Flower growers struggling
Stores that plants were destined to be sold in accepting few plants now and there have been many orders cancelled
The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t stopped the spring crop of hyacinths, daffodils, lilies and tulips at Pioneer Flower Farms from growing.
But the grocery stores they were destined to be sold in are accepting minimal plants now and there have been numerous cancellations.
“They’re playing it by year and definitely cutting back with our product that they’re allowing into the stores,” said Kristen Sikking, of the St. Catharines business on Seventh Street.
Pioneer Flower Farms, like other greenhouses, is now faced with the challenge of getting perishable product to market before it dies.
She said flowers can only sit in coolers for so long. It’s why the farm has opened some pop-up stands throughout the city using an honour system.
“With the short shelf life of our product, we would have to dump everything, and then where would the greenhouse sector be?”
Andrew Morse, executive director of Flowers Canada Ontario, which represents 180 growers in the province, said the industry is struggling.
“The reality is that farms have lost most of the locations where they are able to sell their product, which means many people have had to throw out a lot of product or have a backup of product,” he said.
Morse said about 60 per cent of the industry’s plants is sold between Easter and Mother’s Day.
“We’re just walking into that period, so all of our farms are at maximum capacity. They’re completely full of
plants, ready to go,” he said.
“Without a place to sell them, that means that much of their annual income is directly threatened by the challenges in selling that product right now.”
Morse said the grocery sector accounts for more than half of industry sales. But the continued panic buying of items such as toilet paper has meant tremendous logistical pressure for stores to restock those items. Many have chosen not to carry flowers in order to focus on getting those other products on their shelves.
“The situation is very, very serious,” he said. “We’re seeing substantial losses of sales. A lot of layoffs and challenges with those farms continuing operation and we’re very concerned about where this goes.”
The flower industry in Ontario accounts for $800 million in sales and half of that gets shipped to the United States, which is having the same issues in its stores.
Niagara producers account for approximately 50 per cent of Ontario’s production and a quarter of Canada’s production.
Morse’s organization believes it could see as much as $600 million in lost sales by June 1 depending on how things go and whether the industry continues to be categorized as an essential service that can operate. He said many growers are seeking strategies to try to get their flowers in front of consumers any way they can. Those include cutting prices, doing direct to consumer sales, curbside sales, online purchasing and pickup and self-serve kiosks at their farms or other locations.
Pioneer Flower Farms will be selling some of its flowers in the parking lot of Lincoln County Humane Society starting Friday and using an honour system. They’ll be joined by Creekside Greenhouses in Jordan, which also has Easter lilies and hydrangeas to sell.
Matt Koole of Creekside said most of its Easter products are sold through Costco, but volumes are down right now. He said the Easter season accounts for almost 20 per cent of its annual business.
Creekside has been selling product from its loading dock on Fairlane Road, also using an honour system, and advertising it on social media.
“It’s still a drop in the bucket but it’s surprising how many people are coming out to buy a couple of plants,” he said.
Sikking said it’s a good time to bring flowers into the home and relieve some stress.
“There’s nothing on the trees. The gardens are looking bare right now. You’re stuck inside like a pressure-cooker with your family. Flowers are proven to give you relaxation.”