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Flowers are a massive global industry. They are grown all over the world, although the major modern-day producers are the Netherlands, Kenya, Israel and Colombia. Other up-and-coming flower-producing nations include South Africa, Malaysia and Ecuador. Commercial demands require growers to focus mainly on the best-sellers, with around a dozen species dominating the world market. However, it is increasingly common for foreign suppliers to export lesser-known indigenous crops, as testified by the growing exoticism of British gardens.
The globalization of the industry has seen home flower production decline; most of the flowers sold here today originate overseas. Nevertheless, the Channel Islands are still renowned for freesia, iris and roses, while Cornwall, Lincolnshire and Scotland are home to thriving local bulb flower industries. Indeed, Lincolnshire growers famously export daffodils to Holland! Other flowers produced by UK growers include chrysanthemums, lilies and delphiniums.
Flower distribution methods vary according to where the crops originate and how they are to be sold. Some nurseries operate independently, cutting and packing the flowers themselves before sending them direct to consumers via mail order. Others send their crops to packing companies for grading and arranging prior to onward sale (often to supermarkets). Florists usually buy pre-graded flowers from wholesalers before conditioning and arranging them for the consumer.
The transportation of flowers has a significant impact on the cost borne by the buyer. The most popular method is dry-packing or flat-packing, which allows large quantities of crops to be packed in airline holds. However, in the case of plants that cannot survive for long periods without water, it is necessary to employ more expensive methods involving water holders or buckets of water. Although these reduce labour time and can extend the life of the plants, the increased weight and surface area drives up transportation costs.
Great care is taken to ensure that imported flowers reach UK consumers in the best possible condition. Speed is of the essence and, as such, it is common for exporters to cut and pack flowers on the way to the airport in order to save time. They will then be kept in refrigerated conditions and flown in air-conditioned aircraft. Refrigerated lorries are used to transport the crops within the UK.
In contrast with flowers, the pot plant trade tends to be more parochial. Because of the higher transportation costs resulting from their greater weight, they are rarely imported from far-flung locations, with around 50% of all our indoor plants originating in the UK. The rest come mainly from close neighbours such as Holland, Denmark and Belgium. These plants tend to be bought and sold in DIY stores and large garden centres as opposed to traditional florists.
The import of plants to the UK is regulated by DEFRA (The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), which sets quality guidelines and issues the so-called Plant Health passports.
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