350 a dozen roses and spring arrangements

For more: Looking for flours sales rebound Mother’s Day | Daily Hot News

Flower Exports Turkey: Antalya flower sector aims at $60 mln in exports

In addition to being the Turkish tourism hub, the Mediterranean province of Antalya is also consolidating its position in the cut flower industry with ever-increasing sales figures in international markets.

The province has increased business links with rapidly developing Eastern European countries, as well as Gulf countries, the Turkic Republics and other neighboring markets.

For more: Antalya flower sector aims at $60 mln in exports - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review

WorldCity: Flower Industry - 2009 is shaping up as an off year for Miami’s flower importing business

For the complete report from WorldCity click on this link

Flower Industry - 2009 is shaping up as an off year for Miami’s flower importing business

2009 is shaping up as an off year for Miami’s flower importing business but, although it’s little consolation, it might not be as bad as it appeared earlier in the year and, to be sure, it’s worse elsewhere. Through the first three months of the year, which includes the first of the two critical days for the flower importing industry —Valentine’s Day, with Mother’s Day being the second — Miami’s imports of fresh-cut flowers were off $20.10 million, or 9.55 percent, according to WorldCity analysis of the latest U.S. Census data. The three-month total fell below $200 million for the first time since the first quarter of 2006, to $190.25 million.

Business Daily - Cut Flowers: Dutch Middlemen rob Kenya of flower identity in US - by George Omondi

For the complete report from the Business Daily click on this link

Cut Flowers: Dutch Middlemen rob Kenya of flower identity in US- by George Omondi

While Kenya’s organically grown flowers are among the best quality demand by US consumers, they are usually categorized as European goods.Over 70 per cent of Kenya’s cutflower gets to key markets through the large scale Dutch auctions, a trend that industry players say may take a while to reverse as direct sales to market is expensive and involves a lot of logistical work. Large scale buyers like world’s leading supermarket chains which obtain their stock at the Amsterdam auction also prefer to package and brand the flowers under their own names, totally cutting off their Kenyan connection.

Mrs Jane Ngige, the Kenya Flower Council CEO, says most Kenyan flower growers have limited knowledge of the American market and rely on the infrastructure and market links of the established flower auctions to reach consumers in Europe and US. But she also acknowledges that many farms are now getting direct online orders from US buyers.

theage: Florists' profits wilt - by Lema Samandar

For the complete report from The Age click on this link

Florists' profits wilt - by Lema Samandar

Florists profits have wilted in the downturn due to competition from larger retail outlets and internet-based businesses. Business information analysts IBISWorld found that despite revenue for the industry growing around 3.6 per cent per annum over the past five years, profit levels declined from 4.7 per cent in 2004 to 3.1 per cent last financial year. IBISWorld general manager Robert Bryant said retail florists were experiencing rising competitive pressure from service stations, supermarkets and convenience stores. "Since these retailers usually operate at a lower price point, they've been able to gain a significant share of the local cut flower market," Mr Bryant said.

As a result, of the total $1.7 billion retail value of cut flowers this financial year, flower retailers will generate revenue of $837.1 million. "Overall, internet technology is hindering shop-front florists, due to greater competition from non-store internet florists," Mr Bryant said. But in a bid to survive in a changing industry, many florists had diversified into the broader gifts and homewares market.

Cut Flower Market nosedives worldwide: Economy, climate batter the cut flowers market

EU-Digest

Cut Flower Market nosedives worldwide: Economy, climate batter the cut flowers market

Demand for flowers dipped by about 25 percent this year as recession-hit consumers in traditional European and US markets tightened spending on luxuries. "What we see now is that people are conscious of their spending, they think twice before they buy a bunch of flowers, a bottle of wine, or a new car," says a flower distributer in Miami.

Earnings have also been hit by currency fluctuations. The effect of this problem is also that the labor-intensive horticultural industry in Latin-America and Africa is bearing the brunt of this economic problem. Countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay and other cut flower growers, which count on this industry as a major source of employment are badly hurting as a result. With unemployment figures continuing to rise in the nations which traditionally purchase flowers the future for the flower industry certainly can not be described as "rosy".

Daily Herald/E: Flower Industry: Cut Flower sales down - Local florists find more competition for fewer consumers - by Kim Mikus

For the complete report from the Daily Herald click on this link

Flower Industry: Cut Flower sales down - Local florists find more competition for fewer consumers - by Kim Mikus

A slow economy and competition from big floral brands have forced many area florists to cut back on their fresh-cut flower orders leading up to Mother's Day. The florists don't want to be left with extras that they may not be able to sell next week. "Times are tough. I've scaled back my orders to the wholesaler by 40 percent over last year. We have to be slim and trim. It's a bad economy," said Christy Dugo-Rudie, owner of Joseph's floral and gift shop in Libertyville.

Flowers in the US account for about $2 billion in sales in the two-week window leading up to Mother's Day. This is twice as much as for Valentine's Day, which also saw drooping flower sales. Florist Don Robbins has trimmed his flower orders for Sunday by nearly 20 percent." I think sales are going to be down," said Robbins, the owner of Robbins Flowers in St. Charles and Batavia.

NRF 2009 Mother's Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey shows the following Year Spending decline (in $ billions) : 2007 $2.3 - 2008 $2.0 - estimated 2009* $1.9

AgriHolland Nieuws/EU-Digest: Cut Flowers Industry - Export of flowers from Holland drop 8% in January

For the complete report from AgriHolland Nieuws click on this link

Export of flowers from Holland drop 8% in January

Exports of flowers from Holland dropped 8% in January in comparison to January last year. The overall export of flowers in January amounted to 354 million euro so far this year. Street vendors, flower shops and super markets also saw a considerable drop of their cut flower sales as a result of the economic downturn. In addition to make matters worse credit provisions to flower companies have also been greatly reduced.

chron.com/EU-Digest: Cut Flower Sales - Economy may deflect Cupid’s arrow on Valentine's Day

For the complete report from the Chron.com click on this link

Cut Flower Sales - Economy may deflect Cupid’s arrow on Valentine's Day

Vases filled with red roses, baby’s breath and greenery fill the coolers at Fannin Flowers. But they’re not flying off the shelves as quickly as Lolies Holleman would like. “I think it’s because of the recession,” said Holleman, after waiting on a customer who ordered a delivery of flowers and chocolate. “It’s a little slow.” Sales are down about 10 percent compared to last year, one reason the company only opened two of its three Fannin Street flower shops, she said. During peak seasons like Valentine’s Day, the business typically opens all three of its locations.

Note EU-Digest: Christmas sales were one of the worst we've seen in years," said Boylen, the third-generation owner of Martin Flowers, which dates back to 1927. "It's a trend happening across the country. From FTD orders we get from other states, quantity is down significantly for Valentine's Day." Media Youngblood, who has owned Mable's Flower Shop in Bessemer for 14 years, said her sales are half of what they were a year ago. 1-800-Flowers.com reported last month that it expects revenues to decline as much as 10 percent this year. Flower shipments from Ecuador to the United States are down 23 percent so far this year in what is normally peak season, said Gonzalo Luzuriaga, president of Expoflores, the country's main growers' association."And the quality has also slipped," Markowski said. Ecuador sold $523 million in flowers from January to November 2008, but its central bank predicts sales will drop by $150 million this year. The country produces 17 percent of cut flowers imported into the United States. Importers in South Florida, the cut-flower capital of the United States, are also feeling the pain. Roughly two-thirds of all cut flowers sold nationwide come through Miami International Airport, mostly farmed in Colombia, Ecuador and other Latin American nations. A few South American farms have folded. As prices for fertilizers and jet fuel soared last year, some found their profits so squeezed they could not cover higher costs. Banks have been tightening credit to growers too, stung by the U.S. financial meltdown.

EU-Digest: Human Flower Project: Major slump in cut fresh flower market - Dole Dents South American Flower Industry

For the complete report from Human Flower Project click on this link

Human Flower Project: Major slump in cut fresh flower market - Dole Dents South American Flower Industry

A pair of recent stories both point to the fickle fortunes of those in the cut flower business, especially in South America. First, Dole Foods announced its subsidiary Dole Fresh Flowers would close all its flower farms in Ecuador and two in Colombia. In what sounds like a euphemism, one report described the decision as “impacting 2188 employees” in those two countries. Dole is—or was—the biggest fresh flower producer in Latin America. John Amaya, DFF president, announced, “The fresh flower business is highly fragmented and competitive. Industry oversupply has driven prices down, creating significant pressure on growers to improve performance. Latin American growers are also facing new competition from emerging markets in Africa and Asia,” It appears that Dole will concentrate on a narrow range of flower types, varieties which, for one reason or another, Kenyan and Chinese growers don’t have the hang of—yet. Meanwhile the DFF sales force will be cut by 35%, management by 29%. In Miami, with word of the layoffs at Dole Fresh Flowers, labor activists called for an immediate protest in front of the company’s headquarters, “saying Amaya and Dole failed to meet farmworker demands for collective bargaining agreements.

Oversupplies, unfortunately, have coincided with decreased U.S. demand, according to Ernest Velez, chairman of Asocolflores, the Colombian Flower Exporters Association.

AFP: Dutch flower exports wilt amid world economic downturn

For the complete report from AFP please click on this link

Dutch flower exports wilt amid world economic downturn

The Netherlands, the world's biggest flower exporter, has seen its bloom trade wilt as luxury items get passed over for essentials amid the global economic downturn. "When people have less money to spend, they tend to buy bread instead of flowers," sighs Mike Lansbergen, sales manager for a major Dutch producer of Barberton Daisies in Pijnacker-Nootdorp in the eastern Netherlands. Flower exports to Britain, a major Dutch market, fell by almost a fifth in September, losing 19 percent from the same month in 2007, according to figures published this week by industry body HBAG. Since the beginning of the year, exports to Britain have dropped by 84 million euros.

Business Daily Africa - - Economic slowdown in Europe caps growth of flower exports - by Dominique Patton

For the complete report from the Business Daily Africa click on this link

Economic slowdown in Europe caps growth of flower exports - by Dominique Patton

Figures released on August 14 show that the euro-area economy shrank at an annualised rate of 0.8 per cent in the second quarter, the first such reversal since 2001. And things are unlikely to improve soon. Flower industry experts now say this slow down means Europe will be unable to absorb more Kenyan flowers this year — ruling out any hope of market growth. Peter van Ostaijen, the director of Dutch flower information service HBAG and vice secretary general of the international trade association, Union Fleurs, says demand for flowers in Europe is stagnating. “Exports are clearly in a phase of going down,” he told Business Daily, referring to sales from Holland to large European markets like Germany and UK. “We expect to sustain the current level of exports but growth will be at zero, not the two to three per cent we realised in the previous years.” During times of recession, consumers tend to economise on luxury items and for most people, cut flowers fall into this category. “The sales figures are going down. Last year the Dutch industry grew by four per cent over 2007. In the first half of this year, growth has been flat,” said Mr van Ostaijen.

The Standard: Europeans may ditch our roses for blue variety - by John Njiraini

For the complete report from The Standard click on this link

Europeans may ditch our roses for blue variety - by John Njiraini

The multibillion shilling cut flower sector is facing a ‘not so rosy’ future following the creation of genetically modified blue roses. After 14 years of research, an Australian company, Florigene Pty, has managed to create blue roses using the controversial genetic engineering technology.Already Japanese group Suntory, which owns Florigene, has been given the go-ahead to market genetically modified carnations in the European Union (EU) and sell them as cut flowers. The flowers, which started to circulate in the EU in February, are being sold with labels that clearly indicate the product is genetically modified. Considering that blue is Europe’s favourite colour, the flowers seem to be gaining popularity quite fast.