All out of love: Valentine’s Day flower prices surge as supply chain crisis hits
True love may cost a little more this Valentine’s Day with the global supply chain crisis hitting the flower industry and forcing up the cost of a single – albeit pimped up – rose to as much as $70.
The Flower Industry Australia chief executive, Anna Jabour, said there had been issues with rose supply for a while now, but this Valentine’s Day was seeing prices in excess of double what roses would normally cost.
“As countries shut down, supply chains shut down, and it did make it harder for flowers to come in,” she said. “But this particular Valentine’s Day, florists have been hit by crazy prices.”
Jabour said Ecuadorian roses – a popular import – had been particularly expensive, with prices of up to $140 a dozen for wholesale, which could rise as Valentine’s Day drew closer.
Up to 90% of roses are now imported into Australia, which Jabour said would make it increasingly difficult for florists and major supermarkets who relied on imports to price their bouquets reasonably.
“Roses have been one of the particular varieties that have wiped out local growers because of cheap labour costs and how cheap they bring them in,” she said.
Online florist Mr Roses was offering a box of six imported roses for $99 – not including shipping or vase – while Melbourne-based flower delivery service The Little Market Bunch was charging $68.95 for a single red rose in a box, adorned with a small cutting of baby’s breath (shipping excluded).
Leading floral retailer Roses Only was charging $74.95 for a single long-stemmed red rose, nestled in tissue paper and presented in a box complete with chocolates.
Jabour said as imported prices rose, the pandemic had seen a greater push towards supporting local and heightened demand for Australian-grown product,
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