Making people happy and brightening their day. In these challenging times where flowers cannot or are not allowed to be sold, this seems to be the main motto for the industry. Many initiatives are being undertaken and every day, more are popping up. Besides brightening up someone's days, these initiatives also contribute to keeping the flowers top of mind. Below several initiatives undertaken by associations and growers around the world.
Kenya - Flowers of hope caravan
A joint initiative between Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Kenya Flower Council (KFC), Elgon Kenya and Rotary Club – will continue delivering bouquets to frontline health workers, ever increasing numbers of COVID-19 patients and the vulnerable in the society. This project seeks to give hope of a better tomorrow, as the world and Kenya continue to fight against the pandemic. It also aims at promoting local appreciation of the cut-flower sub-sector which has recorded a 70% decline locally during the current COVID-19 crisis, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs.
Each bouquet has been donated by members of the Kenya Flower Council and contain a special message from H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta signifying the government’s commitment towards fighting the Coronavirus pandemic. The first batches of flowers under the initiative were delivered at Kenyatta National Hospital and Mbagathi Hospital in Nairobi on Thursday last week, the first in a countrywide distribution of flowers in all Corvid-19 designated care centres.
Spain - #Ahorafloresyplantas
In Spain, the alarming situation due to Coronavirus has caused the Government to request confinement for all citizens since March 14 till April 26 for the moment. Non-core businesses have had to cease their activity or only telework. For that reason the Garden Centers have been kept closed, so the companies that grow ornamental plants, like Sempreflora (Simó Tejedor Cultius S.L.), haven’t been able to serve many of their clients in the country.
The months of March, April and May are the busiest months in the ornamental plant sector, and Sempreflora along with more producers united by nurserymen associations have wanted to make visible the situation of the sector in a positive and hopeful way: giving plants to doctors, nurses, messengers, policemen, nursing home staff, cleaning staff and cashiers and replenishers of food stores. This campaign has been carried out under the slogans #Ahorafloresyplantas (Now Flowers and Plants) and against the coronavirus #TomaFlowerPower (Take Flower Power) promoting gardening and encouraging all people to post, on their social media accounts, photos of their plants and make a huge garden online among all, to prevent the coronavirus from taking away the spring.
Colombia - Flowers bring happiness video
Colombian grower Florigene Flowers has made another movie with their Applause roses and Moon Carnations (varieties bred by Suntory Flowers), making people happy with the beauty of flowers and encouraging them to buy more flowers.
UK - #FloralFriday
People in the UK have been celebrating the power of flowers with #floralfriday for the past two weeks, with Greenfingers Charity, a national charity dedicated to support life-limited children spending time in hospices around the UK, along with their families. The charity creates gardens for them to relax in and benefit from.
On Good Friday (April 10), Easter bonnets, floral shirts, dresses, bears, gnomes, a look back at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and much more helped to ensure Greenfingers Charity remained in the hearts and minds of supporters both old and new.
Greenfingers Charity would love to see many others spread a little bit of floral cheer this coming Friday (17th April) and are offering a prize going to the most inventive and creative picture posted on social media! For your chance to win £50 of National Gardening Gift Vouchers, here’s what you need to do…
On your favourite social media platforms simply:
- post a photo of yourself in your favourite floral shirt, dress, hat, shoes, tie, pjs or similar (or your favourite floral photo)
- use the hashtags #floralfriday #hortindustry #greenfingers
- nominate a friend to do the same
- send this story on to your colleagues while they are “working at home”
- add this story into your customer communications so that your customers can get involved by spreading a little floral cheer even if they’re unable to buy plants and garden supplies just now.
US - 100,000 Orchid Challenge
For over forty years Californian orchid grower Westerlay Orchids has produced some of the Pacific Coast’s most beautiful blooms, shipping over three million plants annually to local grocery stores throughout the Western US. Now, the company issues a “100,000 Orchid Challenge” to uplift and inspire communities throughout California by sending orchids to front line workers and those isolated in quarantine.
“We’re showing our gratitude to those on the front lines of this pandemic, setting a goal of sending 100,000 flowering orchids to nurses, doctors, and other hospital staff in California,” explains Westerlay Orchids Owner Toine Overgaag. “We need the community’s help to reach this goal, so we are looking for significant financial sponsorships to help cover partial costs while ensuring the livelihood of our 120 employees and the survival of our business.
Starting locally, Westerlay Orchids will ship to several major Los Angeles hospitals within the week. Join the “100,000 Orchid Challenge” by calling Toine Overgaag directly on 805-705-5341 or emailing him at Tovergaag@WesterlayOrchids.com.
Westerlay has also set up a website for those who may want to send a box of orchids at wholesale price to anyone you want to express gratitude to or connect with. Learn more about the company at WesterlayOrchids.com and follow @WesterlayOrchids on Instagram.
Netherlands - #Lethopebloom
A message of love, friendship and most of all, hope. The Dutch floral industry wanted to spread the message among those who need it most: the elderly who are more vulnerable and lonely than ever before. On Good Friday (April 10), beautiful, colourful bouquets were delivered to their doorstep to give them that spark of hope. And to inspire others to show love and appreciation for each other by giving away flowers and plants.
Cinefleur has made a variety of 'making of' videos where you can see how the entire sector, from growers to distributors comes together for this big giveaway.