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The celebration of Mother’s Day last month has led to renewed examination of the flower industry’s often heavy use of toxic pesticides. “Pick Your Poison,” (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/14/opinion/14stewart.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fOp%2dEd%2fContributors) an op-ed piece in the New York Times by contributing writer Amy Stewart, published on Mother’s Day, alerted readers to the darker side of commercial flower production and urged consumers and retailers to pursue organic or sustainable alternatives.1
In the article, Stewart explained the industry’s dominant practice of importing flowers from other countries, particularly Latin America, where growers often drench their wares with heavy amounts of pesticides and fungicides-some of which are banned or severely restricted in the United States. Citing personal observations, she noted that growers sometimes dip whole flowers into barrels of fungicides, while others move through fields in full protective gear to limit their exposure to the toxic chemicals. Such conditions negatively impact workers’ health and highlight the need for safe alternatives.
One such alternative is the Internet flower company Organic Bouquet, which sells a wide range of flowers grown through organic or otherwise sustainable methods. This company was profiled in Issue 69 of HerbalGram (http://www.herbalgram.org/herbalgram/articleview.asp?a=2918).2
“Amy Stewart’s article brings to the forefront a major industry controversy that has been ongoing for many years,” said Gerald Prolman, founder and CEO of Organic Bouquet. “Amy Stewart accurately describes the viscous market cycle-the same cycle that the organic produce industry faced in the early 90s. Retailers say there is no demand. There is no demand because consumers don’t know there is a choice. Because of the skewed perception of no demand, some growers are not motivated to take the extra steps to become certified sustainable or organic growers,” said Prolman in an e-mail interview.
“I started OrganicBouquet.com to enable consumers to have a choice. It is my belief that the eco-choice is an obvious decision that consumers will make once they are presented with an option,” Prolman continued. “‘Pick Your Poison’ may very well be the tipping point that finally motivates retailers and consumers to demand that flowers are grown in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. I hope that the market will support the progressive growers who have already taken these steps and the new ones who will do so.” According to Prolman, Organic Bouquet had record sales this past Mother’s Day, with an increase of more than 2.5 from last year’s sales.
-Courtney Cavaliere
References
1. Stewart A. Pick your poison. New York Times. May 14, 2006; Op-Ed. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/14/opinion/14stewart.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fOp%2dEd%2fContributors.
2. Cavaliere C. Organic Bouquet initiates bio-friendly flower trend. HerbalGram;69:23. http://www.herbalgram.org/herbalgram/articleview.asp?a=2918.
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