Women's Day in Italy hit by drought as flower supply dries up

FILE PHOTO: A street vendor sells mimosa flowers on International Women's Day, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Naples, Italy, March 8, 2021. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's celebrations of International Women's Day on Wednesday risk being spoiled by a drought that has slashed production of the yellow mimosa flowers that are traditionally gifted for the occasion.

The mimosa harvest has fallen by a third, with a drop in rainfall and higher temperatures forcing farmers to garner the twigs ahead of time, agricultural association Coldiretti said in a statement.