The Challanges of Getting Cut Flowers Without Local Flower Farms
“Gardens and flowers have a way of bringing people together, drawing them from their homes.”
Flowers have always played an important role in beautifying our world. I live in Botswana, and growing up, every yard in our area had some plumeria and bougainvillea, a couple of marigolds, and, of course, lots and lots of colourful roses.
Oh, and I can't forget the Schinus molle, a must-have tree for everyone belonging to our tribe to show our common roots.
I mention these plants with fondness because as kids, we used them to adorn our hair and make small bouquets when we played house and had weddings.
Bouts of laughter and happiness followed these little ceremonies as evening approached, and each one of us had to rush home to prepare for evening chores.
As soon as I had my first house, I ensured that I had fresh cut flowers in my home, and I changed them every week. My love of fresh flowers grew to making arrangements and bouquets for family and friends, and it was only natural that I upscaled my skills and knowledge as a wedding creative.
The Challenging Lack of Local Flower Farms in Botswana
I have interacted with wedding professionals in my country (Botswana) and our neighbouring country South Africa. The more I interacted, the more I realised the disadvantage the wedding professionals in Botswana are facing—especially when looking at flower supplies.
We have seen an emergence of many florists and floral designers and many flower trends over the last couple of years. There has also been a rise in luxurious events which need lots and lots of flowers. A win for the industry, right? Yes! But the catch is that we depend solely on South Africa for all our floral needs.
I have always been aware that we don't produce much as a country, especially flowers, but the Covid-19 situation has brought this reality to the forefront. The Motswana floral community felt the heartache of our lack of flower farms within the March to May 2020 lockdown period. The borders were closed, and the floral business came to a standstill. People called to ask if I could advise where they could get flowers, but there was absolutely nowhere to get them. Lucky were those who could forage for some around their gardens.
This brings me to the challenges that are being faced by florists and floral designers here in my country. The major difficulties are the lack of flower farms and the need to import flowers from neighbouring countries.
Difficulties of Obtaining Fresh Flowers in Botswana
We don't get the freshest of flowers because of the distances they must travel before reaching the end-user.
There are no wholesalers, so flowers are bought from retail shops which not only bring small quantities but are also very expensive. As their orders are determined at a head office of their own, you cannot pre-order from them. Because of this, there is a high likelihood that you'll receive the wrong flowers and/or color, you'll have very limited varieties to choose from, or you’ll have someone arrive before you and purchase all of the nicest blooms. Or, worst case, the flowers you ordered may not arrive at all!
We miss out on some flower varieties that could be easily available if they were grown in-country.
The environment and ecosystem takes a hit because of the lack of incorporating bees, butterflies, and other animals. In addition, our ability to use sustainable practices and use organically grown cut flowers is virtually nonexistent.
An opportunity to create employment and earn money is lost.
Lastly, we also have lost the joy and beauty that fields of flowers bring.
Importation of Flowers from South Africa
In February, I attended a course where I came to understand the nitty-gritty of dealing with flowers and the processes that one has to go through to bring them into the country. Although necessary, the process is a tedious one and very taxing for a small business.
The method starts with applying for permits, which are expensive and only valid for a limited time.
To apply, one has to know the scientific names of all the flowers that they want to purchase and include them in the list. This process has to be done in advance to cater for permit approval and travel.
Another disadvantage is that one never knows if what is quoted will be available on the day of purchase. Therefore, it creates even more work to have alternative flowers to use if what you want is not available. A florist/designer must be on very good terms with the client, establishing a trusting relationship, and educating the client on the possibilities.
It is worth noting that one has to look for suitable transportation so that the flowers reach the destination in tip-top condition. Furthermore, they should be handled with care to minimize loss and keep them fresh. Transportation across borders does not come cheap, regardless of whether one uses a courier or self-transportation.
The flower wholesalers mostly sell through auctions and are frequented by buyers from all over Southern Africa, making them very competitive. You have to be an early bird and be in the know of when these auctions occur. Another point to consider is that the prices fluctuate according to demand. You might find that you end up spending much more than you had anticipated.
It is possible that, even though much care is taken in transportation, the quality of the blooms purchased is not that satisfactory. These flowers come from all over the country and even from across the globe. Therefore, they lose their scent and sometimes their vivid colour as well. Furthermore, the risk of contamination is very likely in the markets. There is a very high chance that the lovely blooms you've ordered will be confiscated at the border if they show any sign of being diseased or attacked by pests. This could lead to a huge loss in business and also put a dent in someone's credibility.
The costs involved include permits, transportation, insurance, tax, accommodation, and import tax. As you can imagine, these items really add up before we even include creativity costs.
“All the flowers of tomorrow in the seeds of today.”
How the Local Floral Community can Help
I would love to add that all hope is not lost—if there are things that we can collectively do to improve the situation. Those who are capable could do the following:
Work together as designers to make orders so that they can share costs. Designers could also take turns going for stock.
Collaborate with industry peers to learn how to mitigate the challenges we each face.
Set industry pricing standards as florists, which will encourage clients to take floral professionals seriously.
Support one another as florists to help foster the spirit of collaboration over competition and encourage mutual respect in the industry.
Teach clients about our worth as designers and how things work in the industry to help make the creative process a breeze.
Look for more creative ways to use flowers and bring more wedding industry pros on board while sharing our love for flowers with everyone.
Finally, I would encourage florists to explore, learn, and share knowledge freely with others, especially up-and-coming creatives, in a quest to take the industry to greater heights.
The Past and Future of Local Flowers in Botswana
In my work, I researched to check if there has been some attempt to get the flower growing business off the ground in Botswana. I came across Sanitas Nursery and Garden Centre, which grew mainly roses and carnations for export to Southern African countries and parts of Europe in the early 1970s. This is according to their official Facebook page. This export business ceased in the late 1970s.
Eddie Norman and partners started Fabulous Flowers around 2004 in an effort to supply Africa and parts of Europe. I remember my excitement when this multi-million "trail-blazing exotic" project showed on television. I had dreams of visiting the 28-acre farm to see firsthand how it feels to be amid such splendour. My anticipation and dream were cut short because the business liquidated in 2007—a sad time for all those involved. I recently learnt about a lady trying to grow Baby's Breath in her backyard somewhere in my home village. May she prosper.
Besides the aforementioned, there has never been anyone who has ventured in that direction again. We have only many nurseries and garden centers that mainly import fruit and ornamental trees for resale.
So, it is my dream to revitalize the cultivation of cut flowers—especially since certain places are set aside for horticulture by our government, and we could probably get financial assistance. I'm already learning a lot from Team Flower and hoping that I will utilize the knowledge bravely. Who knows, “maybe we are the ones we have been waiting for,” in the words of June Jordan.
“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.”
