Autumn is making its entrance, and auctioneer Bart Zomerdijk can clearly see the change in the coolers and staging areas of Royal FloraHolland. The color palette is shifting toward warm reds, oranges, copper tones, and deep purples, the perfect match for the season as the weather turns colder and wetter. People are spending more time indoors, and creating atmosphere and coziness becomes even more important.
© RFH
"In recent weeks we've seen supplies of summer products decline, while autumn favorites are on the rise," says Bart. "Chrysanthemums, calluna, heather, ornamental grasses and fruits, pampas grass, and berry branches are especially popular right now. We're also seeing more seasonal foliage such as oak leaves, which give arrangements that full, rich autumn look."
Berry shrubs stealing the show
On Bart's auction clock A03, the berry shrub category has been booming. Products like snowberry (Symphoricarpos), rose hips, viburnum, and crocosmia berries are increasingly in demand. Their decorative appeal and long vase life make them popular with florists and arrangers, who use them in autumn and winter pieces. Soon, callicarpa and ilex verticillata will also return to the market, known for their striking, brightly colored berries that always turn heads.
Outlook for the coming month
Bart expects demand for autumn products to remain strong. With All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day approaching in early November, buyers are already looking for arrangements with symbolic and natural elements. Branches with berries and hips, which combine beautifully with dried flowers and rustic materials, are especially sought after.
Interest is also growing in houseplants with a warm, cozy feel, such as croton, anthurium, netera, schlumbergera, and calathea. These plants fit perfectly with the trend of creating a snug, autumn-inspired home interior.
Meanwhile, roses are in short supply. Cold and wet weather in Ethiopia and Kenya has slowed production, and storms with hail have caused additional losses. As always, shortages in one crop can push up prices in others.
Order picking in Aalsmeer
From September 18, some flowers from clocks A03 and A12 in Aalsmeer will shift to order picking. For buyers, this means new delivery notes, different trolley loads, a revised order of delivery, and changes to the viewing process. Since September 1, Select Delivery has also been available for certain flowers via order picking in Aalsmeer. Through Floriday, buyers can now select delivery time slots per buyer plate, both for auction clock purchases and Clock Presales.
For growers, the way lots are auctioned and the auction sequence is also changing. The selling order is now determined by random grower lots. Growers also have more influence on the sequence, for example by linking it to the Clock Presales price. In addition, multiple product groups can be delivered on the same trolley if they are set up for order picking.
If you have any questions about these changes, you can always contact the Customer Contact Center or your auctioneer.
