Choosing between a local grower and the wholesale market for peonies

I had a big wedding order needing 50 stems of coral charm peonies, and my usual wholesaler was out, so I had to pick between a new local farm charging $8 a stem or driving two hours to a bigger market. I went with the local grower, and the blooms were fresher and lasted three days longer in the arrangements. Has anyone else tried sourcing from a small farm for a rush order, and how did you handle the price difference with the client?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_nancy4h ago

Always figured the wholesale market was the only way to go for big orders. Your post makes a strong case for paying the local premium.

craig.viola3h agoMost Upvoted

Had a huge order last year and went local. The extra cost got me way better quality control and faster turnarounds. Supplier was down the street, so we fixed issues in person instead of waiting on emails. Saved my timeline when a spec changed last minute. Sometimes the higher price tag actually saves money by avoiding bigger headaches.

shanec613h ago

Local shops can't match wholesale prices, @the_nancy, so you're just burning cash for hand-holding.