Valentine’s Day, Why Roses and Flowers Cost More

Rose farms prepare for Valentine harvest in November. In mid-November, growers cut the stems whether they are mature or not so that all the plants produce roses at the same time. The professional term used is dead heading. The cost adds up when this happens because they cut several stems to produce one stem for Valentine’s. Most roses come from Columbia and Ecuador because of the temperate weather there. California farms produce most of the domestic roses.

Labor and equipment can triple or quadruple at harvest time so there are associated costs that have to be passed on to the florists and ultimately to the consumer. Another big factor are the airlines from Colombia and Ecuador. They are flying full to Miami but many are flying back to South America empty or half full. So the airlines charge more; in essence the shippers are paying for the plane to fly from South America and also for the flight back. It has been said that the height of Valentine’s Shipping that a 747 plane filled with flowers is landing every 10 minutes at the Miami International.

Because Valentines is celebrated all over the world, the demand for roses is very high, and because of that, rose growers raise their prices, and that is why, the price of roses and most flowers go up – supply and demand becomes the rule on this holiday.

Order your valentines roses early and send them early during the week to tell your loved one that you can’t wait for valentines to express your love. Visit or call A Vanity Fair florist for your rose orders soon. For reliable delivery in Sacramento, CA call your local florist.