The cultivation of flowers by Dutch growers in Canada’s Western region is running into significant obstacles. Rose farming has practically vanished, and the once thriving flower auction is seeing its turnover decrease dramatically in recent times.
The downturn has a lot to do with competition from growers, specifically rose cultivators, in Africa and South American countries like Colombia and Ecuador. Production costs there are a fraction of those faced in Canada, while the flowers are equal, if not generally better in quality. Add in the unfavorable exchange rate between the Canadian and American dollar and skyrocketing petrol costs, and the predicament becomes very apparent.
“They have an optimal growing climate there”, flower farmer Leo Quick from the town of Chilliwack somberly explains the competition he and his Canadian colleagues face. “Growers don’t have to invest in greenhouses or lighting. Plus labor costs are very low; plenty of people there will work for next to nothing”, he accurately sums up the dilemma.
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