Mike Duivenvoorden from Duif Flowers has observed a growing demand for organic flowers. "I recently started offering an organic selection from a grower in Nederhemert, the Netherlands, and it was well received right away. I had been getting more requests for organic flowers, so I decided to focus on it."
Mike believes the rising demand for organic flowers is driven by consumer concerns. "A florist from Amsterdam who buys from me mentioned that more customers are asking whether the flowers are organic and free of pesticides," he says. However, he notes that interest can vary by region. "In the south of the country, customers mostly seek beautiful and affordable flowers. But in cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht, sustainability is much more important. The same goes for Sweden, where I export a lot—people there want to make conscious purchases and are willing to pay for it."
© Malou van der Burg
"News reports about pesticides and their impact on the environment make people worried, but it also causes unrest in the sector," he notes. "That flowers are already expensive is one thing. But then there's all the 'fuss', as some call it, about pesticides… It certainly doesn't make it any easier."
Initially, Mike had doubts about the shelf-life of organic flowers, but he was pleasantly surprised during his visit to the 't Hof nursery, together with florist Malou van der Burg. "I always thought that organic flowers wouldn't last long. But when I stood in that nursery, I was really impressed by the quality of their summer flowers like campanulas, nigellas, spireas, and even ilex. I never expected them to look so good. I always thought: you give organic flowers good nutrition and they just grow on their own, but it became clear to me that they are simply strong flowers by themselves."
© Malou van der Burg
For the time being, Mike is still busy expanding his organic offerings. "I am actively looking for more growers now. In today's market, the supply of organic flowers is still limited, but there is a future in it, although we have to get through some hassle. Pesticides are ultimately just not good, I truly believe that."
For more information:
Mike Duivenvoorden
Duif Flowers
Tel.: +31 (0)6 19 378 869
[email protected]
www.duifflowers.com
