The flower industry is a huge one, a multi billion dollar giant. Whether you are choosing for your wedding, or for birthdays or maybe Valentine’s Day, one flower springs up more than most – the rose…
The rose is an undeniable classic in shape and smell, and fresh roses make such an impact that it is hardly surprising that they are so popular.
The last couple of years has seen a huge increase in the options for buying Fair Trade roses, but what exactly does that mean?
Actually Fair Trade is a well thought up name, because it fairly well sums up the idea behind the movement. Not just in the world of roses and flowers, but fruit, coffee, chocolate, a whole selection of products which are made or put together in the poor countries of the world, predominantly African countries.
Instead of harsh working conditions which bring huge profit to the business owners, the Fair Trade model seeks to reward and benefit the communities that produce the goods.
So, an agreed portion of the profits from Fair Trade goods goes back to the community that produced the items, but not just in wages – in fact a lot of these agreements stipulate that the profits must go towards development projects, like water purification or education. The idea behind this is to help build a long term future rather than short term spend.
Fair Trade flowers are produced under environmentally friendly conditions. The growers must meet rigorous standards and avoid using harmful pesticides.
So when you next look for roses or other flowers to buy, don’t forget the Fair Trade option. Look for the Fair Trade Certified logo on the flower sleeves or stems. The power of the internet means that online purchasing increases our choices. Check the details of the Fair Trade agreement, you can even get in touch with the company and ask them for more information.
Then you can go ahead and buy in the knowledge that while you enjoy your flowers, a community elsewhere in the world is reaping the benefits.
For more information about Fair Trade goods, visit:
Images courtesy of TransFair USA
