For 80 years, the mimosa has been the symbolic flower of Women's Day

For 80 years, the mimosa has been the flower symbol of Women's Day. This year, mimosa plants bloomed in abundant volumes with a quality product and retail prices that on the whole remained stable and affordable: between 10 and 15 euros for medium-sized bunches. This is what Cia-Agricoltori Italiani, together with its association Florovivaisti Italiani, pointed out in a note taking stock of the floricultural market trend. In addition to the traditional mimosa, bouquets include freesias, buttercups, anemones and tulips grown in our country. A production that drives a sector, the national floricultural one, that generates a value of more than 3.2 billion euro. Yet, Cia is sounding the alarm on the international competition front. While on the one hand national production is holding up in terms of prices, on the other there is pressure from imports of cut flowers from third countries, with increasing logistical burdens and asymmetric competition dynamics.

"Choosing Italian mimosas and flowers for 8 March is not just a gesture of closeness to women, but an act of concrete support for thousands of national farms that work in full respect of the environment and workers' rights," recalls Cristiano Fini, national president of Cia. "Our floriculturists face very high production costs every day, linked to energy for the greenhouses and to strict European specifications. For Cia, the protection of the Italian flower, symbol of the floricultural sector, passes through Brussels. "We cannot accept that our markets be flooded by productions from non-EU countries that do not guarantee the same protections as ours," Fini concludes. Free trade must only take place with equal rules on production, environmental and health standards. We call for the activation of strict safeguard clauses to protect the excellence of our floriculture'.

Liguria is a leading region in mimosa production and this year, with 8 March falling on a Sunday, it could influence market dynamics. "From the point of view of the national market, a drop of 15-20% compared to last year is expected,'' explain Gianluca Boeri, president of Coldiretti Liguria, and Bruno Rivarossa, confederal delegate. This is not, however, a reduction in consumption, but rather the effect of the calendar: Women's Day falls on a Sunday and this is a factor that affects trade that normally takes place on weekdays, a phenomenon that can be observed every time the anniversary falls at the weekend. However, this drop is offset by the positive trend on the foreign market, with significant growth in exports, especially to Russia, where purchases of Ligurian mimosa have increased by up to 30%. This is an important sign of the recognised quality and international appreciation for the Ligurian product'.

more than one hundred varieties of mimosa are grown in Liguria and the sector also represents a fundamental economic and employment resource for the region. Mimosa cultivation requires specialised labour and helps to support Ligurian companies and families. Coldiretti Liguria, recalls that 'this year, production had to deal with particular weather conditions. The blooms were early and a particularly rainy February put the quality of the flowers at risk. Thanks to the skill and dedication of Ligurian producers, however, it was possible to obtain a very high quality product, maintaining excellent standards despite the difficult conditions. This year, weather anomalies have made flowering more uncertain, but the quality of Ligurian mimosa remains very high,' Boeri and Rivarossa conclude. 'Made in Italy is synonymous with professionalism, sustainability, care and dedication, and our province confirms its leading role. A big applause to the Ligurian producers who, with passion, guarantee mimosa of excellence every year'.