Unconfirmed
sources report that demand for flowers to be showered on
American troops in Iraq is straining the world flower market.
The problem began just as the war in Iraq was starting.
Apparently Iraqi citizens groups placed orders for hundreds
of tons of flowers to be flown in ahead of the troops, but
it just wasn't enough.
Markus Von Haur of the World Flower exchange in Holland
explained the crisis. "We first knew we were in for
it when several massive orders for flowers arrived at the
same time, just as the war in Iraq was starting. We didn't
find out till later, but all the orders were placed by the
Iraqi people through intermediaries The flowers were shipped
into Iraq ahead of the fighting to prepare for the arrival
of American troops. Dozens of teams fanned out across the
country to preposition the flowers to greet the American
liberators. It worked and the troops where showered with
flowers. But then things went sour for us. The orders for
flowers just kept coming and coming we can't meet the demand
the market is in chaos."
One soldier in Iraq said "I have never seen anything
like it. They was tossing flowers at us like crazy. And
it hasn't let up. The flowers just keep coming. These guys
have made the desert bloom."
The US Military has contributed to the problem by ordering
flowers to be showered on military units that have TV crews
with them during the war. It was thought that the shortage
would ease as the war finished up, but that has not been
the case. The situation is actually getting worse as the
military and Iraqi citizens continues to buy fresh cut flowers
from around the world to meet the demand. World flower prices
continue to spiral out of control.
Even local florists in America have felt the pinch says
Sally Ann Giddons of Flowerland in Naples Florida. "Our
prices have gone through the roof, if we can get any flowers
at all. It's tough on us not having anything to sell and
all, but if it helps the war i'm for it."
According to authorities, free wheeling entrepreneurs are
getting into the game to meet the demand. Flower theft and
diversions of flower shipments are happening for the first
time in history. People are doing anything to get flowers
into Iraq.
Just yesterday prices in Holland doubled causing many buyers
to just go home. The flower market is in complete chaos
and with the situation in Iraq unresolved there is no end
in site.
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