When the COVID-19 pandemic began last year, many people bought flowers to send to loved ones and frontline workers or to brighten their homes.
Amid an increase in demand, small-scale Skagit County flower farmers say they have gained new customers and expanded their businesses.
“I think (demand) is here to stay for a while,” said Jesalyn Pettigrew of Mossy Gate Flower Farm, based in Big Lake. “There are people who have to have flowers on their table every single week. It surprised me.”
Though locally grown flowers are widely available, most flowers sold in the U.S. are imported from other countries.
Imports of cut flowers are four times the U.S. domestic production of cut flowers, according to a May 3 Bloomberg piece that cites data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Agriculture (USDA) and International Trade Commission.
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