German and Dutch flower growers have expressed alarm at massive imports of cheap Israeli roses. Daily flights of Israeli fruit and flower-laden jumbos started arriving at Cologne Airport late last year. By the end of this winter, Israel will have sold about 50 million roses to Europe, and this figure is expected to double next winter.
The Europeans say their roses cost about eight cents apiece to grow, but Israeli roses, in spite of air freight costs, are being sold to wholesalers at “a fraction of this.” In fact, German flower sellers are not passing on this cost advantage to their customers on Europe’s biggest flower market.
Roses, whatever their origin, cost about 24 cents to 40 cents each retail. An even bigger headache for flower growers is resulting from carnations from Kenya and Colombia which, unlike the Israeli flowers, blossom all year round. The German Flower Growers Association has told its members there is nothing it can do. It recommends that they switch to growing more exotic flowers which, unlike roses and carnations, cannot be transported long distances.
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