Florist News

Hi all, Im new to this site but i had to find somewhere to discuss this issue.

I have been doing a lot of research over the past month into the consummer trends in organics, in the flower industry we are really letting the side down.

There is much more movement in the US but very little here.

Since i began this research I have been shocked at the negative stats that come with flower production, we have all heard of fairtrade flowers (... just) but if you read up even just a little on the issue and that of sustainable production im sure you will be as surprised as i was. Even to the point that the chemicals being used say in south america - chemicals which are banned here and in the US- could still result in harmful effects for the florist worker in UK.

As every area in this industry it is down us to educate the customer andl lead them - now we have a real ethically sound reason for education that no-on can dismiss as arty farty mumbo jumbo



and after all .. have you seen the growth in the organics market!!!

would love to hear the thoughts of others....


jil

I must admit to being rather sceptical when it comes to 'organics'. I'm 100% behind the ethics and the morality of the idea but i just tend to think that in this world it's going to be hard to implement and regulate on a global scale.
If you are buying from a local farmers market where you can talk to the grower and be convinced that he is genuinely adhering to the rules,well and good.
If you are buying imported produce that has come half way round the world, from a country where the growers are struggling to survive, where these same growers are presented with the idea that if something is labelled 'organic' it will return a higher price than something that is not, then you are putting your faith in their concern as to whether they really care about your long term well being, or whether there main priority is in feeding their own children.
Unless you have rigorous testing at point of entry on all imports to ensure compliance, there will always be non-organics passing themselves off. Yes, you can withdraw import licenses for offenders, but what is to stop them trading tomorrow under a different name. As far as local policing in the home country goes, would you trust it. We know how good the United Nations is at policing the world when it comes to human life, so why should horticultural inspectors do any better. Sorry if this all sounds a bit negative and defeatist, but just trying to be realistic in a world where other countries don't necessarily think the way we do.

I think the organic flower trend is very interesting - I appreciate that people care more and more about where the products they use actually come from. This can also be seen as many big companies that sell and deliver flowers in London (my hometown) and the area are starting to have a range of organic flowers in their portfolio.
However, I think there is a huge potential for fraud as already mentioned and I think even if people are saying they want "ethical flowers" they are often still not prepared to pay the higher price.

There is an organisation called Veriflora. It is an american company but they certify each stage of the flower growing, harvesting, packing and transportation process to ensure it is verified as sustainably grown and ethically produced. It's quite interesting stuff actually.

__________________