Forty-five million Euro in sales during first half of 2007 - The flower market in Pescia (Pistoia) continues to be an important reference point for the Italian and international floriculture industry a fact demonstrated by the increase in sales recorded during the first six months of 2007.
According to Comicent data, semester sales totalled 45 million euros, 688,370 euros more than the first six months of 2006.
There was a marked increase in large-bud roses (11,920,000 sold in total 240,000 more than in 2006) and small-bud roses (7,855,000 sold 538,000 more than the previous year).
The increase in demand resulted in a slight price increase for both types of roses.
Carnations, chrysanthemums and lilies all saw a decrease in demand as a result, their prices remained stable.
Though the cultivation of locally grown greenhouse flowers was in decline, the first semester saw a rise in the variety of flowers from outside the Tuscan region, including roses from Puglia and Lazio, and tulips and irises from Sicily.
The selection of flowers from abroad also increased, with the most popular being roses from India and China, orchids from Thailand and other buds from Ecuador, Colombia, Israel and Oceania.
