Revitalization measures from all angles to help boost flower sales
The COA indicates that Taiwanese flowers are abundant in variety and type, dancing Phalaenopsis, welcoming flamingo lily, shiningly golden Oncidium, color-rich Eustoma, flamboyant tropical orchids, graceful cymbidium, and the symbol of fortune—Malabar chestnut, just to name a few. Loved by flower enthusiasts from the EU, the US, and Japan, domestically grown flowers generate yearly revenue of NTD 16.5 billion, of which 6.6 billion can be attributed to export. The ongoing COVID-19 not only impacted export, but the drop in domestic consumption also dragged down flower sales, putting flower farmers in a tough spot maintaining their livelihood. In response, the COA rolled out relief measures and revitalization programs, which include setting up countrywide demonstration spots at outdoor plazas and transportation hubs like Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) stations, providing flower education on campus, marketing flowers in value bundles, increasing the retail coverage, and gifting flowers to medical facilities. With the help of those measures, domestic consumption gradually returns, and the wholesale price of flowers stabilizes. In terms of export, measures on transportation like scheduling cargo flights with China Airlines are taken to encourage operators to expand their export reach.
SHOWTIME—Taiwanese flowers show their prowess
The COA explains that as the first professional baseball league in the world to begin its regular season, CPBL and its games, just like the country’s competence in bringing down COVID-19, have drawn the world’s attention. The game on May 8 is even more significant as it is the first of the year to feature live audiences, which hopefully can invigorate the spirit of those depressed by the outbreak. In this historic moment, the COA puts up tens of thousands of Oncidium, flamingo lily, lily, carnation, Eustoma, Renanthera, Monstera, among other flowers to create a 20 by 4.5-square meter floral decoration in the infield stand of Xinzhuang Baseball Stadium, depicting a forcefully swinging bat with “#Taiwan can help” slogan on the side. The decoration enriches this historic game and allows Taiwanese flowers to be seen by the world, and hopefully, the country’s flower industry can follow through with a home run in export.
