Number of carnations sold in high season of May sharply decrease due to multiple reasons

People look at baskets of carnations at a flower wholesaler in Namdaemun, central Seoul, a day ahead of Mother\'s Day, on May 7.

"It's only half the price than that sold at a local flower shop! It's only 15,000 won."

Ms. Choi, a merchant who met at Namdaemun Flower Wholesale Shopping Mall in Seoul on May 7, a day before Parents' Day, was constantly speaking to customers. The shelves at her store were filled with flower baskets with five or six large carnations. About five or six customers passed by, but all they said was, “I'll come after taking a look around.” After lunchtime, the shopping mall became even more deserted when nearby office workers who came to see carnations disappeared.

Choi, who has been selling flowers here for 40 years, said, "Parent's Day is no longer what it used to be," adding, "Only two to three out of 10 people who walk by buy flowers because they are all just floating customers.” Choi and other vendors say their sales are down 20 to 30 percent from before the coronavirus pandemic. “Normally, we should be too busy to talk,” said Mr. A. "The number of bulk orders is also decreasing." Choi also said, “Flower shops that used to receive 100 reservations for carnation baskets for Parent’s Day last year only received about 30 orders this year.”

May, the month with Mother's Day and Teacher's Day, is considered one of the high seasons in the flower industry. However, the demand for carnations in May is not what it used to be. Due to the economic downturn and high prices, many people prefer to give more practical gifts, such as cash, instead of real flowers for Parent’s Day. This year's “Golden Holiday,” which stretched from Labor Day to Children's Day, also contributed to the change. As people spent a lot of money on going out and traveling during the holiday, they were less likely to open their wallets for real flowers.

Ms. Kim (34), an office worker who came to the flower market with her coworker, ended up leaving empty-handed. “I already had a nice meal with my parents last weekend, so I can't afford a large flower basket,” she said. “If a bouquet is small, it won't look good, so I'm thinking about buying a carnation-shaped cake instead.” Mr. Oh (63), who was looking at flower baskets to buy, also said, “I was thinking of buying a flower basket for my mother if the price is about 50,000 won, but 80,000 won for a basket is much more expensive than I thought. I think it would be better to buy her a meal with the money."

Farmers who grow carnations also do not enjoy the privilege of the high season. According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation’s data, the number of domestic cut flower carnations traded from April 28 to May 6 was 44,706. It is a 39 percent decrease from 72,782 traded in the same period last year.

Farmers complained of a combination of difficulties, including rising heating costs, irregular weather, and increased imports. “This year, carnations bloomed late due to bad weather, and I'm worried that no one will be looking for them after the high season,” said Mr. B, who has been growing carnations for 27 years in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province. He added, “Heating costs have also increased by about 20 percent compared to last year, so there is nothing left after except for labor and heating costs.”

About ten years ago, there were 50 farmers growing carnations in Mr. B's neighborhood, but the number has gradually decreased to only 20 this year. “We would be fine if carnations are not imported, but lots of Chinese carnations are in circulation in the country,” He said. “Therefore, more and more farmers are switching to grow crops, such as blueberries and raspberries, instead of carnations.”

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.