Harvesting saffron is a labor-intensive job. Requires dry and warm weather. Saffron is sensitive to sunlight. Petal blooms in the morning and closes by sundown. One pound of saffron would cost $5,000 in the market. For a pound of saffron spices, it would require 170,000 saffron flowers. Cost labor of $50 per quarter ounce equal to 17,000 saffron flower.