Flower prices to go up days before hearts day

CEBU, Philippines - Although the current flower supply in the local market is ample, consumers may still see a rise in flower prices few days ahead of Valentine's Day.

Flower shop owners at the Freedom Park in the downtown's Carbon Market observed the supply of their goods to be sufficient owing to the recent favorable weather.

But because demand for flowers normally goes up few days before Feb. 14, retailers tend to also increase prices by 50 to even 100 percent.

"Prices tend to be more expensive during the peak season but many still buy our products because it's a tradition for lovers to give flowers," shop owner Cristita Escamillia, 43, said in Cebuano. She has been selling flowers for more than 20 years now.

Current prices

A single long-stemmed rose, a Valentine's Day favorite, is currently selling at P25 to P30 but this could hike up to P50 as the Feb. 14 peak season nears.

As of yesterday, a premium dozen of Holland roses is sold at P250 while a 12-stem bouquet of homegrown roses is trading at P150. A bundle of locally-grown Malaysian mumps is sold at P150. Traders claimed they normally charge a minimum markup price of P50 on every bundle or bouquet of flowers they sell.

Lolita Archival, owner of Lita's Flower Shop, said the average price for a dozen florist-arranged roses could range between P1,000 to P3,000.

"We expect nga daghan nang manganhi sunod semana especially mga lalaki nga mamalit og buwak para sa ilang asawa o uyab," the 58-year-old trader said.

Market vendors told The FREEMAN flower prices would likely double starting next week. This could mean consumers will have to spend a significant amount of their money on heart's day.

Good yield

Gerry Avila, Department of Agriculture-7 agribusiness chief, explained a weather of "rain then followed by sunshine and favorable temperature" has likely provided flower growers a good yield.

"But this is not only the reason, for instance, farmers growing roses forego marcotting at this time para maka-harvest og daghang flowers," Avila said Thursday. Marcotting is a form of plant propagation.

He added: "As expected, flower farmers are now preparing their farms to supply flowers this Valentine's Day in which saleable are roses."

The wholesale flower market in Freedom Park is where most city-based flower sellers buy their goods and individual consumers buy blossoms.

Most flowers sold in major Cebu markets are sourced from the city's mountain barangay of Busay. Some are imported from Bohol province and cities of Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Baguio.  (FREEMAN)