One of Guernsey’s largest rose nurseries has been forced to close due to stifling foreign competition.
The 5.5-acre site that makes up Ramee Roses will shut down in November after a steady decline in profits.
Owner Kees Jungerius said that wholesale markets in Britain are no longer a good place to send flowers because of cheap imports and the fact that supermarkets buy directly from foreign countries.
He also highlighted that local growers could not keep up with countries that produce roses all year round, or pay their workers as little as £1 an hour.
He says that remaining farmers should find a niche market for their produce to stay afloat.
The closure is the second blow for the area, following the announcement that plant-raiser Delamore will move its operations from the island to the UK, fuelling speculation that Guernsey horticulture is in crisis.
