Garden centres and nurseries are facing new challenges at the peak of their business year amid COVID-19.
Today, the province allowed certain businesses to reopen under strict safety guidelines that include garden centres and nurseries. However, these two businesses are only allowed to use curbside pick-up and delivery methods.
Peter Grobe, who owns Grobe’s Nursery on Highway 7 between Guelph and Kitchener, said he feels his business will not last much longer.
“We were told back in March we could plant crops. We sell vegetable crops, we sell fruit trees, we sell fruit bushes, you name it. If it grows outside, we got it,” said Grobe.
He said by the end of the week, he will have thrown all his plants in the garbage.
“Sunday is Mother’s day and Monday, they’ll be in the garbage can,” said Grobe.
“And if it continues on till the next week, we will put $100,000 worth in the garbage can.”
Because the new mandate limits pickup times and products for purchase due to their size and price, Grobe said a large number of plants just won’t sell.
“In our business, we can’t spend $5 to handle a $1 plant,” said Grobe.
“It took 60 years to get here and him 60 seconds to screw the whole thing up,” said Grobe about Premier Doug Ford’s new ruling on essential services.
He said the provincial government doesn’t know what it’s doing with grocery stores allowing customers to roam freely to pick fruits and vegetables in stores.
“If you go into Zehrs, you can buy all your produce walking around and pick it up and handle it so why can’t you pick up my produce?” said Grobe.
“Because it happens to be in pots instead of edible form? In fact, some of it is edible in pots.”
Grobe’s said he won’t be taking any legal action because he feels he is too old now at the age of 80 to make a difference.
With the new provincial mandate, he said he feels like his nursery is no longer the same and will be forced to retire.
Andre Marthaler, manager of Brock Road Nursery Garden Centre on Gordon Street, said the new provincial mandate requires significant adjustments.
“People like to come in, look at the plants and see the different colours, smell the fragrances and make selections that way. When they come in and make their selections, they can take as many or as little as they like and you don’t have to worry about the logistics of getting it to them,” said Marthaler adding that May and June are the busiest time of the year for his family business.
He said after he heard there was good news for garden centres coming, he was surprised to find out they are not allowed to open.
“I’m not really sure why there is a distinction between a parking lot garden centre and a grocery store vs the independent garden center,” said Marthaler.
He said he anticipates that it’s not going to be long before the garden centres and nurseries reopen.
“We’re just focused on providing the customers with products with the curbside pickup and delivery at this point. As soon as we find a way to do it and the government allows us to do it, we look forward to welcoming them back,” said Marthaler adding that right now, their first priority is the safety of their customers.
