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Nina, our leader... we always take raincoats, just in case, but so far it's just been for warming up.
At intersections of multi-lane roads, it can be complicated to make a left turn using the bike lanes.
To make a left, you must wait several lights. Sometimes they have "flood" type crossing for bikes.
We initially make a false stop at a different facility, and have to turn around.
But now we have the right place.
Flowers come in by air and truck from all parts of the world. They are sold at auction in this building and shipped to destinations all over the world.
The goal is to deliver fresh cut flowers to retailers no later than 24 hours after they were cut in the field.
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We're on an overhead walkway.
Incoming flowers are put in special containers and placed on carts.
Carts are moved by small trucks or scooters and assembled into trains by auction number
Here they are entering one of the auction rooms where they will be seen by buyers before being sold.
Here one of 4(?) auction rooms. Flowers roll through at front (left). Bidders all have computers and phones and bid live when they see what they want.
They use a Dutch auction where the price starts high and the first to bid wins. They bid on stem price. This winning bid was 0.3 Euros per stem. Quantity is shown somewhere on the screen too.
Bidders. The facility holds 64,000 individual auctions per day. A few seconds per auction, fast turn-around.
Another view of the auction room. After the sale, the flowers are moved to the buyers outgoing queue for shipping.
Buyers keep in touch with their companies with prices here impacting cut flower prices world-wide.
Lined up and being readied for shipment
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A different auction room, but identical in function.
