Flower care

Flower Auction’s notes In the January monthly report it was mentioned that Valentine’s prices were going to turn out very good; but at that very moment it was not clear yet how good. After all the flowers have been sold it can be stated that Valentine’s 2006 prices and results have broken all records. Even the turnovers were higher, realized with considerable smaller quantities this year, taking in account the pre and the actual Valentine’s week together. Those lower supplied quantities mainly from domestic production and only but very slightly also of import products. The explanation of the lower domestic supplied quantities was the very cold and dark weather throughout the month of January. Besides, growers/producers try to save on energy costs, which have become extremely expensive. Many growers cannot effort taking such high risks anymore, as long as the fuel cost is so high. Retroactively, when prices turned out so high, they realized they could have made some profits, even with these high energy costs. Well, it is always easy to conclude afterwards, but one has to plan the production in advance, which is not easy. In the actual Valentine’s week the total average price for all flowers together ended up at 31 Eurocents per stem, 3 cents higher than last year during the same week. Absolutely much higher prices have been achieved for roses. This year the total average price for all tea roses together was 62 cents (last year 48 cents). For Grand Prix it was euro 1.65 (last year 1.24) For all small and sweetheart roses the total average price was 20 cents (last year 14 cents). Other products with much higher prices these year were: anthurium, gerberas, helianthus, hypericum, all lilies, except the longiflorum types, protea, and wax flowers. Lower prices however for: anemones, chrysanthemums, carnations, spray carnations, leucadendron, lilies longiflorum, solidago and trachelium. Tulip prices have been steady and identical to last year. Remarkable this year was that the prices have stayed high until the very last day just before Valentine’s day. Even during the post Valentines week the general price level remained good. Only during week number 8 prices did slightly slow down, while during week 9 they have increased again, mainly due to the fact that demand for the approaching International Woman’s Day increased, especially for roses. Prices of several other products however decreased, especially for: gerbera, gypsophila, alstromeria, solidago, chrysanthemums and helianthus. Finally results obtained with the International woman’s Day have turned out very positive and satisfactory. The VBA Aalsmeer auction reported a turnover increase for cut flowers of 4 million euros compared to the same week of 2005, which was in increase of 14%, realized just by higher prices. Demand from and export to the following countries has been best: Russia, Poland, Lithuania and Croatia. However good results have also been realized in the Netherlands, Italy and France. The turnovers of all auctions in the Netherlands together during the month of February are published and show a very positive picture as well. A cut flower turnover increase of 6.3% was realized with higher prices for nearly all products.