With Mother’s Day around the corner, flower shops in Salinas are feeling early pressure from expected tariff hikes on flowers imported from South America — a key supply source for many local businesses.
Swenson and Silacci Flowers, a well-known shop in the region, is already preparing for changes that could impact their pricing and inventory.
“We’re a little concerned,” said owner Mike Silacci. “Luckily, about half of our flowers are grown in California or elsewhere in the U.S., so we’re not fully dependent on imports.”
Still, roses — one of the most popular flowers for Mother’s Day — are mostly sourced from Ecuador and other parts of South America. That’s where the concern lies. Silacci explained that he’s already received notices from growers in those countries who expect price increases soon.
“We haven’t seen it hit just yet, but we’ve been warned. I’d say our costs might go up five to ten percent in the next week or two,” he said.
Local wholesalers are also starting to notice the ripple effect. At Cesar’s Flowers in Royal Oaks, fewer independent vendors are showing up to buy in bulk — something they usually count on during the busy holiday season.
“The people who sell flowers on the street are the ones really feeling this,” said manager Maty Ruiz. “Prices are going up, and they’re not buying as much. Some of it may also be due to immigration issues.”
For now, flower businesses are watching closely as costs and demand shift just before one of their biggest holidays of the year. Whether customers will also feel the pinch remains to be seen.
