Yesterday my wholesaler showed me some devastating pictures from Ecuador and Columbia. They have received their annual rainfall in the last 3 days and are trying to boat out the product they can salvage. Water is rushing through their greenhouses like a river. It's extremely sad to see people's entire livelihood in jeopardy.

Much like the food industry, the floral industry is directly impacted by Mother Nature, politics and the economy alike.  Flooding, fires, droughts, and other devastating weather conditions drastically affect our growers, which in turn impacts product availability and prices.  Gas prices, import regulations and taxes, as well as political and economic stability in the countries where our farms are located are all variables that may seem far off when it comes to ordering flowers, but every single one has a significant impact on the availability and cost of your flowers for everyday arrangements, holidays, and weddings.  We aren’t trying to scare you by any means, but we do want all of our clients and event industry friends to be aware and reminded that the floral industry is global and influenced by many different variables, and unfortunately, these variables are far beyond our control.  
(http://www.petalpushersblog.com/)

 

Greenhouses in Columbia