Up the Supply Chain BY LAURIE HERRERA


DODGING DISRUPTIONS IN THE FLORAL SUPPLY CHAIN > As U.S. trade agreements come under new scrutiny, some business owners have taken proactive steps to bolster reserves, identify alternative sources for imported products, and prepare for potential shifts. And while trade agree- ments and tariffs contribute to costs, they’re just one factor in the floral indus- try’s complex, global supply chain. “The cost and global product avail-


shortages, the value of the dollar, cur- rency manipulation by foreign nations, foreign government subsidies, and domestic freight dynamics are among many variables that impact the supply chain, he says. Here’s how suppliers stay on top


ability depend on far more than just trade agreements and tariffs,” says Kelvin Frye, director of strategic part- nerships and industry relations for Syndicate Sales. Labor issues at ports, availability of sea containers, worker


of potential disruptions to ensure flo- rists have access to the products they need, and why prices or availability may fluctuate.


A World of Factors Some of these factors can be tracked or anticipated. For example, both domestic and international workers often state


FLORAL IMPORTS BY THE NUMBERS:


KEY COUNTRIES AND TRADE VALUES Top countries the U.S. imports from, with trade values (includes cost of freight)


Asterisk indicates countries with which the U.S. has had a free trade agreement (duty-free)


Data is from U.S. International Trade Commission and World Integrated Trade Solution. Trade values data are from 2023.


Floral foam


1. Korea* $313,090,530


2. Ireland $278,529,650


3. Canada* $103,568,540


Ireland 2 4 Ne


their intention to strike days or weeks before they do. Social unrest usually simmers before civil unrest breaks out in foreign countries. Suppliers have teams who track these and other global events to try to stay ahead of any potential breakdowns in the supply chain. Other factors — like the coro-


navirus pandemic that shuttered international trade in 2020, or the con- tainer ship that blocked the Suez Canal, a major global trade route, for six days in 2021 — catch the world by surprise. “You can anticipate all you want,


but a lot of times you don’t see it until you see it,” says Nick Fronduto, chief


3


3 Canada 2 3 5 2 Mexico Ecuador Colombia 1


3


Cut flowers


1. Colombia* $1,501,866,870


2. Ecuador $654,774,900


3. Canada* $108,760,080


4. Netherlands $97,266,440


5. Mexico* $46,010,150


40


FLORAL MANAGEMENT | March/April 2025 | WWW.SAFNOW.ORG


SHUTTERSTOCK/DOLLY DESIGNER


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