Valentine’s Day doubles prices of flowers

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Blooms in this town are in demand.

Lovers are expected to flock to flower shops here buying tokens of love for Valentine’s Day despite the surge in price if only to please their beloved.

Rosalyn Cayat of the La Trinidad Flower Shop Association said, “Pag ganitong panahon nagmamahal talaga, lalo na yung red roses. Kaya para makatipid, magpareserve na habang maaga o kaya bumili na ilagay na lang sa tubig. Tatagal naman yan mga one or two weeks kung ibabad sa tubig.”

Red roses, a popular choice during Valentine’s Day, which normally cost around P25–30 per stem, will increase to P40–50 per stem. A bouquet of dozen of red roses can be bought for P500 excluding additional fees for special arrangements and delivery.

Favorite blooms like carnations cost around P40–100 per bundle on regular day would be around P250 per bundle during Valentines.

Aster and alstromenia would increase its price from P30 pesos per bundle to P50 per bundle.

Prices vary depending on the type of flower, number of flowers and the arrangement.

Local cut flower farmers here sell their products at the Dimasalang area in Manila, Benguet supplies heavily to these open markets, aside from highland vegetables.

Hybrid roses like variegated rose and golden rose would cost less compared to red roses during Valentine’s Day, though there would still be an increase in their prices. “Yung ganitong Variegated at saka yung Golden Rose mahal talaga yan kasi kakaiba, pero pag ganito [Valentine’s] mas mahal yung red roses,” Cayat said.

In 2009, the total production of cut flowers in the province of Benguet reached a total of 23.4M dozens from 821 hectares. This resulted in a productivity rate of 28, 567 dozen per hectare.

In La Trinidad, almost 60 percent of the revenue is from cut flower production, almost 20 percent is from vegetable production, and the remaining 10 percent is from strawberry production.

Farmer’s plant flowers 3 ½ to 4 months before the peak seasons like Valentine’s Day, All Saint’s Day, and Christmas Day.

Growers supply flowers in Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, and Bicol Region.

Provincial Agriculture office data shows peak months includes November, February, when Valentine’s Day and the annual Baguio Flower Festival are celebrated, also in March for graduations. (with Melissa Mae Tamayo)