The floriculture industry is the third export sector in the Netherlands and the situation during the COVID-19 crisis is therefore a hot topic in the Dutch media. Last weekend, again several Dutch growers shared their story.
Not only flowers are being thrown away, also plants are suffering. An orchid grower in the north of the country told a local news outlet that demand is so disappointing that he had to send home many employees.
Tulips
The 30% supply rule at Royal FloraHolland, that still applies today, affects all growers, and particularly the ones for whom this is the most important time of the year. Family Pronk, for example, had to throw away 8 million tulips. Another grower (Carl van der Salm) sells his and some of his colleague growers' bunches on the side of the street. Another grower worries about his Polish employees, who he had to send home, but they are stuck; they cannot go to Poland, because they have to go into quarantine, but staying in the Netherlands means no income.
Trees
Also for the tree nursery industry, this is an important period. But what if the garden centers in the Netherlands and the surrounding countries won't buy garden pants anymore? It happened to Belgium grower Erwin and Tine. Hundred thousands of plants are left at the nursery and they probably have to be destroyed.
Online
Fortunately, online sales of garden items seem to continue and are actually doing quite well. Bakker.com told Dutch media Telegraaf that they see the sales increasing.