Winter battered Central and South America, the origins of much of Americas
springtime supply of flowers. But retail suppliers say thats still OK, because
even if bad weather makes flowers scarcer, you can count on market factors to
keep prices stable and reasonable.
The stormy jet stream thats still causing havoc up here also bulged down into
the Southern Hemisphere, impacting growers. For instance, a frost hit Colombia
in February, damaging the Valentines Day rose crop. It hurt availability, but
not prices, as sellers undercut each other.
Commerce has remained brisk as agribusinesses have been receiving carnations and
more roses from Colombia.
Some 35 percent of that countrys exported flowers are shipped in the form of
bouquets, then sold to wholesale outlets like Costco, Price Club and BJs. Roses
by the dozen also are shipped directly to gas stations and convenience stores,
and that affects the market, too.
Photo Credit: Sandfy Huffaker, Getty Images
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