Covid-19's lasting effect infiltrated supply chains and the labor industry, causing shortages of a variety of products, including flowers. Like most brides, Haley Herry envisioned walking down the aisle with her dream bridal bouquet months in advance. “Flowers that I wanted were blue, blush, and white,“ Herry said.
The nationwide flower shortage uprooted her plan just one week before her wedding day. “Well, the white flower, or the main staple, I guess, was nowhere,” Herry said. Two months after Herry walked down the aisle, the flower shortage is still affecting weddings, parties, and events.
There is one kind of flower that all brides want, but florists are struggling to find. “White roses are very hard to find," said Louisiana Wholesale Florists Manager, Rick Hill. "It’s across the board, but roses are the hardest.”
As postponed weddings and events are now booking venues every weekend, this increased demand for flowers is not the only cause of the shortage.
Vendors from California have moved on to a new cash crop. “A lot of the flower growers in California have converted to growing cannabis,” Hill said. Louisiana Wholesale Florists typically receive a multitude of flowers from South America, but flowers from South America shipped by airlines are now replaced by more profitable cargo. “It’s a snowball effect," Hill said. "It’s just been one thing after the other”
The shortage initially began Mother's Day 2020 and is not wilting any time soon. “All of the holidays, one after the other, mean it will most likely be June or July next year before we will see an increased supply,” Hill said.
In the meantime, many florists are being extra creative to give their customers want they want. Florists are turning to "real-touch," silk flowers as well as dry flowers to expand the variety.
Read the complete article at www.tigertv.tv.