Summer is not yet over. There’s little rain and the temperatures are still high. April, May and June were the third driest period in history after 1934 and 1936. We have been having temperatures between 28 and 33°C for three months now.
The harvest of strawberries, raspberries and cherries was good. The fruit had a fuller taste and the lavender contained higher levels of scented oils. The peaches are next now. Roadside stalls are doing good business.
Because of the high temperatures, flower and plant sales are currently not too busy. We are still selling, but demand from wholesalers is minimal. Demand at the auction is steady. ‘Seeing is buying’ for quality buyers, distributors and traders who sell their products at markets. Products should be ripe and look appealing. A good presentation on the trolley is essential. And a steady supply is very important.
Buyers want to know that each product will be on offer. A complete assortment is the strength of the auction. Supplying the auction every day requires commitment. It’s the grower’s own responsibility and with that, he or she can determine his or her own level of success.
A substantially different game than that of supply and demand on the wholesale market. Not every grower’s cup of tea. Many of us used to be familiar with the auction as a place for oversupply.
From 1992 (we were still based in the Netherlands at that time), we focused on supplying the wholesale market. We grew seasonal bulk. Many products were sold to wholesalers. In the event of overproduction, we always hoped to find a customer who could sell ‘much for little’ for once. It is particularly important that flowering products are not too ripe; quality and price depend on demand from the customers.
We could continue this production method during our first few years in Canada, when lots of produce was shipped across the border, to the USA. However, this changed in 2009. There was no longer space for overproduction. The local market only wanted quality produce and customised service.
Since the autumn of 2014, I have been a board member of OFG, our flower auction in Mississauga. Because of the pressure on the market, the auction went through a tough time. Many growers opted for directly supplying wholesalers. The supply at the auction dropped. In order to survive, the auction fees had to go up and members were expected to provide a steady supply and unique products. We went along with this at our nursery. The auction still guarantees a significant part of our sales.
Angelle van Kleef
Potted-plant grower, Ontario Canada
