The lily of the valley resists in France. This Thursday, individuals and professionals will sell strands, at different prices and qualities depending on the distribution circuits.
This Thursday, May 1, 1.3 million French households will buy a touch of thrush, as tradition dictates. If this figure decreases each year, custom remains anchored among those for whom the Labor day is important.
Moreover, lily of the valiant sales still generate a total turnover of 19.4 million euros (figures 2024), according to the Valhor interprofession.
And this market has a unique particularity, since thrush is the only product that can be sold by anyone, exclusively on May 1. But if you buy your valley in the street, from an individual or an association, you will not benefit from the advice of a florist or a garden center. RMC CONSO therefore helps you see more clearly to choose good quality thrush.
In the street, same quality?
Do occasional sellers offer flowers good quality that florists? Cécile Mu, florist and manager of the Madame Pétales boutique in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, brings us some answers.
When we talk about thrush, four qualities exist: the 2nd choice, the 1st choice, the extra and the super extra. When the 2nd choice corresponds to the wild flowers, the other three are cultivated in a greenhouse.
The strands sold in the street, by individuals, are mostly wild flowers picked in the woods or the forest, so they are of less good quality.
Moreover, the French are not mistaken: florists remain the first charter for lily of the valley (42%), in front of mass distribution. The rescue sale represents only 4%.
-“The more the quality increases, the white and thicker the bells on the strand,” said Cécile Mu.
To differentiate them, you must observe the length of the stem, which must be firm, and the number of bells. Another indicator of the quality of the strand is the smell it gives off.
Low price at the supermarket
The more good lily of the valley, the more its quality is ensured. The florist estimates between 1.50 euros and 5 euros the price of a touch of thrush, depending on its quality.
After several years of successive increases, due in particular to the climatic conditions which make production more complicated, the prices of lily of the valley are still slightly increased, but they have not soared.
Among florists, the strand sells between 2.5 and 3 euros. In the street, the prices set by individuals are free, but they are often lower than with professionals, around 1 euro or 1.5 euro the strand. Large distribution, thanks to the volumes it buys, can sell lily of the valley even less, sometimes less than 1 euro the strand.
If you want to make a more sustainable purchase, it is better to choose a pot in pots rather than a bit: you can replant it. Count between 10 and 15 euros for three pots in a pot in a garden center.
There is therefore consumers to make their choice this Thursday, depending on the availability, quality and price of available flowers. But be careful not to be long: better quality strands are often bought early during the day.
Lilian Pouyaud and Charlotte Méritan
