Flower Industry Feels Pandemic Pinch

This Valentines Day we might not see as many flower bouquets as we did in previous years. KVEO's Brice Helms reports.

(NBC News) — This Valentine’s Day we might not see as many flower bouquets as we did in previous years.

Demand for flowers has decreased dramatically due to the pandemic.

Stay at home orders put a stop to most large gatherings like weddings or birthdays that you’d traditionally buy flowers for.

“Because of the pandemic, it’s affecting farms and growers,” says Ariel Loera, co-owner of A Little Castle Shop in Harlingen, Texas. “The floral industry has been going way, way down.”

Even Valentine’s Day hasn’t seen the rush for flowers that it’s brought in years past.

“This year we’re looking like 50% less than we used to do,” Loera says. “I mean, last year, years in the back, we were super busy. But we’re not expecting that much this holiday.”

Despite the lower number of orders, Loera says people shouldn’t wait until the last minute.

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