The dried flower market - France

A dried flower is one that has been dehydrated. Flower drying is the most natural technique known for preserving flowers. It's a simple technique, with the flower head facing downwards. The dried flower market is entirely dependent on the production of fresh flowers, and it seems logical that without flowers, there would be no dried flowers. The European consumer market for flowers and ornamental plants accounts for a large proportion of global consumption. The Netherlands, the UK and Denmark are the biggest consumers, relative to the number of inhabitants. In the flower market, the dried flower segment occupies a relatively important place, but remains in the minority compared to fresh flowers. It is also worth noting that emerging countries are playing an increasingly important role in flower production, thanks to favorable climatic conditions, aggressive pricing policies and progress in terms of transport (particularly by sea). Moreover, the geographical expansion of production and the development of logistics solutions, particularly long-distance transport capacities, are the main factors driving the flower market. The majority of French flower imports come from the Netherlands, even though they are often produced in another country (Africa, South America). The French market is stimulated by the development of new online distribution methods, such as subscriptions, "boxes" or "clicks & collect" mechanisms where, once the bouquet has been ordered online, the customer can collect it in-store. Last but not least, the French market can draw on the growing awareness among some consumers of the need to consume local and sustainable products, and in this case, dried flowers produced in France. Indeed, the "Fleurs de France" label has been set up to promote "made in France", the use of short circuits and seasonal production. However, many consumers, faced with the price argument, prefer to buy imported foreign products at a much lower cost.