As the list of cancelled events continues to grow, so does the list of initiatives being undertaken to promote the floriculture industry. All over the world, growers, breeders, traders, florists and many more in the chain are doing their utmost best to support the industry and encourage people to buy flowers.
Click here for the video made by Florigine Flowers
Flowers relieve stress
As consumer demand for health products continue to rise, many of the initiatives are linked to the health benefits flowers and plants bring. Colombian grower Florigine Flowers, for example made a video in which they not only share the message "Flowers bring happiness", but also that flowers beat stress and relieve tension. "Stay home and bring the beauty indoors with flowers!", they stated in their Facebook post. In the video, their Applause Rose, a variety bred by Suntory Flowers, is the star of the movie.
Stimulate gardening
Another gro
wer, Canadian grower Debbie Foisy of Debs Greenhouse in Sturgeon County (Alberta) is also working hard to keep plants on top of everyone's minds. Her garden center does not officially open until the end of April, but in the meantime, she is creating one Facebook Live video per day. In this video, she is teaching her audience about food growing and other fun projects that can be done in the comfort of their own home. She is also looking to host one-on-one workshops, as long as they’re allowed, she told Greenhouse Canada. On top of that, she informed us that she recently launched a gardening project, named 'The Great Garden Project of Sturgeon County'. "It is a program designed for any homeowner within the Sturgeon County Boundaries. Local businesses have teamed up to help each other amid the pandemic. Gardening is good for the soul and growing your own veggies is not only rewarding but a way we can all pitch in." She offers the raised garden planters in two, starting from 40 USD per unit. "In addition sponsors will be giving away 20 complete kits!"
Donating flowers
Flowers are also being donated to brighten someone's day. In many countries, we see flowers being donated to hospitals and nursing homes. Also in the US it is happening. "I was watching the video of the family members outside the windows of the senior homes, waiving to someone they love and they can't get inside, they can't visit them and the wheels start spinning. We have all these beautiful plants that are going nowhere," Nikki George of Gritt's Midway Greenhouse told wchstv.com. From that, Smiles for Seniors was born. "People can purchase a flower from the greenhouse that will be delivered to a resident in a nursing home." And things are going well. "In the middle of a pandemic, with everything closing down, orders are rolling in."
But also flowers that were intended for events are prevented from going to waste. "Rather than letting floral arrangements go to waste, brides and other event planners are opting to send them to hospital patients and nursing home residents", Better Homes & Gardens reports.
Another initiative to prevent event flowers to go to waste was undertaken in Philadelphia. The event company DFW Event Design found an uplifting way to make use of the 2,000 flowers that were almost wasted after several of its events were cancelled, reported Philadelphia Magazine. "They drove the two truckloads of flowers to Rittenhouse Square, one of the major public parks in the city, and reportedly 'flower-bombed the whole thing.'" Also in Ohio, a local florist brought joy to Clevelanders with a massive floral installation at Edgewater Park, www.news5cleveland.com reported. The flowers were provided by Mayesh, which is the largest flower wholesaler in Northeast Ohio. They had a significant amount of inventory on hand as they prepared to close through April.
Colombia and Ecuador share their story
Most of the flowers imported in the US are grown in South America, particularly Colombia and Ecuador. But these are being shipped to more countries all over the world. As COVID-19 is a global crises, demand for flowers decreased drastically and in turn, they feel the impact.
In order to show the importance of floriculture in their countries, stories are being shared. Like Colombian hydrangea grower Flores Del Este. In a video, they describe that they and the entire floriculture industry need to stay strong and not give up. "Stay strong flower industry! Together we can do it!"
Also Ecuadorian export association Expoflores shares their story and the impact of COVID-19 on their flower industry in the video below. "Without flowers our tomorrow doesn't exist."
If your company is undertaking initiatives to keep flowers in the hearts of consumers during these challenging times, feel free to share them with us and send us an email (info@floraldaily.com).