Chinese people only spend 300 yuan a year to buy flowers! In addition to the impact of the epidemic, the consumption fault has become a hidden worry for the flower industry.

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(previous article) due to the global epidemic of martial arts and lung disease, the export of flowers has been frustrated, and domestic sales have also been greatly affected. when we actually enter the Taipei flower market, there are few people in the flower market. Compared with the actual average price and residual volume in the past three years, it is nearly 30% less than in previous years. Those who sell cut flowers and potted flowers in the flower market all say that the epidemic has tightened consumption, leaving only sporadic sacrifices, birthdays and funerals.

"there are flowers in all seasons in Taiwan, and now is the season with the most flowers." Huang Lijuan, deputy general manager of the Flower Industry Association, said that domestic flowers are mainly used for festival sacrifices, activities and venue layout, as well as various flower art courses, but now there are few people in flower markets and flower shops, and the epidemic has led to economic tightening. Flowers have become the first to bear the brunt because they are not necessities for people's livelihood.

Now it is the season with the largest number of domestic flowers (Photography / Lin Yi-Jun) Taipei Flower Market: "now the performance depends on 'white'!"

Lin Hongyan of Taipei Flower production and Marketing Co., Ltd. (Taipei Flower Market for short) explains that since the Spring Festival this year, the trading volume has been much lower than before, and the total trading volume of the Taipei Flower Market alone is more than 25 million less than that of the previous two years.

"the current situation is that there are flowers but no market." Lin Hung-yen explains that flower prices will rise significantly on the 15th day of the first day of the new year or during festivals, but this year, buying gas is not good, florists will still come to the flower market to order goods, and the number of visitors to the flower market will be significantly reduced. Actually asking the vendors in the flower city, from cut flowers to potted flowers, they all said that there were only sporadic sacrifices and flowers for birthdays and funerals. "now the performance depends on 'white'!" The "white" in the mouth of the shop refers to the funeral.

The empty flower market, cut flower area (photo _ Lin Yijun) African chrysanthemum is in the production season, the trading volume is reduced, the transaction price is mostly the base price, and the farmers adjust it independently.

Changhua is home to flowers. Both Tianwei and Yongjing Township Peasants' Association in Changhua say that after the Spring Festival, flower sales have decreased by about 30%. At present, it is the chrysanthemum season, and the big chrysanthemums, which are mostly used for funerals, are less affected. The prices of commonly used small chrysanthemums, such as sacrificial ceremonies, are 40% lower than last year. The most popular chrysanthemums on the market are African chrysanthemums, which are selling well in Ching Ming Festival, and the peasant associations are also looking for various channels and channels to help farmers.

Yang Mingjing, the ninth class monitor of the Yongjing flower production and marketing class in Changhua, said that the production and marketing class has a planting area of about 10 A, mainly planting chrysanthemum, African chrysanthemum and Platycodon grandiflorum. At present, about 10,000 chrysanthemums and African chrysanthemums are sent to the auction market every week, and the sales volume has been greatly reduced recently. at present, the class members take self-regulation, reduce the amount of flowers, and temporarily plant other fruits and vegetables, and then cooperate with the central government to handle flower display activities to help. "the recent epidemic has made everyone very nervous. If you look at the flowers more, you will feel better."

Qiu Heyuan, the fourth monitor of the Tianwei flower production and marketing class in Changhua, which mainly grows African chrysanthemums, says that sales and prices began to fall after the Lantern Festival. At the beginning of March last year, because of festivals such as the Mazu detour and the birthday of the King of Sanshan, there will be demand for decorated flowers. "the bigger the activity, the greater the sales." But the emergence of this year's epidemic disrupted the original schedule.

Qiu Heyuan explained that recently, there are only guaranteed purchase prices. "if there is a deal, the guarantee will not lose money, and the most fear is that it will not be sold." At present, he assessed the market situation and decided to make self-adjustment: reduce shipments. "in fact, it is very profitable to buy flowers now, almost to buy the best quality at the cheapest price."

Xiaoju (Photography _ Lin Yijun) Lilies: the production seasons overlap and the sales pressure of lilies gradually emerges

Luo Hongqi, who has a good reputation as a talented lily and also serves as director of the Lily Industry Development Association, says that the Houli producing area is dominated by bulbous flowers, such as lilies, sword orchids, Oncidium, taro and embroidery, with a planting area of nearly eight hectares and a wide range of varieties, ranging from lilies to carnations, with a yield of 1.2 million lilies a year.

Luo Hongqi explained that in the case of lilies, the later production season is about from November to May every year, while the lilies in other months come from high altitude areas. The gradual warming after March will accelerate the growth of lilies, but at this time, the lily production seasons in Houli and high altitude areas overlap, and then the lilies will form a strong selling pressure.

"Thank you to the Land Gong for buying flowers in the first 15 to say good-bye."

Hao Fengyi, the fourth monitor of the Alishan flower production and marketing class, who has won the Shennong Award and grows perfume lilies, says that the monthly output is about 100,000 lilies, about 70% of them are sent to the auction market, and 30% of them are sold by themselves, but buying gas began to decline after the Spring Festival this year, while the epidemic affected the export of flowers, and some flowers returned to the domestic market, coupled with the cancellation of many sacrificial activities, making flower prices and sales poor this year.

Hao Fengyi said that unlike industrial products, which are resistant to storage and have a short exhibition time, when a large number of flowers appear on the market, it is easy to cause prices to fall, so they will choose to destroy them in order to maintain market price stability. He believes that unlike in Europe, buying flowers is not included in the vegetable purchase budget. When they sell directly, most of their customers are over 50 years old, and they usually buy them for sacrifices. "thanks to the Lord of Land, so that everyone can remember to buy flowers on the 15th day of the new year to say good-bye."

Lily faces strong selling pressure (Photo / Lin Yijun) Rose: the price begins to drop after Valentine's Day, and roses other than red have the greatest impact.

Nantou Puli flower production and marketing class Ruan Weipeng is a second-generation flower grower. The rose garden in his family is about eight points in size. About 1,000 mini roses can be picked every day, which are mainly sold to major flower markets in Taiwan, while most of the flowers of other family members in the production and marketing class are sold to the Taipei flower market. He said that compared with African chrysanthemums, the price of roses is slightly lower, but it has not yet hit bottom, and there will not be many remnants sent to the flower market.

"prices began to fall after Valentine's Day." Ruan Weipeng said that roses are the most used on Valentine's Day, and prices began to fall slightly after March 14 this year, which should have been a normal phenomenon, but due to the tightening of overall gas buying, only the price of red roses was stable, while the prices of roses of other colors fell a lot.

Ruan Weipeng believes that although this epidemic affects buying gas, it also gives the rose garden at home time to try something new. "Flowers are very fresh and must be changed all the time." He explains that it takes some time to grow new varieties to stable sales, but it is easy to encounter competition from imported flowers. In the past, most of the time was spent on growing flowers, and then he would slowly move into the tourist garden, expand new customers, and let more people know roses.

Different colors of roses (photo _ Lin Yijun) carnations: the current price is still above the cost, waiting for Mother's Day orders

"from the age of 29 when he was a monitor to the age of 72 now, he seldom encountered a drop in flower prices." Chuang Ming-Jen, the ninth monitor of the Tianwei flower production and marketing class in Changhua, who has grown flowers for more than 40 years, says that at present, the transaction price of carnations is still above the cost. In the past, on Mother's Day, nearby restaurants, company numbers, cram schools, and schools, carnations were ordered, and flowers were sent to female visitors or students to give flowers to their mothers before Mother's Day. This year, orders are still received for Mother's Day, and sales in May are not expected to fluctuate much.

Compared with Chuang Ming-Jen, Luo Hongqi, a florist in Houli, Taichung, feels differently. He said that carnations mainly spend time on graduation in May and Mother's Day. Taiwan uses about 6 million carnations before Mother's Day. He will ship about 200000 carnations in early May every year, usually ordered by restaurants, company numbers and city councillors, etc., which is normally ordered at the beginning of March, but the degree of inquiry this year is very low. I am very worried about the sales of carnations this year.

Potted flowers: sales are halved, potted flowers have a longer buffer time, but there is also selling pressure.

Zhou Jiahong, a member of the 10th class of Tianwei flower production and sales class in Changhua, who grows potted flowers, says that potted flowers are mostly used to open stores and congratulate others on gifts. It will be the peak season before the election, especially when local candidates buy more. After this year's election, sales have dropped slightly. So far, their own selling prices have not changed, but their sales have decreased by 50% compared with last year.

Zhou Jiahong explained that in the past, potted flowers were produced while selling, but this year's situation is special. The export of orchids has also compressed the market of potted flowers, so they choose to reduce production to adjust on their own. Compared with cut flowers, potted flowers have a buffer time of two or three months, and the selling pressure is smaller than cut flowers, but over time, the plant shape will also change, affecting the selling phase.

Zhou Jiahong said that the epidemic has greatly reduced sales in flower shops and flower markets, and the only orders that are not affected may be large woody bonsai and grass flowers for landscape projects, or potted plants for green walls. In view of the current situation, it will first cooperate with the central policy and then slowly transform itself to try teaching and guided tours.

The fault of potted flower consumption: young people do not buy flowers, and flower buyers are mostly middle-aged women.

Apart from the impact of the epidemic, flower farmers, farmers' associations and flower shop operators all agreed that flower buyers are now concentrated in middle-aged and above women, and young people are not familiar with flowers and do not have the habit of buying flowers. The consumption gap is a big warning for the long-term development of the flower industry.

Luo Hongqi, director of the Lily Industry Development Association, cited himself as an example to illustrate that during his studies, the school would have courses related to flowers, but now that the younger generation is far away from flowers, "Valentine's Day is no longer popular." He observed that the younger generation has more consumption choices, and believes that the practical value of flowers is not high, so the willingness to spend flowers is not high.

"if parents don't take their children to the movies when they are young, their children won't buy tickets when they grow up." Luo Hongqi uses this analogy to make a suggestion: now the education of food farmers is ramming, and flowers, fruits and vegetables also come from the nourishment of the land. Through combined education, we can also plant seeds in the hearts of the younger generation that pay attention to the land and have requirements for the beauty of life.