Prices of roses go up

CEBU, Philippines - Roses become a hot commodity every Valentine’s Day and that consumers have to expect prices to go up by up to 100% or even beyond that.

Rose prices are the most inflated during this season because of spike in demand. In fact,  city-based flower shops are now doubling the price of their rose bouquets.

A bunch of a dozen red premium roses now costs about P1,500 to P1,800 from only P500 or below  days ago.  A half-dozen bouquet which sells for P300 before is now sold at P800. A bouquet with three roses is now P500 from a previous  P150.

Long-stemmed roses are sold at P100 to P150 each. Early this month, these were only traded at P50 or below that.

Prices could further go up leading to Feb. 14, retailers warn.

The length of the stem is a basis in pricing. Vendors say the longer the twig, the more expensive the rose can be.

Ivy Ho of Buds and Blossoms Flower Shop in the city’s downtown area said roses likely comprise majority of flower sales during Valentine’s Day.

“Sales of flowers usually double during this season,” Ho told The FREEMAN in Cebuano. Her family’s shop has been existing since 1979. She said both young and adult males buy blossoms for their loved ones.

Annie Codera, owner of Floresta Leaves and Flowers Factory at the Freedom Park, said they have started to receive orders and requests for deliveries since Monday.

Today and tomorrow are going to be busy days for flower growers and traders as they rush to meet the enormous demand from the flower-buying public.

Retailers usually charge P150 to P200 for delivery within the city. The delivery rate could go higher for flowers sent outside the city.

The 58-year-old trader said while roses are usually overrated this time, people may opt for other flowers such as tulips, carnations, gerberas and chrysanthemums which are also in season.

Sidewalk retailer Evelyn Leyson, 38, expects buyers will start to troop to flower shops and stalls today until tomorrow. “We foresee good sales because this has been traditional,” she said in dialect. 

Aside from the expected surge in demand, factors such as labor, transportation and operational costs also drive up flower price growth.

Gerry Avila, agribusiness chief of the Department of Agriculture-7, said retail prices could normally rise by around 40% compared to the prevailing farm prices.

He also noted local flower growers have likely yielded enough flowers owing to the recent favorable weather. “As expected, flower farmers are now preparing their farms to supply flowers this Valentine’s Day in which the most saleable are roses,”  he earlier said.

Flower supplies in Cebu are also sourced from the cities of Baguio, Tagaytay, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and even from other countries.  (FREEMAN)