EU-DIGEST

Flower industry production down 35% in Colombia as a result of US recession - by Mark Szakoniyi

Small-business owners, including those in the Flower Industry, who cannot pass along increased gas prices are most at risk as pump prices are expected to hit $4 per gallon. By not raising their prices, small businesses eat increased fuel costs and lose profits, said Sean Snaith, director of the University of Central Florida's Institute for Economic Competitiveness. "Small businesses are more flexible to make changes to limit gas use, but they don't have the capital to fall back on."

"We're a florist, so we have to deliver," said Andy Graham, operations manager at Kuhn Flowers. Raising the price of flowers, which "aren't exactly a necessity," isn't possible. When Graham's family bought the business seven years ago, gas was about $1.20 per gallon, compared with the current Jacksonville average of about $3.40 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association. Fueling the company's fleet ranges from $4,200 to $6,300 per week. Now, as Graham pays nearly three times as much to fuel his fleet of 20 trucks, his flower-buying is more sporadic due to tightening at home and in Colombia, his major supplier. Columbia, the world's largest flower grower's loss of 35 percent of its farms after Mother's Day reflects how concerns over fuel are often intensified by other factors, including decreased consumer spending spurred by the housing slump. Graham said his flower suppliers have added $5 to $10 surcharges on each box, translating to $1,000 to $2,000 in extra fees per week.

Labels: EU, Flower Industry, The Netherlands, US