Tariffs Squeeze Capital Region Florists Ahead of Valentine's Day

Imported flower tariffs raise costs, but chocolate prices trend downward after cocoa tariffs dropped

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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As many flowers are imported from other countries, tariffs on imports imposed by the Trump administration last year have affected how Capital Region florists go about business for Valentine's Day. Some florists are offsetting the additional costs, while others are increasing prices for consumers. Meanwhile, chocolate prices have trended downward after cocoa tariffs were removed in mid-November.

Why it matters

Valentine's Day is the most important time of the year for local florists, and the tariffs have impacted their ability to provide affordable floral arrangements for customers. The story highlights how government trade policies can have real-world impacts on small businesses and consumers in the Capital Region.

The details

Capital Region florists like Taysha Florist, Frank Gallo & Son Florist, and Felthousen's Florist & Greenhouse have seen prices for imported flowers increase by 20-25% per stem due to the tariffs. Some florists have absorbed the increased costs, while others have passed them on to customers. Meanwhile, chocolate shops like Krause's Homemade Candy and Candy Kraft have seen prices stabilize or decrease after the removal of tariffs on cocoa products.

  • Tariffs on Latin American goods were imposed by the Trump administration last year.
  • Tariffs on cocoa products were removed in mid-November 2025.

The players

Shanelle Carter

Owner of Taysha Florist in Albany.

Frank Gallo

Owner of Frank Gallo & Son Florist in Schenectady.

Mark Felthousen

Owner of Felthousen's Florist & Greenhouse with locations in Albany, Schenectady, and Cohoes.

Ian Krause

Owner of Krause's Homemade Candy in Colonie.

Brad Pikcilingis

Owner of Candy Kraft in Guilderland.

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What they’re saying

“It's my job to help people express their thoughtfulness. We've got first loves, engagements, first dates and plenty of Galentines.”

— Shanelle Carter, Owner, Taysha Florist (Times Union)

“Compared to last year, what is new is the inclusion of tariffs. The imported flowers from Latin America must be costing more money.”

— Kajal Lahiri, Economics Professor, University at Albany (Times Union)

“Chocolate was going up 50 cents per pound quarterly for the last two years and now has started to substantially drop. Between the pandemic and the explosion in pricing for chocolate the past couple years, I think tariffs were just the icing on the cake. But with them gone, and the market trending towards lower pricing, I think there is a light at the end of the tunnel for U.S. candy stores.”

— Ian Krause, Owner, Krause's Homemade Candy (Times Union)

“The tariffs have had a slight impact on not only the fresh flowers but also the containers we use. We have negotiated better pricing from suppliers, so the impact has been slight for us. From a container or glass vase perspective, we have turned to buying domestically to avoid any increases.”

— Frank Gallo, Owner, Frank Gallo & Son Florist (Times Union)

“The roughly 10% on Columbian, and a bit more on Ecuadorian, are mostly unnoticeable amongst the overall increase in pricing caused by Valentine's day supply and demand. Even though our cost almost doubles on some items this time of year, we only increase our usual pricing by about 25% in order to keep things affordable for our customers.”

— Mark Felthousen, Owner, Felthousen's Florist & Greenhouse (Times Union)

What’s next

Economists will continue to monitor the impact of tariff changes on the prices of flowers, chocolate, and other Valentine's Day goods in the coming years.

The takeaway

This story highlights how government trade policies can have real-world impacts on small businesses and consumers, even for seasonal events like Valentine's Day. While some florists have found ways to offset increased costs, the tariffs have still squeezed profit margins and forced some to raise prices for customers.