Indeed, the flower industry in the Dominican Republic is at loss as to what lies ahead. A report in Listin Diario says that the industry is “withering” and plantation owners project that their recovery will take long. Weddings and events, the restaurant and hotel industry are not expected to recover soon.
“The whole sector is paralyzed, flower crops have had to be thrown away, flower shops are closed, orders cancelled, social activities without a probable date. In all this chaos, Constanza’s flower producers are helpless, without any possible support from the government,” Carlos Díaz (Don Mariano) lamented when speaking with the Listin Diario reporter. So far, he says the flower producers have not heard of any help from the government.
For Epifanio Tiburcio Domínguez (don Tano), a member of the Association of Farmers and Flower Growers of La Palma de Constanza, the outlook is similar. “Sales are at zero and the government has left us alone,” he says with frustration.
Constanza supplies around 70% of the flowers sold in the country. As reported, the flower-growing industry is largely made up of small business and self-employed workers.
“First the company purchase orders fell due to security reasons, and before the state of alarm, there were already many suspensions of events,” explains Isidro Nolasco, interior designer and event coordinator. “The coronavirus has changed everything,” he adds.
He said flower companies are still hoping to get some corporate business in the fall, winter and Christmas season. He does not expect to see the wedding business to recover as people will be restricted to small gatherings with few guests.
Read more in Spanish:
Listin Diario
17 April 2020