Flower grower Lyn Bayfield will never forget the feeling of relief after she posted a call for help on social media and her community drove to the rescue.But a pop-up Saturday sale at Eumundi Roses' farm gate, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, turned her tears into smiles."We sold everything that we had to go to Brisbane, we sold everything that Dad cut that morning."
"They said come and get them by eight o'clock in the morning or they'll be dumped," Ms Bayfield said.The rejected delivery of more than 100 fresh-cut bunches included roses, Asiatic lilies, delphiniums, lisianthus, chrysanthemum and Queen Ann's lace.This rejection made him want to throw in the secateurs."It floored me because I've always grown something that I really think that people will enjoy.
And Anna Jabour, the chief executive of Flower Industry Australia, said the flower industry was not immune."It really highlights to me the power imbalances within the flower industry." "Over the last 20 years, growers have just been absolutely decimated in Australia, particularly rose growers," Ms Jabour said.In the 2022-23 financial year, the Australian Bureau of Statistics recorded $9.3 million worth of fresh cut flower exports and $103 million worth of imports.
"So proud of everyone who supported you, power to the hearts of community, people power, well done," said another.