After having obtained the authorization to sell vegetable plants, the professionals, who provide most of their turnover between March and May, hope to be able to market their flowers and meet significant demand.
Friday, there were no new deaths linked to Covid-19 officially noted in the Hautes-Pyrénées. To date, health authorities have recorded 23 deaths, including 7 in hospitals and 16 in nursing homes.
“A slight increase in people hospitalized”
Does this encouraging figure mean that the epidemic is peaking? “This is the second day in a row that we have not had any deaths. This is rather good news, even if we should not rejoice too quickly,” said a source close to the health authorities.
The slight increase in the number of people hospitalized in the department (70) is explained by the fact that “some residents of Ehpad (accommodation establishments for dependent elderly) have been hospitalized” specifies the same source.
“The system is far from saturated”
Friday afternoon, 7 people were still in intensive care at the Tarbes hospital center. The service, which has a capacity of 20 beds, can still cope with an influx of patients. “The system is far from saturated even if we must remain cautious in this matter” analyzes the Hautes-Pyrénées prefecture.
Among the 70 patients hospitalized on the territory, there were 44 at the Bigorre hospital center, 8 at the Lannemezan hospital center, 10 at the Bagnères-de-Bigorre hospital center, 7 at the Lourdes hospital center and 1 at the Abalone. “The situation is under control” reassures the prefecture.
For this gentleman of a respectable age, in search of onion seedlings from Trebons, it will be necessary to iron. “What we sold in a month usually goes away in just ten days, says Frédréic Abadie, manager of the family horticulture in Ibos. We discovered new customers and new potential.” For two weeks now, nursery and horticulturalists have been able to sell seedlings and vegetable seeds. A breath of fresh air for these professionals who make more than two thirds of their annual turnover between March and May. “Vegetable plants, it allows people to come. We have a lot of orders that they come to withdraw. But it only represents 20% of the activity, points out the horticulturalist who employs five employees and had to give up his regular seasonal workers. The main thing is flowers. However, supermarkets, garden centers, to which I sell flowers as a wholesaler, have the right to market my plants, which I cannot do here. It is absurd. ” As a direct consequence, the deadweight loss for the month of March exceeds 25,000 € with perennials, carnations, daisies promised in the trash. Due to uncertainty, the plants planned for last week have been canceled. “This is the time of year when we have the most plants, several hundred thousand. These are perishable goods. If the market does not open quickly, the loss will be even greater. We are forbidden, we producer-retailers to open, while all the barrier measures are respected and the flow managed. Since Toussaint, there has been no cash flow when the charges weigh. ” Like the € 4,000 monthly heating. “If the flower market does not open quickly, the production of All Saints’ Day will be in jeopardy because we cannot borrow indefinitely.”
At the drive at Bourquin, 80 orders per day
Containment at the Bourquin-Soules nursery follows an already complicated start to the season. “We started March with the storm that caused a lot of damage. When we know that these are the three months that we work the most, we fell on this confinement.” Faced with the drop in sales at the end of March, Vincent Bourquin decided to set up a drive, with online payment “to limit the impact of the crisis”. A solution that quickly finds its audience with nearly 80 orders per day, thanks also to the opening of the sale of plants and vegetable seeds. “We have a lot of requests, but it requires a lot more effort, a lot of time for trolleys for just a few euros with plants in small quantities, continues Vincent Bourquin. But fortunately we have that. So, we have transformed the greenhouse to accommodate more vegetables, when usually it is more the flowers that dominate. If we have the green light for the flowers, we will reorganize. Because people are ready, we can feel it. is very crowded in the morning. They have all prepared their garden well and are rushing to the plants. ” While waiting for the authorization that will allow us to glimpse the end of the tunnel to color and brighten up an everyday life that is too drab.
No plants on the markets
Authorized for sale, the vegetable plants are however deprived of the market. Éric Abadie, producer in Maubourguet, regrets not being able to set up shop in Bagnères, Argelès or Foirail in Tarbes. “I am really annoyed. These outside markets remain prohibited while the greenhouses are full, the vegetable plants ready and the solicitations continue by telephone” he regrets. Also, he offers those who wish to collect his plants to contact him by phone (0680689767) to agree on a delivery day that could correspond with that of the local market.
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