At the Riverside Ping flower market on the 11th, vendors set out garlands of jasmine and rak flowers in a range of designs and prices ahead of National Mother’s Day, but the mood on the ground was subdued, with only a trickle of customers throughout the day.
Flower sellers in the area said the 11th of August is usually the day locals turn out in force to pick up jasmine garlands for their mothers, but this year has been unusually flat. Vendors put it down to a tighter economy pushing people toward more frugal choices, with many younger customers opting for cards or online messages instead. Rising jasmine prices haven’t helped either.
Nearly all the jasmine sold in Chiang Mai is sourced from farms in Nakhon Sawan, and heavy rain there this year has thinned out the harvest and spread what’s available across more provinces, pushing prices up by around 30%. Garland strings that once cost 10 baht are now 15 baht, while jasmine garlands start from 50 to 300 baht. This year’s premium custom garlands, usually priced from 500 baht upward, have seen no orders at all. As a result, most shops have cut back on stock, since jasmine only keeps for a few days and unsold flowers simply rot.
Vendors are pinning their hopes on tonight and tomorrow morning, the 12th of August, when business usually picks up, particularly among working-age customers who make up the bulk of buyers. They’re encouraging people to come out and support local stalls with a jasmine garland for mum.
