Rose prices give lovers a hard Valentine’s Day

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

The cold weather and snow affected rose production and led to increased prices.

The recent cold weather and snow in Turkey not only affected people’s daily lives but negatively impacted the most common Valentine’s Day gift as well.

Valentine’s Day is not the same without red roses, but the cold weather and snow affected rose production and led to increased prices. And prices are expected to increase more in the middle of February.

The increasing rose prices might affect Valentine’s Day celebrations, Ataylı flower breeder Ahmet Sönmeztaş said to Doğan news agency.

Sönmeztaş grows roses in the village of Ilıkpınar in the Kırıkhan district of Hatay province, Turkey. He said the cold weather and snow affected prices of roses, and flower growers may have to resort to importing roses. While last year they were selling roses for 1 Turkish Lira, this year the price became 2.50 liras.

“This price is expected to rise,” he said. “The weather conditions are negative for breeding roses.