Flowers can be (tussie-mussie) Fair Trade

March 17th, 2010 admin Posted in flowers |

By Ashlee Pedrick

The cut flowers market in the U.K is big business, and indeed this is the case throughout the EU. In 2008 alone, the EU imported ?2.5 billion worth of flowers. The annual cut flowers market in the U.K. is currently estimated to be worth in excess of ?2 billion annually. High street florists, online florists and supermarkets are all in competition for this market, with the supermarkets currently the major players, winning around 70% of the total U.K. market.

Many of the flowers sold in this country are grown in Dutch greenhouses, as the climate in Britain precludes us from growing anything like the number and variety of flowers needed to satisfy domestic demand. Perhaps surprisingly, most of the flowers sold in the U.K. are not grown in the Netherlands, but are in fact flown in from countries like Colombia and Kenya.

It may seem at first glance that this is a bad idea in environmental terms. Similar to the food miles associated with imported food, the air miles picked up by imported flowers from the southern hemisphere lead to a big carbon footprint for this product, right?

However, the long distance importation of flowers may be less environmentally damaging than the process first appears. Flowers grown naturally outside in a warm climate do not rely on such carbon heavy support as the gas fired green houses required to grow flowers in the harsher northern European climate. When these factors are balanced against each other, you may be surprised to learn that many of the indoor, greenhouse grown Dutch products - like vegetables and of course flowers - have a bigger carbon footprint than fresh produce flown in from Africa.

In addition, by buying flowers imported from developing countries, you may well be supporting fragile communities with essential commerce. Such trade is essential in much of the developing world to ensure that local communities are able to earn a decent living, and this is especially true in the case of fair trade produce.

Independent Fair Trade certification is concerned with the production of flowers as well as food. Fair trade certification is aimed at ensuring that the workers involved in producing the flowers are paid enough for their goods over and above the cost of sustainable production to earn a living wage, and certification is also concerned with ensuring that working environments are safe.

The Fair Trade flower industry in the U.K. is now worth ?33.4 million annually, making it a significant slice of the total ?1.6 billion market. Fair Trade flower exportation from the developing world is estimated to help 7 million people in around 58 developing countries worldwide.

It is in the quest for fair trade produce that the benefits of buying flowers gifts online comes to the fore, as many of the big merchants like Interflora have good information on the range of fair-trade flowers available on websites which pigeonhole products in a specific category.

Ashlee Pedrick has worked in the flower industry for many years and prefers using Interflora when ordering
Know how to impress your partner in Russia

By Jamie Hanson

Flowers charm individuals from all age ranges and are believed to be to be the best blessings of nature to mankind. Flower comprise the kind of freshness and attractiveness that it simply leaves an impression on anyone who see them. Also, the attractive colors and unique aroma that the flowers spread makes it exclusive and wonderful. Flowers offer delight and improve the sad atmosphere into an energetic scene because flowers are created by the almighty in such an exclusive way that there can be no alternative for it. Normally all people likes to offer and receive flowers as gifts as these spread contentment and romance all around. Despite sweets, teddies, rings and apparels, flowers are thought to be to be best and any kind of gift with out flowers is truly incomplete. Any gift like a costly diamond ring or a small gift such as a package of chocolates will not gratify your lover if you don’t give flowers along. Remember, every woman loves flowers as it brings are pretty smile on her beautiful face. So if you want to see your special someone with the most appealing smile on her face, you should send her the most fresh and vibrant flowers that truly make an impact. There are several hundreds of flowers that look suitable when presented. Popular flowers like tulips, orchids and of course roses are a few of the flowers that leave an effect on the thoughts of the receiver.

Now if you have decided to influence your lover with a bunch of refreshing and alluring flowers, you are doing simply the right thing. You might need to put in hard work to walk down to some nearby florists and pick out the most stunning flowers available. See for the perfect flower arrangements that are exhibited at his flower shop. You can also assemble a group of vibrant flowers or you can simply choose a single sort of flower to arrange the completely bunch. You need to pick out excellent flowers for the prefect festivity. If you really want to amaze your partner by delivering her the perfect flower design at house you can inquire for home delivery where almost all nearby florist might impose you some delivery charges. However if you wish to look for the most splendid selection of flowers and floral design, you can find out with on line florists. There are various florists out there who show the best flowers and perfect floral settings. If you wish to choose the ideal flowers, you can just click on any of the flowers available. You can choose the different hues of flowers displayed. For instance., you can pick from a variety of wonderful pink tones seen in flowers like tulips, roses as well as orchids . You can even pick what kinds of flowers you wish in a single flower arrangement. You will see a huge variety to choose from, and your online florist will present you what you desire. Therefore, you can present flowers of your choice to your sweetheart anywhere in Russia. The Russian florists on-line offer expert services to deliver the flowers that you picked for your spouse. If you wish you may ask them to embellish the bouquet with laces and ribbons or givegift a box of chocolates along. You will make an everlasting impression forever on her mind!

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