Fairness in Flowers

Published February 11, 2009 @ 07:56AM PT

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and all the flower shops around me are really amping up their V-Day displays. Red, heart shaped balloons with a stuffed teddy bear inside, surrounded by roses. That's love.

But, ever since I saw this video on the human cost of flowers by the War on Want, who are fighting global poverty, it's hard to feel the love. The cut-flower industry is rough with workers working long hours for poverty-level wages in hazardous working conditions. On top of that, workers rights are often not recognized and women have been reported to suffer from sexual harassment. The video below gives a good overview of the working conditions of flower workers.

Now, I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer in the morning, especially as a day of love approaches, but guess what, there's some hope. Organizations such as USLeap and the ILRF have been fighting hard for worker rights in the flower industry. TransFairUSA now has Fair Trade Certified options for flowers for us to choose from, ensuring that the rights of these flower workers were recognized and they were working in safe conditions for a fair wage.

There are alternative options out there where the flowers that you get for your loved one can reflect your values. What needs to be done is more education around the issue and letting the wider flower industry know your concerns for workers picking those flowers. The ILRF has a handy, downloadable guide full of resources about the flower industry and also ways you can get involved and teach your community about the issue. Bring some fairness into your flowers.

Check out my guide to other ways to get in on the Valentine's Day action for more ways to fair up your Vday. Also, don't forget about TransFairUSA's Valentine's Day pledge. When you pledge to buy Fair Trade this Vday, you get 15% off your next purchase for Fair Trade flowers at 1-800-Flowers. Stumped on who to get flowers for this Valentine's Day? Um, there's always me.

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Comments (5)

I often wonder about these market-based certification schemes like Flor Verdes. I guess it depends on their focus - some seem to emphasize transparency in the supply chain, others focus on environmental stewardship and others on food safety. Is Fairtrade the only that guarantees a minimum price? It would be interesting to see a comparison with schemes such as Flor Verdes and Fairtrade.

On the plus side, I was in Marks & Spencer's this morning and saw that all their Valentine's roses were Fairtrade!

Posted by Helen Bode on 02/12/2009 @ 02:02AM PT
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Here's a blog I wrote (for ILRF) on the problems with Florverde:
http://laborrightsblog.typepad.com/international_labor_right/2009/02/question-the-sustainability-of-the-florverde-flower-label.html

On CBS today and CNN tomorrow, ASOCOLFLORES to owner of the Florverde label will be on the morning shows to promote their flowers. People should try to contact these stations, citing that Florverde standards are weak and unenforced.
I can't find a good # for CBS but let me know if anyone does!

Posted by Eva Seidelman on 02/13/2009 @ 11:50AM PT
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Question where is this company located? If it's in the U.S. are the workers illegal aliens.. not to mean that ANYONE should be harassed just curious why if it's in the U.S. why they would be working for less than min wages.. Fact is even the neighborhood florest work long hours on holidays thats when they make their money.. they go 16 hours a day for 2 days before and the day of the holiday and this has been going on forever..
Personally, I don't want flowers or any of the other so called garbage they sell for valentines day, nor do I want to go out to eat on that day.. Not because I'm not romantic, I have given up spending money (or having it spent on me) for thing I don't need.. And I am difinately tired of the Presidents saying we need the American people to start spending.. Thanks but No Thanks..

Posted by Helen Pratt-Sauli... on 02/13/2009 @ 02:29PM PT
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I had no idea, although it doesn't surprise me. What's also sad is all the children these workers have - no doubt thanks to lack of family planning info in addition to usually their religion. Thank goodness President Obama lifted the gag-rule as one of his first acts in office.

Posted by Jennifer McElmeel on 02/13/2009 @ 07:01PM PT
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I am not sure that sending flower from columbia to Europe is helping anyone ..with the pollution ...

Posted by T R on 02/16/2009 @ 03:40PM PT
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Author

Zarah is the Operations Manager for the Global Exchange Fair Trade Online Store, a project of the international human rights organization, Global Exchange. Alongside her work with marginalized communities from all over the world to get their products into the international market, Zarah serves to educate and inform the public about a more just and sustainable trading system.