Royal FloraHolland auctioneer Bart Zomerdijk notes this week that spring is on its way, which means lots of activity on the auction clocks. In this article, he also talks about the long run-up to International Women's Day which was celebrated on March 8 and reflects on the Keukenhof, which will soon reopen its doors.
Long run-up period International Women's Day
International Women's Day was celebrated last weekend. "And we have seen a strong growth in demand for flowers and plants. Lots of roses, tulips, chrysanthemums, hyacinths, lisianthus, and other spring products. The focus was on cheerful, colorful flowers and bouquets symbolizing the strength and beauty of women. The run-up to Women's Day was long, with Eastern European customers in particular starting their shopping well in advance. This way, they could gather the large quantities they need and get them to their customers on time. Some destinations were as much as a week away by truck. In those countries, it is more about the appearance at the moment of giving, whereas in the Netherlands, vaselife is key.
Spring is just around the corner
Spring means plenty of activity on the auction clocks of Royal FloraHolland. This period brings many great developments for the flower and plant trade due to the beautiful weather that is approaching. Consumers are bringing spring into their homes and going outside again to brighten up the garden. The clocks are filled with a wide range of flowers typical of this season: from tulips and daffodils to gerberas and lilies.
Among plants, sales of spring bloomers such as daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, and other plants that symbolize spring, such as pansies and primulas, are on the rise. This is the time when the demand for colorful, cheerful flowers peaks and where gardeners and flower lovers make their choice of spring blooms. Personally, on my clock, I always find the Dutch ranunculus, now slowly coming into production, the ultimate announcement of spring. Such beautiful colors and with huge flowers these days. You can almost see that the plant has been holding back all winter and can now finally grow.
Keukenhof
The Keukenhof reopens its doors on March 20 and attracts around a million visitors every year. Over eight weeks, the Keukenhof showcases what Dutch ornamental horticulture has to offer and puts Dutch flowers and plants in the global spotlight even more.
Many product groups have their own show and promotion period with an accompanying Product Day where growers and buyers can meet. It also gets busier then with tourists coming to take a look at Royal FloraHolland. They often have a combination ticket for an early morning visit to the flower auction and then on to Keukenhof.
In short, March is a month full of growth and flowering, both on the clocks and in nature. Make sure you are well prepared for this busy and blooming period in the flower trade!