(ANSA) - ROME, MARCH 07 - The mimosa is the symbolic plant of Women's Day and March 8 alone is worth 85% of seasonal purchases.
Cia-Agricoltori Italiani estimates a turnover of 12 million euros, with 10 million bundles ready to be given away.
However, Cia reports a shortage of product (-40%) due to early flowering in January due to temperatures well above the average and a negative impact of drought, especially in Liguria where 90% of national production comes from.
If the flower growers have, in any case, managed to maintain stable prices compared to last year, we report a +20% of the retail cost on the commercial side.
The prices of the bunches start from 6 euros up to 10-12 euros while the plants, whose price depends on the size of the vase, vary from 11 up to 50 euros.
To cope with the effects of climate change, the national nursery is now studying late variants of mimosas that can satisfy the great demand on the occasion of the 8th March holiday.
In the overall difficult situation for agriculture due to drought and increased costs of raw materials, the association of Italian nursery gardeners of Cia reports a good level of exports.
In fact, due to excessive transport costs, the importation into Europe of flowers from South America and Africa has decreased.
Competition from those countries - where workers' rights are often not respected and where pesticides banned in the EU are produced - is one of the serious problems of Italian floriculture.
The case of the roses sold in large-scale retail chains is significant and almost all come from Kenya or the orchids, 90% of which come from Taiwan.
Lastly, Cia recalls how the sales of mimosas traditionally have a driving effect for the marketing of other species of spring flowers such as anemones, buttercups and daisies, with the possibility of offsetting the 25% reduction in purchases of flower products by consumers, caused by a inflation that has been traveling in double digits for months.
(HANDLE).