Flowers prices up 10 per cent over last Lunar New Year
Inflation and creeping development on farmland in the New Territories are pushing up prices
Flower shoppers are likely to enjoy attractive, blossoming flowers during the Lunar New Year - although at higher prices - with most growers saying they expect profitable business.
Fung Ching, who has been growing flowers for more than 40 years at Choi Lee Nursery in Yuen Long, said flower prices were on average 10 per cent higher than last year's due to inflation.
Although he has fewer blooms this year as some plants were destroyed when Typhoon Vicente hit the city in July, the 74-year-old said the flowers were all beautiful and he was satisfied with the seasonal flowers like peach blossom, chrysanthemum and narcissus.
"I expect the sales to be good. After all, it's the one time of the year to display flowers for the Lunar New Year," he said.
Li Wing-keung, owner of Keung Kee Garden in Tai Po said the prices of his peach flowers were up by about 10 per cent and he had a good yield.
Prices are higher due to inflation, pay rises and shrinking farmland in the New Territories and on the mainland as development expands. Half of his blooms are grown in the city, while half are imported from the mainland.
Over 90 per cent of his peach flowers, which sell for hundreds of dollars, are already reserved. They are both sold for resale and to consumers.
