Increase in flower sales

Press, 21 July 1988, Page 30

Increase in flower sales

Flower sales had picked up at the market and through retail outlets, according to a flower market auctioneer for MacFarlane and Growers, Ltd, Mr Tim Armstrong. Mr Armstrong said he was .not sure whether people were anticipating spring, or it was a growing trend, but there had been a noticeable increase in demand. North Island flower supplies are still supplementing a shortfall in local crops because of the unpredicatable weather. Spring flowers, ericas, proteas and leucodendrons were coming south. Bulk supplies of orchids were filling a large gap in the local market also. “The falling New Zealand dollar is also responsible, because growers are getting more money for exporting flowers than selling them on the local market,” Mr Armstrong said. Daisies were in good

supply in pinks, whites and yellows. The most popular was a double daisy with a cream centre. These are selling up to $2.70 a bunch. Auckland growers were also reluctant to send flowers south because of the low prices offered here, so a shortfall in spring flowers is expected soon as local glass house supplies finish. Outdoor crops in .Christchurch could not cope with current demand, Mr Armstrong said. Gypsophila was still very expensive at $8 to $l7 a bunch, depending on quality. Carnations remained firmly priced at up to $11.20 a bunch. Anemones and violets, which are thriving in the recent wet and cold weather, were about 80 cents to $1.30 for small bunches.

Daffodils are up $2.70 a bunch, and orchids averaged at $5 a stem, except premium stems which cost $9 to $lO each.