Buying local has become a mainstream mantra with many folks. It’s easy to recognize that something just-picked is almost always superior to something that’s been shipped across many borders. Not to mention, supporting local growers goes a long way to keeping our hometown economy vital and our outdoor spaces “green”. Flowers are no exception to that rule. When blooms are just-picked and handled with care by small growers shortly before they reach your hands, they last much longer and brighten a room like only local field-grown flowers can.
Reasons to Keep Your Poesy Purchases Local
~*~ Purchasing fresh cut flowers (and vegetables) from local growers helps to support local agriculture, good land stewardship, and the preservation of diminishing farmland and open spaces.
~*~ Flowers in our fields diversify the landscape and our ecosystem while attracting beneficial insects that help to both pollinate food crops and combat pests. Biodiversity is very important for a healthy earth.
~*~ The floral industry is currently a global trade. The vast majority {80%} of fresh cut flowers are produced in Latin America using harsh chemicals and poor wages/working conditions. These flowers are then shipped thousands of miles to reach consumers, burning fossil fuels all along the way.
~*~ Locally grown flowers are produced more sustainably, provide good jobs, and bring the consumer in direct contact with the grower, allowing for a higher level of appreciation/inspiration. Buying your flowers locally supports a “fair trade” approach similar to coffee, chocolate, spices, etc.
~*~ Flowers grown abroad and then shipped to the US require a great deal of packaging to survive the trip. Heaps of cardboard, cellophane, cotton wadding, synthetic sponges, paper packing, and much more are dumped into the garbage after a single shipment of flowers from the wholesaler is processed by a florist shop. In contrast, locally grown flowers, which are handled with care by the farmer that grew them and delivered directly to the customer, only require a simple, re-usable bucket of water (and maybe a rubber band or two).
~*~ Research shows that flowers are indeed “food for the soul”. A study by Rutgers University found that fresh flowers trigger happy emotions, heighten feelings of life satisfaction and affect social behavior in a positive manner. If one bouquet can do that, imagine what a whole field of flowers can do!
~*~ Getting to know a local flower farmer builds a sense of community and understanding of how these beautiful blooms are grown, ultimately reconnecting {Love ‘n Fresh’s urban} buyers to nature in some small way. It also builds a unique relationship where the flower farmer knows many customers birthdays, anniversaries and other special commemorations that deserve dashing floral designs to celebrate.
~*~ Every dollar spent on locally grown flowers puts the purchasing power back in the hands of the consumers, demonstrating that there is concern for the environment, small farms, the local economy, and quality standards. It may seem like just a bunch of daisies to most people, but it means a great deal in terms of long term sustainability on every front.
Please visit your local farmers market or ask your florist to buy locally grown flowers when you need that special bouquet to brighten your day or beautify an event. If you’d like to learn more about exactly why it’s so important to buy locally grown flowers, a detailed and engaging discussion of the global flower industry can be had by reading Amy Stewart’s excellent book, Flower Confidential.
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