Cut flowers

In the heart of Türkiye's cut flower production hub, the southwestern province of Antalya, preparations for Valentine's Day are in full swing, with a noteworthy demand from Europe worth a staggering $7 million in vibrant flower exports.

The ornamental plants and cut flower sector in the southern province of Antalya has started shipping a total of 75 million cut flowers, mainly carnations, and 4 million Christmas wreaths to nearly 30 European countries and Russia for Christmas and New Year celebrations this year.

According to sector representatives, Türkiye, which currently supplies 80 percent of the world's carnation needs, has the potential to generate significantly more revenue from manufacturing with more sophisticated marketing strategies.

Producers in the southern province of Antalya export flowers to 33 countries in Europe, especially the Netherlands.

Planeloads of Turkish carnations are headed to the United Kingdom for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral next Monday.

Flower producers in southern Türkiye are working to meet high demand for the event in London.

Boxes of roses, lilies and carnations pile up as influencer Caicai speaks into her smartphone from a small studio at Asia's biggest flower market - with thousands of customers eagerly awaiting her view on the best deals.

E-commerce is big business in China and influencers and livestreamers have made their fortunes showcasing products for luxury brands and cosmetics firms.

Antalya, Turkey's greenhouse cut flower production base, continues to export flowers all over the world.

So far this year, 650 million branches of flowers cut and bundled by women from greenhouses were exported to 27 countries in Europe.

Turkey exported $107 million worth of flowers to 83 countries in 2020 despite the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the Ornamental Plants and Products Exporters Union, which embodies the export of cut flowers, indoor and outdoor plants, flower bulbs, and wreaths, the number of branches of flowers sold abroad reached 505 million in 2020, most of them carnations.