The best way to transport flowers with optimal quality preservation
The Netherlands is a top exporter when it comes to cut flowers and other ornamental crops. Even though this sector suffered greatly from the first corona wave, trade seems to be slowly but surely recovering. How do Dutch growers ensure that their flowers arrive fresh to customers at home and abroad? In this article you can read all about the latest developments and insights in the field of flower transport.
Who doesn’t love a beautiful bunch of flowers? Besides the atmospheric image that flowers create, they have a proven positive impact on labor performance. However, flower sales are usually highly dependent on how the economy is doing. This is because purchases of flowers are often driven by impulse purchases and holidays or special occasions.
The future of the cut flower trade is brighter than the current state of affairs. For example, there are new opportunities in e-commerce and marketing. Field bouquets are also making inroads. Growing flowers is a specialty, but after the grower has done his job, it is a matter of getting the flowers to the right destination.
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Transportation of tulips, roses and other cut flowers
Immediately after cut flowers are removed from the land, decay of the flowers sets in. This is because the supply of nutrients stops when the stems are cut. To minimize and delay decay as much as possible so that the flowers reach the end user in optimal condition, growers can take some measures:
- Direct cooling of flowers. To keep the flower’s “metabolism,” as it were, going, it is important to cool the flowers immediately. The most ideal cooling temperature varies for each flower. For roses, for example, this is 1-2 degrees Celsius. Ideally, the flowers should also be processed and packed in a cool room.
- Store and transport in environment with proper humidity. When flowers are exposed to too much moisture, nasty fungi such as botrytis can occur. However, a space that is too dry can lead to flowers drying out: in fact, the evaporation of moisture from the petals continues even under cooled conditions.
- Choosing the right transportation method. Attention must be paid to optimal environmental conditions of the flowers not only during storage, but also during transport. Depending on the duration and distance of the transport together with logistics capacity at the final destination, you can choose to transport the cut flowers dry or in water.
Transporting cut flowers dry or wet?
When we buy flowers, we usually put them in water right away so we can enjoy them for a long time. However, recent research shows that flowers can do quite well for a while without water. For international shipments, dry shipping of flowers is already often chosen, while domestic transport of flowers is still often done in buckets of water. When is dry shipping of flowers like tulips and roses the way to go, and when is it better to stick with buckets of water?
Advantages and disadvantages of dry transporting cut flowers
Transporting cut flowers dry is more environmentally friendly, cheaper and not conclusive in the quality of the flowers. This is evident from three-year research by Wageningen University of Technology. It showed, for example, that even in road transport, dry transport compared to wet transport results in as much as 47% less greenhouse gas emissions. But then why don’t growers choose dry transport of their cut flowers en masse?
This is due to the fact that upon arrival, the flowers must stand in water for several hours to regain their appearance. So they are not immediately presentable to consumers, for example. Not everyone has the time and capacity to realize this.
Considerations for dry flower transport
Dutch flowers are exported worldwide. This is done by means of air transport, for example, because the flowers can then arrive relatively quickly in countries around the world. On the plane, it is simply not allowed to transport the flowers in buckets of water. Therefore, when transported by plane, cut flowers are always chosen to be transported dry.
Furthermore, there are some crucial points that determine the preservation of the quality and freshness of your flowers during dry transport:
- Temperature. Flowers should also be refrigerated during transport. Since the flowers get to their destination through different vehicles, it is wise to transport the flowers with cooling elements and well-insulated packages. You can use gel packs for this purpose.
- Moisture. To ensure that any condensation that forms along the way does not have a detrimental effect on the quality of the cut flowers, this moisture should be absorbed. For this, you can use absorption mats well.
Download free whitepaper
Would you like to know more about the current state of scientific research on optimal transport conditions for flowers? Or about developments in the cut flower cultivation market? Then download the whitepaper for free and read more.
Should you have questions or need advice focused on your transportation challenge, feel free to contact one of our experts. We will be happy to help you find a suitable solution for your situation.
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