OC flower shop owner trying to save money amid high gas prices

With Mother’s Day just about two and half weeks away, those flowers you’re thinking of buying will likely be more expensive.

This is due to higher gas prices that are now averaging about $5.80 to $5.90 a gallon in Southern California, forcing some flower wholesalers to raise their prices.

Inside the cooler at Orange County Wholesale Flowers in Santa Ana, there are different blends and blooms from all around the globe.

“Ebonies, they’re coming from all over the world, sweet peas are finishing in Japan,” Jasmine Gonzalez, manager at Orange County Wholesale Flowers, said. 

“In order to get the flowers here, people don’t realize where they come from. There’s about five or six charges before we get the flowers in our coolers,” Jesus Gomez, owner of Orange County Wholesale Flowers, said. 

Flowers and fuel have been top of mind for Gomez.

“Gas went up, my gas went up. More to bring the product in. There’s no fertilizers right now, they have to pass those costs to someone,” Gomez said. “Lately what I had to do was collect all the gas cards and just give them money, cash. They’re looking for the cheapest gas station.”

“I’m up to $2,000 for two weeks in gas alone,” Gomez added.

As he drives around, Gomez is also taking pictures of the cheapest gas prices around town and telling his drivers to get gas there.

Gomez is worried, but he hopes his customers will understand. 

He says the flowers themselves haven’t changed, but the cost of getting them to mom this Mother’s Day has.  

“It’s not because the product went up, it’s all these other expenses,” Gomez said.