Augusto Solano, President of the Association of Colombian Flower Exporters (Asocolflores), referred to the sector’s situation in the midst of the state of emergency decreed in Colombia due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the national quarantine, which will continue initially until April 13.

The Head of the Trade Association said: “Although the number of orders from the more than 100 countries to which Colombia exports has been reduced significantly, shipments are still made to several of them, mainly to the United States.”

"Asocolflores took steps to obtain the necessary exceptions that allow our economic activity to continue operating, although at a slower pace, during quarantine and to continue harvesting, producing, packing, and exporting Colombian flowers; and there is the capacity to export them abroad via air or sea," Solano said.

“There are flowers to export, we have the capacity to fulfill orders and transport them to different countries, it all depends on whether there is demand," Solano said.

Asocolflores' main concern is to ensure the health of people in the farms, the survival of companies and the job stability of its workers who will only preserve their sources of income if the farms continue their activities.
In the face of the emergency, Asocolflores permanently promotes prevention and hygiene campaigns with the support of the Human Resources departments.

Additionally, it promotes health and safety in the work environments of its affiliated companies, has promoted the census of the elderly over 55 years for their protection and sends communications to keep the flower growing community informed.

Source: floraldaily.com – 25th March 2020

Image source: Image by Anastasia Gepp from Pixabay