Roses are so delicate they can't be shipped large distances by sea because they wilt at temperatures above 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degree Celsius), and demand is uncertain at all times other than on Valentine's and Mother's days, when many rose bushes are cut back to make sure each plant blooms or reblooms at the same time to up the number of total stems to fill burgeoning sales orders on those holidays. "Few companies can fill one container with one species on one single day and have the supplier wait a week," says Christine Boldt, executive vice president of the Association of Floral Importers of Florida, noting also the noxious gases and diseases that may result from mixing up flowers. "Our product is very perishable."
"Importing flowers is a thorny issue," agrees Stuart Orr, a freshwater manager at WWF International in Switzerland, highlighting the trade-off between cutting poverty and CO2 emissions. "Kenya's Lake Naivasha is one of the most perfect places to grow flowers—at a high altitude, with plenty of water and sunshine. And flower farms employ people and generate income. [But] they are also big water and pesticides users." He argues, however, that such flower farms can both spur development and, by changing their ways, reform industry practices.
At that lake, for example, roses at the Oserian flower farm are now grown with geothermal waste heat to cut energy use. And no roses are grown within 0.31 miles (half a kilometer) of the lake to ensure that no there is no pesticide runoff. (Five years ago growers were accused of allowing pesticides to pollute the lake, home to hippos.)
Another potentially less-polluting floral option in the U.S. is to buy locally grown flowers. About one third of the cut flowers in this country are grown domestically, mostly in California, first home to orchids, mums, daffodils, irises and other varieties. But even there, energy-gobbling hothouses are often the norm.
You can also opt for heartier breeds like lilies, birds of paradise and ginger from Costa Rica that can survive the three-day boat trip at temps nudging 50 degrees F (10 degrees C). Those after carbon offsets—investments that offset the CO2 involved in growing and transporting the flowers with reductions in CO2 elsewhere such as planting trees or renewable energy projects—can buy through FlowerPetal.com
Finally, if your beloved doesn't love roses, try berries, ferns or, when in season, field-grown flowers such as sunflowers, larkspur or dahlias. The Web site LocalHarvest lists the names of producers selling blooms grown locally. And the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers can help make flower gathering an adventure through a "pick your own" search on its Web site—an option in season at fields in Wisconsin, Washington, Maryland and New Hampshire.
"Explore your local options," urges Gabriela Chavarria, a bee specialist and director of the Science Center at the National Resources Defense Council, noting that because natives thrive in their natural environment minimal heating or lighting inputs are required. "Many natives are about to come out. They are part of the ecosystem, food for bees, and have a tiny carbon footprint."
See what we're tweeting about
6 Comments
Add CommentYour article reads: "'Florverde' (Greenflower) brand in 1996, and now labeled as such on bouquets at Wal-Mart and other big chains, with high environmental and social (worker benefits) standards" Really? In what universe is Walmart known for its worker benefit standards? This reads like a press release from Walmart. Very disappointing, I expect more from SciAm.....
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPlease see links: http://action.americanrightsatwork.org/aaraw/walmart_workersrights.html
or ACLU site, or any other host of sites which reports on Walmart atrocities: both social and environmental.
It's totally puzzling why a floral wire service affiliate marketer (call center only, and not a florist) like FlowerPetal.com would be mentioned in this article. They stock no flowers and have no control over the origin of the roses provided by the local florists who make and deliver the FTD and Teleflora items shown on their site.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this'Green' flowers are a hot topic in the floral industry and solid strides, to improve both cultivation and transportation, have been made in the last few years. Nice to see that work mentioned.
CathyR, I'm sorry, but you are wholly in error. FlowerPetal.com is a local delivering florist with designers, coolers, delivery vehicles and of course flowers! We also offset the carbon emissions associated with all the flowers we sell in addition to buying environmentally friendly flowers when possible from our local wholesalers.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBrian Crummy
President
FlowerPetal.com
Really? Really? A local delivering florist? Phooy! I just investigated on google maps and found you are NOT a retail florist. Your locations show NO store fronts. Lets see some photos of your store fronts in Chicago, IL.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMollyMeMe... I assure you we have a design center in Chicago located at 2140 West Fulton. It's not retail store front, we don't need one as our website generates plenty of business and takes the place of a storefront. It's fully equipped with designers, delivery drivers, numerous vehicles, a 300 Sq Ft main cooler, and smaller coolers for tropicals. If I could upload photos here I would. We purchase flowers down the street from AJF Wholesale. Fernando (AJF's owner) and I have had multiple conversations concerning organic and fair trade flowers. I wish you the best MollyMeMe, but encourage you to get the all the facts before you defame FlowerPetal.com.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBrian Crummy
President
FlowerPetal.com
I feel that this statement is very misleading.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this"A 2007 study by Cranfield University in England found that raising 12,000 Kenyan roses resulted in 13,200 pounds (6,000 kilograms) of CO2; the equivalent number grown in a Dutch hothouse emitted 77,150 pounds (35,000 kilograms) of CO2. (Both examples include energy used in production and delivery by plane and/or truck. The roses from Holland required artificial light, heat and cooling over the eight- to 12-week growing cycle, whereas Africa's strong sun boosted rose production by nearly 70 percent over those grown in Europes flower auction capital."
Although this may be true and there may be less CO2 emitted from Kenya (still Dutch-owned) hot-houses, you did not address the poor working conditions of the laborers working there (low wages, lack of facilities, subjection to chemicals). The lack of appropriate sanitation systems is doing quite a number on the environment in that area. The lakes in the Great Rift Valley area are in great danger from the flower farms - I have seen it! Hot houses are invading the landscape like a devastating swarm of locusts. CO2 emissions are not the ONLY thing that affects whether or not a company / industry is sustainable.