How is COVID-19 affecting our horticulture sectors?
Flowers

How is COVID-19 affecting our horticulture sectors?

Author: GreenTech
Tuesday, 24 March 2020

Here’s a selection of the latest news from horticulture experts from all over the world

Growers share and take care of those in need

THE NETHERLANDS | Koppert Cress fights #nowaste by reaching out to chefs

"I am stuck with tens of thousands of boxes of fresh cress," says Rob Baan of Koppert Cress. This Dutch company is wholly focused on the hospitality industry. A sector that is all but entirely shut down due to the measures taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus. "Our sales have dropped by 86%. We are going to open a Cress Drive-In. Chefs and other interested parties can come and collect goods. We’re also going to have promotions to support chefs. There is a massive brigade of chefs that now has nothing to do. They have a huge desire to work. We are going to make our kitchen available. These people can come over and experiment endlessly with cress. They can use them in pesto and vinegar."

Coronavirus creates high demand for fruits and vegetables

AUSTRALIA | Mr. Ipsen, West Australian food bowl of Manjimup

"This season has been really good … with the latest impacts with coronavirus and health issues, vegetables are a vitamin pill themselves."

Hundreds of forestry workers who have lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 outbreak

NEW ZEALAND | Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman

They are being offered work in the horticulture sector, which is desperate for labour. "Making that scheme work even better is the ultimate goal, but today we are looking to employ New Zealanders who no longer have a job as a result of what Covid-19 has done to trade."

Industry unites to boost sales of flowers and plants

THE NETHERLANDS | Association of Wholesalers in Flower Nursery Products, Flower Council of Holland

The Association of Wholesalers in Flower Nursery Products (VGB) and the Flower Council of Holland, employees of the Royal FloraHolland flower auction visited hospitals and nursing homes in the Aalsmeer and Naaldwijk region and handed over flowers to thank care staff for their efforts during the time of the coronavirus.

THE NETHERLANDS | Tulips for top people

For Dutch tulip growers a charity (Tulpen voor Toppers) has been set up. People can donate and with this donation, the charity will deliver a bunch of tulips to healthcare workers. Read more (in Dutch) »

#buyflowersnottoiletpaper

Flower Bucket Challenge to support floriculture farmers in public sector

SOUTH KOREA | Korea Rural Community Corporation

A series of consumption-promotion campaigns in the form of the Ice Bucket Challenge have been spreading among the public sector in the agricultural industry to ease the suffering of floriculture farmers caused by the COVID-19 situation. To boost flower consumption, the Korea Rural Community Corporation will purchase and store air purification plants and flowers in each of their 482 offices, including headquarters and branch offices in the headquarters and regions, and launch a campaign to promote flower consumption, including "grow individual vases" and "send anniversary flowers."

Despite coronavirus, global supply chain for medical cannabis stable

EUROPE | Paul Steckler, co-managing director of Canopy Growth’s Europe division:

“The company will continue to supply medicinal cannabis across Europe through the Spectrum Therapeutics Pharmaceutical arm. At the same time, we have proactively taken steps to minimize the risk of COVID-19 across all of our operations. We will of course continue to monitor the situation as it evolves across Europe. Our goal is to continue to provide medicines to those most in need.”

Greenhouses determined an essential businesses

USA | The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

"As the commonwealth takes steps to mitigate against COVID-19 and continues to strive for a healthy Pennsylvania for all, businesses across the state have been asked to consider if they're essential or not. Agriculture's role is unquestionable: access to food is a right; we need local agriculture now more than ever."

"We encourage all producers to actively practice this guidance to ensure the security of our food supply. During these uncertain times, all of Pennsylvania is counting on the industry to continue to provide for our most basic needs."


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