Like the world of fashion, 2023 trends also play an important role for flowers, especially on Valentine’s Day where, according to the Ornamental Plants, Flowers, and Foliage Commission, around 8 million roses are exported from Guatemala to countries like the United States, Costa Rica, and Salvador. For Valentine’s Day, the rose is the type of flower that is most exported, and of these, 80% are red, and the rest, around 30%, are orange, yellow, pink, and white, and this year, it is characterized by a great variety of two-color mixes.
“We hope that 2023 will be a very advantageous year for the flower and ornamental plant sector, and by the end, we expect to grow at least 5% in total exports. We begin this month of affection with a fairly strong export offer not only for roses, but also for foliage and other flowers because it is a season to create floral arrangements where they are combined with birds of paradise, chrysanthemums, snap dragons, sunflowers, leather leaf, and xate”. Informed the Manager of the Agexport Ornamental, Foliage and Flower Commission, Brigitte Obrock.
According to the executive of the Ageexport Ornamental, Foliage and Flower Commission, On these dates of fondness, sales abroad tripled, and par excellence, the rose is the type of flower that is most exported. Of these, 80% are red roses, and the rest, around 30%, are colors such as orange, yellow, pink, white; and this year is being characterized by a great variety of two-color mixtures, which are mainly aimed at destinations such as the United States (90%), followed by Costa Rica and El Salvador. Obrock indicated that much foliage are also exported, such as leather leaf, aralia, eucalyptus, tree fern, and a diversity of flowers such as lilies, gerberas, and exotic flowers such as birds of paradise and ginger, among others, all to complete the bouquets of this very special date.
An example of this is the Maya Kotz’ij flower farm, a member of the Agexport Ornamental, Foliage, and Flower Commission: “Valentine’s Day is one of the important dates for the flower sector since only we harvest more than 12 thousand packages of roses in high season, and we export around 9 thousand packages to countries like the United States, Costa Rica, and El Salvador, in addition to the rest that is for local sale.”
“We have 24 varieties of roses such as Freedom, Vendela, Topas, Rosita Vendela, Elisa, Santa Fé, and Cherri Brandy, among others, and they also have a variety of colors, and red stands out mainly because it represents Valentine’s Day.” commented the production manager of the Maya Kotz’ij flower farm, José Patzán.
The Ornamental Plants, Flowers, and Foliage Commission is made up of 73 producer/export companies that produce more than 500 species, three thousand varieties of ornamental plants, more than 15 flower species, and more than 15 foliage species. As of November 2022, the sector reported Q133,258,189.00 Guatemalan quetzal, being for flowers and foliage around Q4,290,485 Guatemalan quetzal and bulbs, roots, and ornamental plants Q5,472,565 Guatemalan quetzal.
Meantime, the year could close with the export of around 100 thousand packages of roses, derived from the four high seasons that are currently being handled, which are Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Day of the Dead. and again, on Mother’s Day in August, a date that corresponds to Costa Rica and which is one of the main export markets.
For more information:
Ageexport
www.export.com.gt
