Traders assure stable supply of fresh flowers from Benguet

FLOWER POWER Flower vendors at the Baguio City public market are expecting brisk sales as Valentine’s Day approaches. Cut flower growers in Benguet province say supply is enough until the celebration of Mother’s Day in May. —EV ESPIRITU

BAGUIO CITY — The supply of fresh cut flowers, especially red roses, for Valentine’s Day remains stable and this will last until Mother’s Day in May, despite the high demand during these occasions, Benguet flower traders assured on Tuesday.

Mary Jane Bahod, a rose farmer and flower vendor from Barangay Bahong in La Trinidad, Benguet, said that although roses took longer to bloom during colder temperature, “there is enough to harvest in time for Feb. 14.”

Bahod, who grows roses and Malaysian mums in a half-hectare flower farm, said she could harvest at least 200 bundles of roses every four months.

“Roses take around four months to bear flowers,” she told the Inquirer.

Bahod said most of her customers bought roses for Valentine’s Day and some ordered mums that were usually mixed with roses for floral arrangements.

Price increase

She sells red roses to wholesalers for between P500 and P600 a bundle (two dozens), almost double the price during ordinary days.

Roses bloom faster in May when the weather is warmer, Bahod said, adding that they expect to harvest enough in time for Mother’s Day when there is also a high demand.

Other flower traders from upland towns of Benguet have also started jacking up prices for Valentine’s Day, some citing soaring demand for the blooms.

Ligaya Pumihic, who delivers and sells flowers at Dangwa terminal in Manila, said the price of red roses during this peak season had gone up to P700 a bundle.

Imported blooms

During ordinary days, the wholesale prices for roses from La Trinidad range between P50 and P300 a bundle, she said.

Pink roses now cost P500 to P600 a bundle while white roses can be bought at P200 a bundle. Baby pink roses are now being sold for P150 a bundle.

Pumihic said prices might still change as Valentine’s Day nears.

According to her, prices of fresh cut flowers will depend on the supply of imported flowers. “If there’s too much importation of flowers, the price of locally grown flowers will go down,” she said.