F. Optimal Connection had the chance to sit down with Head of Roses Department, Ishai Sharon, and he was able to give some insight on the flower market performance. According to him, the market has started to improve slightly, but the colours are still low in price. High demand for red roses and also white roses is improving. Ishai attributes this to the Christmas Holiday that is just around the corner.
“From observing the red roses,” Ishai states, “it is clear that there is a low supply of the main variety, Red Naomi from Holland.” The cold weather with East wind on the last weeks, after hot weather in September and October have caused low production by the local Dutch growers. Also the Spanish Red Naomi production is not high.
“For the planning of big flush reds from the high altitude in Kenya, one needs to cut the crop production and prepare it now. This results in very small quantities in the market,” Ishai advises.
The Rhodos rose variety, the main red rose in Kenya, maintained its numbers in quantity because of better marketing planning by the growers for the next period and up to the Valentine’s Day period. Even though the supply of Rhodos is increasing, the prices are very stable and quite huge quantities sold for the direct market.
From Ishai’s view, the weather in Europe is comfortable and we expect that it remains as such until the Christmas Holiday. However, he is quick to add that there were some problems faced with the freight capacity and with offloading. This has caused delays as well as supply and quality problems.
“Next week the prices are supposed to improve, not only the red and white roses but also the colours,” Ishai concludes.