In Russia, flower prices have surged dramatically ahead of September 1st, when students traditionally give bouquets to their teachers.
The average cost of a bouquet has risen by 26%, reaching EUR18, making it a substantial financial burden for many families.
Valentina Safronova, head of the Russian Florists Association, explained that the price increase is due to the high costs of growing flowers in greenhouses, including rising electricity and heating tariffs.
Additional challenges have been created by sanctions, which have reduced flower imports and increased their cost due to logistical issues and the rising exchange rates of the dollar and euro. Although it might seem that domestic flower production could solve these problems, the reality is more complex. There are also difficulties with sourcing planting materials, as many seeds were previously imported and are now inaccessible due to these restrictions.
Safronova emphasized that flowers remain a luxury item in Russia under current conditions.
Source: ng72.ru