US: Hurricanes, marijuana affecting local florists
Thought isn’t always given to where the flower grew — where it was tended until it was ready to be plucked and shipped away to the florist — until that shipment route gets interrupted and the flow of flowers stops.
That’s the case for florists across the country in the aftermath of hurricane season, especially after Hurricane Irma caused chaos in Florida in late August and early September, shutting down the Miami International Airport, a major flower hub for shipments from Central and South America.
“You’re looking at Ecuadorian roses flying into Miami,” said Penny Kiger, owner and designer at Woodland Floral in Kalispell. “They closed down the airport for each storm. If you were relying on roses for sure, and that was the only way you were getting them, you were in jeopardy.”
Given the nature of flowers and their limited lifetimes, it didn’t matter if an order for a September wedding was placed back in March — the flowers need to grow and ship close to the date.
Read more at the Flathead Beacon (Molly Priddy)
