Over the last two months, the prices for cut flower chrysanthemums skyrocketed, but they are now back at a level that is usual for this time of the year. Since last week, the production is on track again and due to the increase in supply, the decrease in demand - due to the holiday season, the situation is similar to that of a regular summer. However, what the coming weeks/months will bring remains uncertain. This is explained by Dutch disbudded chrysanthemum grower Rene Eikelenboom, one of the five owners of Arcadia Chrysanten.
Rene Eikelenboom in the greenhouse
From low lows to high highs
In the beginning of the corona crisis, the industry was heavily impacted, with demand and prices plummeting. Afterwards, the prices of the cut chrysanthemums increased and skyrocketed in June. "The main reason for this sharp increase in price was the scarcity of not only chrysanthemums but also other cut flowers on the market", says Eikelenboom. "When the demand decreased and when there was a lot of uncertainty, at the start of the COVID-19 crisis, many chrysanthemum growers decided to plant less. Also we planted 20-25 percent less. This scarcity of chrysanthemums combined with the decreased supply out of other countries and - what we assume - the fact that people are more at home compared to other summers, resulted in extremely high prices. For us, the disbudded chrysanthemum price was very satisfying, but that of the spray chrysanthemum went through the roof, it more than doubled."
Prices and production normalized
For about a week now, the production of the chrysanthemums has for many growers, including Arcadia, returned to a normal level. The holiday period results in a lower demand, but that's usual. "The prices are not more special than usual during this time of the year."
Uncertain weeks/months ahead
It is not over yet. While the two very good months with good prices covered a lot of the initial 'corona damage', Eikelenboom is still a bit worried about what the coming weeks/months will bring. "It is all quite uncertain. The production is at its usual level and now we have to wait what the coming months will do."
For more information
:
Arcadia Chrysanten
Rene Eikelenboom
[email protected]
www.arcadiachrysanten.nl