Cultivate'25 kicked off yesterday in Columbus, Ohio. The first day saw relatively light foot traffic—a quiet start that's not unusual for the show's Sunday opening. As in previous years, exhibitors are expecting a significantly busier day on Monday.
So, what's top of mind for exhibitors this year? Market challenges were a recurring topic throughout the halls. One of the concerns is raw material availability. Peat shortages, caused by persistent rainfall in the Baltic states, are creating uncertainty and tightening supply.
Adding to the pressure, tariffs became the talk of the day. Just days ago, President Donald Trump announced a 30% tariff on all goods from Europe and Mexico, set to take effect on August 1. For Canadian suppliers, tariffs are also a concern, though the impact varies per sector.
Despite these challenges, the outlook on the flower market remains upbeat. European companies see continued growth potential in the North American market. That may explain why we ran into many fellow Dutchies at the show.
North America does tend to lag behind Europe when it comes to trends. North American packaging, for example, often reflects what was trending in Europe two to three years ago.
Our FloralDaily and HortiDaily team is also at the show to make our photo report. So if you see us walking by, get ready to smile!