Thailand Curfew Curbs Orchid Availability
SAF, Society of American Florists – Wednesday, 26 May 2010
A government mandated curfew in Thailand has stifled some of the world’s most prolific orchid growers.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva issued the 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew May 19 following an especially horrific week of arson and gunfire that left 24 people dead and 198 injured. Following Vejjajiva’s election in late March, the Red Shirts—anti-government protesters—have terrorized Bangkok, burning luxury hotels, shopping malls, bank buildings and the country’s stock exchange.
Accustomed to operating 24 hours day, orchid growers have cut production by 30 percent to comply with the curfew. This reduction is troublesome for florists in the U.S., particularly in Hawaii and on the West Coast, where orchids are in high demand to make leis for graduation ceremonies.
With fewer commercial flights leaving Thailand, freight space comes at a higher price, which has cost Mayesh Wholesale Floral, Inc., in Los Angeles, about 10 percent more than usual for orchids.
“We’ve kept our customers from feeling the shortage,” said Mayesh CEO Patrick Dahlson, who, like most stateside wholesalers, is in a “wait and see” mode.
“There really is no alternative right now to Thailand,” said Monty Pereira, sales and marketing director Wantanabe Floral in Honolulu. “We have some production available locally, but because of the strength of Thai growers, most Hawaiian orchid growers have closed down operation. The locally grown fragrant flowers aren’t available in the volumes necessary during peak seasons.”
According to KITV News in Honolulu, customers there flocked to flower shops last Wednesday to snatch up leis before supplies ran out.
“Last week we sold over 22,000 leis,” Pereira said. “Somehow we survived the biggest graduation weekend, but we still have two more weeks to go.”
Hoping to avoid a dramatic drop in overall counts, Wantanabe Floral is sticking to less elaborate designs to grace as many graduates’ necks as possible.
Katie Hendrick
khendrick@safnow.org
