Wholesale Flowers Fact Sheet

Here are some of the latest statistics regarding the fresh cut, wholesale flower industry:

• Roses continue to be the single most popular fresh cut flower with consumers. Approximately 1.3 billion stems were purchased in 2005.
• Nearly 180 million stems of roses are bought in the USA just for Valentine's Day gift giving.
• For the 2004 twelve-month season, imported cut flowers and greens accounted for some 80% of the total U.S. supply.
• Consumers purchased an estimated $19.5 billion of floral items (including artificial blooms, potted plants, outdoor bedding/garden plants and related items) in 2005. Approximately half of that was spent on fresh cut flowers and greens.
• The nation's 22,753 retail florists averaged $290,000 per shop annual sales in 2005.
• There are some 23,000 supermarkets selling fresh cut flowers in the United States.
• Most flowers are purchased during four key holiday months: February, April, May and December. Besides holiday sales, flowers are typically purchased for gifts and remembrances.
• Women prefer flowers in softer pastel colors (pale pink and pale purple top the list), while men tend to choose flowers with bold primary colors, like red.
• According to the nation's florists, secretaries are the number one recipient of floral gifts in offices. Bosses, they say, are the least likely to receive a gift of fresh cut flowers.
• Most growers pre-cool boxed flowers prior to shipping to prevent heat build-up and premature decay.

Information courtesy of the California Cut Flower Commission