New Lunar year’s flower sales wilted by virus

Monitoring Desk

HONG KONG (AP) — The Lunar New Year holiday is usually a busy period for flower farms in Hong Kong, which gear up to sell plum blossoms, orchids and daffodils at flower markets during the festive season. But the pandemic and restrictions on such festive markets this year has taken a toll on many farms, who worry that they may be left with an oversupply of flowers.

Customers wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus, look at pots of Phalaenopsis orchids at one of Hong Kong’s largest orchid farms located at Hong Kong’s rural New Territories on Jan. 14, 2021. The Lunar New Year holiday is usually a busy period for flower farms in Hong Kong, which gear up to sell plum blossoms, orchids and daffodils at flower markets during the festive season. But the pandemic and restrictions on such festive markets this year has taken a toll on many farms, who worry that they may be left with an oversupply of flowers. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Traditionally, Lunar New Year fairs – known as “flower markets” in Cantonese – are held before the holidays, with thousands of florists and festive goods vendors hawking their wares to the public. This year, the Hong Kong government will implement restrictions on such markets, which can only run at half-capacity and shortened business hours.

The policy has prompted concerns from farm owners like Yeung Siu-lung, who runs one of Hong Kong’s largest orchid farms. To prepare for the festive season, he had grown over 30,000 pots of orchids in 10 greenhouses at Hong Kong’s rural New Territories.

Yeung, who had initially planned to have 16 stalls in flower markets, is now planning alternative arrangements to sell his supply of orchids, including selling them online or encouraging buyers to visit the farms directly.

A man wearing a face mask to protect against the spread of the coronavirus, walks beside pots of Phalaenopsis orchids at one of Hong Kong’s largest orchid farms located at Hong Kong’s rural New Territories on Jan. 14, 2021. The Lunar New Year holiday is usually a busy period for flower farms in Hong Kong, which gear up to sell plum blossoms, orchids and daffodils at flower markets during the festive season. But the pandemic and restrictions on such festive markets this year has taken a toll on many farms, who worry that they may be left with an oversupply of flowers. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Lunar New Year is traditionally a boost for some businesses in Hong Kong, especially retail businesses. There is usually a big seasonal sale of festive items such as holiday snacks, gifts and household decorations, which often include flowers.

Flower farms like Yeung typically make about 50% of their profits from the Lunar New Year season alone, according to business analyst Francis Lun.

Pinky Chan is one of Yeung’s customers who drove an hour to his farm to buy orchids. Amid the ongoing pandemic, Chan thought it was still important to create a festive atmosphere amid difficult times.

A farmer wearing a face mask to protect against the spread of the coronavirus, walks besides peach blossom trees at a farm located at Hong Kong’s rural New Territories on Jan. 14, 2021. The Lunar New Year holiday is usually a busy period for flower farms in Hong Kong, which gear up to sell plum blossoms, orchids and daffodils at flower markets during the festive season. But the pandemic and restrictions on such festive markets this year has taken a toll on many farms, who worry that they may be left with an oversupply of flowers. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

“We Chinese people feel happier if our homes are filled with red and green during the Lunar New Year,” Chan said. “Because of the pandemic, we are all not very happy, we are not able to meet with our families. So I hope buying a pot of flowers for my parents can make them feel a bit happier.”

Customers wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus, measure the height of a peach blossom tree at a farm located at Hong Kong’s rural New Territories on Jan. 14, 2021. The Lunar New Year holiday is usually a busy period for flower farms in Hong Kong, which gear up to sell plum blossoms, orchids and daffodils at flower markets during the festive season. But the pandemic and restrictions on such festive markets this year has taken a toll on many farms, who worry that they may be left with an oversupply of flowers. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
A woman wearing a face mask to protect against the spread of the coronavirus, takes photos of pots of Phalaenopsis orchids at one of Hong Kong’s largest orchid farms located at Hong Kong’s rural New Territories on Jan. 14, 2021. The Lunar New Year holiday is usually a busy period for flower farms in Hong Kong, which gear up to sell plum blossoms, orchids and daffodils at flower markets during the festive season. But the pandemic and restrictions on such festive markets this year has taken a toll on many farms, who worry that they may be left with an oversupply of flowers. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
A man wearing a face mask to protect against the spread of the coronavirus, carries a pot of Phalaenopsis orchids at one of Hong Kong’s largest orchid farms located at Hong Kong’s rural New Territories on Jan. 14, 2021. The Lunar New Year holiday is usually a busy period for flower farms in Hong Kong, which gear up to sell plum blossoms, orchids and daffodils at flower markets during the festive season. But the pandemic and restrictions on such festive markets this year has taken a toll on many farms, who worry that they may be left with an oversupply of flowers. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Pots of citrus trees for Chinese New Year are displayed for sale at a real estate property agent store in Hong Kong Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. The Lunar New Year holiday is usually a busy period for flower farms in Hong Kong, which gear up to sell plum blossoms, orchids and daffodils at flower markets during the festive season. But the pandemic and restrictions on such festive markets this year has taken a toll on many farms, who worry that they may be left with an oversupply of flowers. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Courtesy: AP News