UK wholesalers have flowers and plants
Rumours circulating on Facebook are implying no flowers are reaching the UK. THIS IS NOT TRUE!
Yes things are very strange, yes the Dutch Auction system has put limits in place simply to avoid growers having to pay for unsold flowers and plants to be destroyed** and yes florists in Eire are facing some big heap problems as they face dramatic and rapid shut downs. However to say there are no flowers and plants coming in to UK is not true.
Not all flowers go through the auction. South American comes into the UK directly courtesy of some incredible importers, Italian is trucked direct to the UK, Israeli is also a direct supply and many, many Dutch growers send direct to wholesalers and never go near the Auction system.
We have spoken to wholesalers throughout the UK and from Scotland to Cornwall and they have supplies. They may not be holding huge excess (why would they carry the risk if florists aren't willing to place orders) but they are most certainly fulfilling pre-orders and if they can't get something then they will do their darndest to source a suitable alternative.
However if you want to order you really MUST contact your local wholesaler today and tomorrow; quite apart from the fact you should have your stock in-shop ready to be cut and conditioned for delivery Thursday/Friday/Saturday, it will help them hugely.
What happens after Mother's Day we cannot predict; until the Government advises otherwise it is, in theory business as normal but we realise it isn't. We will keep you updated as we can but suggest you buy tight and stock plants.
* The auctions are a grower owned co-operative and it has always been that to avoid profiteering certain price limits are set and anything below that is destroyed if unsold. It has been that way for decades and up till now has worked well. However the unprecedented drop in sales over the last few days as Europe went into shut down could not have been predicted quickly enough to avoid the problem. The suggestion that they be given away is not practical. Not only would it cost the growers even more but to push that much free product into the consumer market would destroy what little remaining commercial business there is for Dutch florists.
