International Women's Day is fast approaching. Celebrated on March 8, it is a highly popular holiday in Eastern Europe, where flowers are an essential part of the celebration. Chrysanthemums, in particular, are a favorite choice, says Hein van Wordragen, owner of Dutch nursery Van Wordragen Flowers and a member of Decorum Plants & Flowers. This year, demand for the exclusive chrysanthemum variety Altaj is higher than ever, he notes.
Hein van Wordragen showing all varieties in their assortment
Growing demand
"The prices of chrysanthemums are very strong. Of course, costs have risen as well, but we certainly can't complain," says Hein. "Supply has remained stable, but demand has increased significantly. Chrysanthemums seem to be gaining in popularity." Spray chrysanthemums, including the exclusive Altaj variety, are particularly sought after in the Eastern European market due to their durability during transport. Meanwhile, Santinis are typically sold within Europe, while disbudded chrysanthemums see higher demand in Northern Europe.
Altaj
Floral celebration
According to Warja Abrosimova, an expert on the Eastern European flower market, International Women's Day is a true floral celebration. "On this day, flowers are gifted to all women—mothers, sisters, colleagues, daughters, and friends. It's a day when flowers take center stage in countries east of Germany, including Italy, Greece, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic States, the former Yugoslav countries, and even parts of Spain. Bouquet prices can range from €20 to an astonishing €2,000—though that might be a bit over the top," Warja adds.
Bolte
Just after Valentine's Day
The peak season for International Women's Day starts just after Valentine's Day and lasts for about two weeks. "The first shipments to distant destinations can take up to two weeks to arrive. To keep them fresh during transport, chrysanthemums are precooled and moisture is removed. During the journey, the chrysanthemums essentially 'sleep.' Once placed in water, they come back to life, straighten up, and sometimes even grow a bit," explains Hein.
Ready to sell
Many customers prefer to receive their flowers wrapped, so a significant portion is sold through webshops. "This saves a lot of work on the other end," explains Hein. "As a result, fewer flowers are sold through the auction and more are delivered ready-to-go to exporters, which significantly reduces their workload."
Topspin
Despite the challenges posed by the winter season, between 300,000 and 350,000 stems are harvested each week during these busy weeks at the nursery. On 4.4 hectares, they grow exclusive chrysanthemum varieties in collaboration with Dekker. In addition to Altaj, popular varieties in their range include Kennedy, Bolte, Kalimba, Optimist, Topspin, and Jolene.
For more information:
Hein van Wordragen
Van Wordragen Flowers
Viaductweg 12
5314 LK Bruchem
The Netherlands
+31 (0)6 54 300 170
info@vanwordragenflowers.nl
www.vanwordragenflowers.nl