Covid-19 brings Netherlands flower exports to a halt

The spread of coronavirus Covid-19 is severely affecting the flower sector in the Netherland. Due to the virus, the export of flowers and other plants have come to a near stand still, according to NOS

This was also visible at the flower auction in Aalsmeer on Monday. Buyers stayed away en masse, resulting in about half of the 30 million flowers on offer not being sold, Royal FloraHolland said in a press release. 

"At the moment, a lot of high-quality flowers and plants are being lost because trade is largely halted due to the corona crisis. This is terrible to see," Royal FloraHolland CEO Steven van Schilfgaarde said in the statement. 

In an effort not to destroy all the unsold flowers, employees of the flower auction will deliver them to hospitals and care homes in the Aalsmeer and Naaldwijk region from Tuesday, to thank the healthcare workers for their efforts during the epidemic.