More flowers for ‘Undas,’ thanks to good weather

Flowers arranged as centerpieces sell for P60 a basket at a parking lot in Burnham Park in Baguio City —EV ESPIRITU

LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET— Consumers are assured of an abundant supply of cut flowers from Benguet province for this year’s All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day commemoration due to good weather in the province, local officials said on Thursday.

In previous years, storms blew through upland gardens and damaged flowers being cultured for “Undas,” when Filipino families remember their departed kin.

The absence of destructive typhoons may allow farmers to surpass last year’s production, according to provincial agriculturist Lolita Bentres on Thursday. Benguet produces about 30 varieties of cut flowers, among them roses, gladiola, calla lily, carnation and anthurium, she said.

Benguet gardens produced 42 million dozens of flowers last year. In 2015, the province’s flower harvest was 30 million dozens.

According to the government’s November 2016 data, chrysanthemum made up the bulk of harvests by 30,000 flower growers operating in the capital town, La Trinidad, and the towns of Atok, Buguias, Kibungan, Tuba, Tublay and Itogon.

Gov. Crescencio Pacalso said cut flower growers have recently ventured into newer varieties of flowers, using imported seeds that were propagated locally.

Large shipments of flowers have been sent to Metro Manila this week, but the bulk of deliveries is expected from Sunday to Tuesday, flower vendors here said. —KARLSTON LAPNITEN