The demand for fresh flowers in Nadi sees florist Lomani Turgabeci travel down to Nadi every Tuesday and she returns back to Suva on Sunday.
Mrs Turagabeci, 66, said Nadi is a good location for flower business because of the demand from business houses, hotels, resorts and tourists as they buy flowers every day.
“If the sale rolls well, I usually receive $500 plus a week. I don’t buy my flowers; I plant varieties in our farm in Tailevu,” Mrs Turgabeci said.
“The expenses I used are for my return fare from Tailevu to Suva, Suva to Nadi and my accommodation for four nights in Nadi.
“Here in the market, if it is a slack day I would probably get $150 a day.
“In Nadi, people buy flowers nearly every day especially the tourists, hotels, resorts and business houses.
“My late husband has a farm in Tailevu on which I plants all kinds of local flowers
“When planting flowers I have in mind that I am investing for my future. All my children are married and live with their own familie.
“With my age, people used to tell me that I am old and this job is to much for me because I have to travel from Tailevu to Nadi with my sack of flowers.
“I used to tell them this is what Keeps me strong, moving around which is a good exercise. If I laze around at home, it will make me weak and sick.”
She says her weekly routine programme starts on Monday and ends on Saturday.
On Mondays she visits her flower gardens, prunes, cuts and gets them ready for Tuesday.
On Tuesdays she travels to Suva to catch the bus to Nadi.
She sleeps over in Nadi from Tuesday to Saturday.
“My programme is that on Mondays, I cut all varieties of flowers. My grandchildren, nephews and nieces help me with the cuttings and wrapping bunches of flowers. On Tuesday I leave for Nadi and on Wednesday I sell my flowers till Saturday and on Sunday morning I travel back to Suva,” Mrs Turagabe-ci added.
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