Belgium has gone into full lockdown , keep up the example of several other European countries . With the outer borderline of the Schengen area close , the devoid menstruation of goods and masses is further limited . For instance , Rungis , the wholesale market in Paris , has been close to flowers and plant since yesterday eve . " When in the beginning this week I was able to still betray a bit , now , there ’s practically no trade at all . Zero " , one flora grower say . We talked to growers and traders in the Benelux to see how they ’re doing .
Pictured : the Van der Ende flower challenge is going viral , with companies buying loads of flowers for their fellow so as to help out the growers
Supermarket plantsSmaller ' supermarket plants ' are still being trade . " It ’s at a spare minimum , 30 % of what we would normally do " , say Anita Kap of Kwekerij Freek v.d . Veldern , " and unluckily the food waste collector is our biggest client the right way now , but there are at least some order . Most of them little , a number of cancellations also , but one client actually wanted something extra . For now , the Dutch garden centers are also still overt and , especially now , the genus Gerbera is bringing some extra color to the garden . "
Tropical plantsTropical plant are n’t faring as well though , and that ’s not just due to the gay weather condition . Ron van hideout Bosch from Berkel en Rodenrijs is prompt of the previous crisis in 2008 . " That was something totally unlike of course , but enterpriser can still learn something from that fourth dimension . For illustration , you check all procedures , put things on clutches that do n’t have high-pitched priority , and you attend at what you still have way for and what should perhaps be thrown out at one pointedness . "
In orchids , prices are abysmal . " There ’s a small amount still going to England , Eastern Europe and Scandinavia ( except for Denmark ) , other countries are completely shut " , according to Micha Groothuizen of Levoplant . " As of today , we ’ve been destroying plant , because we take to continue in the production . We can only hope that the club and thriftiness will get back up and hunt again ASAP . "
Trading companies : to fill up or not to close?The market is in the doldrums , and various company react in unlike ways . " We ’re pull to do monolithic write - offs , and a lot of our inventory is going into the bin . But as long as the auction remains opened , we ’ll stay open as well " , says Theo de Mooij of Hoven & De Mooij . " We ’re control a responsibility for ourselves towards node , shopkeeper and florist shop , so as to support them as much as possible . Then some grocery store are still exposed as well ; the Netherlands , part of Germany ( although the situation convert always there , one client told us that he had to close his shop but now he ’s doing delivery , which is still allowed ) ; and we ’re also still sending peak to Russia and Eastern Europe . We ’re also helping fellow bargainer who ca n’t physically be here by inspecting and trading for them . "
Royal FloraHolland is in talk with the Dutch ministry of agriculture , and on a regular basis provides update per exportation country . The latest overview can be foundhere .
BelgiumBelgium has gone into lockdown as of today . The most urgent problem is with growers , watch by provider , of course . Ellen Pieters , Managing Director with Gediflora , is maintain a level headland . " Our starting materials are still being furnish , and in that common sense our output is more or less continuing as normal . What ’s more , the ball - shaped chrysanthemum is more of a late summertime product , and the current position is bound to return to normal at some point . But for now , things can deepen by the day , of course . We ourselves are test to ride out calm , and to show that to our employees as well . "
Flemish manufacture association AVBS just released an update for the ornamental diligence in Flanders . In a preliminary estimate , they assess the damages will amount to 134.58 million euro .
reduce flowersMarco van Zijverden and Steven van Schilfgaarde already assure Dutch media of the drama call for place in the Dutch industry . Dutch rear grower Arie van hideaway Berg also echoed the sentiment among flower growers in the country ( liaison ) . This image is reassert from all sides . " I was only able-bodied to sell a few of the best stems " , says one chrysanthemum cultivator who asked to remain anonymous . " But we have to befuddle off a lot . And 30 % of very lilliputian , that ’s really very little . "
pinch measuresThe Dutch government is takingemergency measures . These are n’t just very welcome , they ’re perfectly necessary . Among these measures are DoL tax credit , a reimbursement of part of the reward , security repository and sake rebate , deferment of payment and lowering of fines , and diligence - specific recompense touchstone .
© FloralDaily.com/Geert Peeters
