Blog: Supply Chain Meltdown

More than 60 containerships sat in San Pedro Bay on Feb. 18, at the entrance to the sprawling ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The vessels are waiting for a slot to sail into those facilities to begin unloading their cargo. The scarcity of truck drivers combined with fewer Dockside workers is cause for gridlock. 

March 2020, we were ill-prepared when nearly everything ground to a halt, production, travel, transportation, and nearly everyone stayed home. 

The process to re-start the wheels of progress has been difficult. That time away from our daily work created a vacuum that has led to shortages of all kinds. Parts for cars, supplies for manufacturing, the list goes on, and the recovery seems slow. 

Our industry also feels the strains of supply chain anxiety; growers who could not get staff to work fell behind in production, neglected plants need time to recover. The unknown of how long this would last lead to some not replanting crops until recently and those flowers won't be available for a few weeks.

Glass vases, paint, wire have also been in short supply, our vendors sending apologies instead of products.

I imagine that later this summer when most of us are inoculated that we will begin to return to what might be considered normal, at least a normal we can live with, and supply will again meet and exceed the demand.

Scott Isensee