Flower Industry Not Immune to COVID-19 Impact
As COVID-19’s impact sweeps over the world, it has undoubtedly changed the way we live our lives and the various sectors that make up our economy. The global flower industry is no exception. In the Netherlands, the world’s largest tulip producer, effects of the coronavirus such as declining consumption are hitting fast and hard.
Starting in March, tulip vendors saw their prices hit zero and some farms had to dispose of over 200,000 flowers. This is a particularly painful loss because of the time, resources and labor that goes into producing tulips. Fred Van Tol, a manager of the largest flower and plant producer in the Netherlands, estimates that over 400 million flowers and 140 million tulip stems were thrown away in the past month.
Similarly, the US flower market, based in California, is feeling the pressure of the global pandemic. With the cancellation of thousands of events and closure of retail stores that are deemed “non-essential,” it is increasingly futile to distribute them across the country. However, the limited continuation of online floral purchases and home deliveries offers some hope for the majorly undercut industry.
We hope that as the country emerges from this global crisis and postponed events take place, that we can continue upcycling flowers and working with our non-profit partners.
By Ariela Stein