Mommy, Where Do All the Flowers Come From?

Then, onto the airplane for Amsterdam. Two thirds of them are sold at auction to wholesalers who will in turn sell them to independent florists, and retail chains such as Interflora, Florajet, or Monceau, who will commercialize them via local retailers or at malls. Others will make their way to a workshop, such as Aquarelle in Oise, near Paris, where they will be assembled into bouquets by about a hundred workers. They will then be delivered to the recipients, somewhere between Dunkirk and Perpignan, even if that means getting back on an airplane.

At each stage, the roses must be kept cold in order to keep them from wilting. It was in the s that large international groups invested in flower farms all along the Equator: On the banks of Lake Naivasha, in Kenya, giant farms can employ up to 5, people. This globalized rose business obviously has social and ecological consequences. The climate impact is not necessarily the biggest problem: Down South, there are other problems.

The city of Naivasha has had to face a staggering influx of plantation workers and their families: Infrastructure has not kept up. Classrooms have 80 students per class, hospital beds have to be shared. There are growing tensions between locals and migrants. And the working conditions on the plantations are especially bad.

In East Africa, salaries for greenhouse workers, mostly women, are not high enough to cover basic needs, according to the organization Women Working WorldWide , whose study of 38, women working in horticultural farms in East Africa showed that the average monthly salary for a Kenyan worker was between 59 and 94 dollars, and between 28 and 46 dollars for their Ethiopian counterparts.

Between the two ends of the chain, the difference is divided among middlemen, as well as paying for the transport, especially air travel. In addition to low compensation, working in flower plantations comes with serious occupational risks, including because of the intensive use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Since they were working off the books, they had no rights to compensation ", says Christophe Alliot, who was on the scene as part of a delegation from Max Havelaar, one of the prominent organizations involved in fair trade.

In France, no fewer than 26 different herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides may be sprayed on flowers. Roses are also water-guzzling plants: As a result, the level of Lake Naivasha, from which the farms get their water, is inexorably dropping. A drop " which coincides with the start of the flower production in the region in ", says UNESCO, in a study published in Will the second largest lake in Kenya meet the same sorry fate as the Aral Sea?

This would affect not only the rose business and local people, but also the Masai, a tribe whose cattle come to the lake to drink. Meanwhile, the situation " is creating tensions between the pastoralists and capitalist farms ", points out Christophe Alliot. Faced with public outrage over dropping water levels and poor working conditions, several horticultural companies have vowed to adopt more responsible practices.

In Switzerland, a campaign led by several NGOs and the work undertaken by Max Havelaar, with the support of some major retail chains and public authorities, have led to the creation of the first certified "fair trade" flower farm, Panda Flowers. In the UK, the Flamingo group, which produces millions roses annually in Naivasha for the British market, also claims to have reduced water and pesticide use, and to have improved working conditions.

The small business Aquarelle, one of the main retailers of flowers online, gets its flowers directly from farms in Kenya or Ethiopia. We go see the conditions for ourselves. We work with farms who try not to use pesticides. In these conditions, it is difficult to start a virtuous circle that flower producers could follow up on, " explains Christophe Alliot.

One should also be wary of "good practices" which can be a bit too paternalistic. With the Sunny Smiles bouquet you are capturing some of that sunshine and giving it to mom to put a big smile on her face. Yellow Asiatic lilies are the stand out in this bouquet. Spring Tulip and Iris Bouquet. When irises and tulips come together good things happen. In this bouquet mom will get an elegant assortment of flowers mom will get a little bit of everything. Perhaps the Asiatic lilies will steal the show with their distinct look.

The keepsake vase they come with is pretty impressive as well. Spray roses are like mini roses that come in droves rather than being counted by the dozen. They create one impressive bouquet full of various shades of pink. It features blushing roses as the main attraction and bupleurum and seeded eucalyptus give it all the support it needs in this simple yet stunning creation. Spring definitely comes to mind when you look at this Spring Sensation bouquet.

Anything for You Rose Bouquet.

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If mom loves roses you should get her this Anything for You rose bouquet. Peach roses as well as peach spray roses satisfy the rose requirement. Purple Perfection for Mom. They got purple just right in this Purple Perfection collection for mom. The combination of lavender roses, purple cremones, and Peruvian lilies creates a feast for the eyes, while all kept in the basic shade of purple all the way to slightly pink.

All-Natural Lavender and Magnolia Wreath. Go with something a bit different this year and get mom a wreath made from lavender and magnolia. It arrives fresh the first year, but will still look great year after year, so mom can decorate her home and ring in spring properly with a beautiful wreath. Stunning Pink Lilies for Mom. These pink lilies truly are stunning, and mom will love watching as they open since they arrive in bud form. It lasts longer and has a stronger effect, especially with these pink beauties. Pink Dozen Roses and Lace. Roses, lilies, daisies, and more combine to make an impressive arrangement.

Let these flowers speak volumes for the way you feel about mom. Personalize it with an included gift card.

Festival of Color Bouquet. Pink spider gerbera daisies are what first catches the eye, and those are backed up by pink spray roses, purple alstroemeria, and purple double lisianthus in an impressive display.

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Sorbet Roses for Mom. Much different look than ordinary red roses. Daisies, carnations, mums, and more fill up this collection for mom. Give mom all the lilies she can handle with this Sweet Spring Lilies arrangement. This bouquet really does capture a bit of the tenderness that moms have, and perhaps its the soft color scheme with some daisies mixed in as well. Love You to the Moon and Back Hydrangea. Let mom know that you love her to the moon in back with this hydrangea arrangement.

Six different pink flowers make the cut, adding an assortment of shades of pink so that it has an overall pink hue to it without overdoing it or looking gaudy. Roses stand out among a ranging collection of different flowers. Roses are the start attraction, and it is designed specifically so that the white roses stand out among a lush green backdrop.

Reality check: Where does your bouquet of roses come from? - National | www.newyorkethnicfood.com

Bouquet and Balloon for Mom. Go the extra step of getting mom a balloon to go with her flowers. It taps into the inner child we all have and puts a smile on your face. A Wonderful Mother Bouquet. Standing tall thanks to different types of larkspur, this arrangement is focused on a purple theme and really stands out thanks to its size and height.

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Butterfly Meadow Bouquet for Mom. The flowers, as pretty as they are, play second fiddle to the porcelain vase they come with. This is a Lenox vase with a beautiful picture of a butterfly and flowers on it. The flowers may be gone soon, but the vase can last and last for years. The sapphire blue cube vase is also stunning. This comes with white plush teddy bear to make it extra special, and a small balloon to accentuate it even more.

Loving Wishes for Mom. You can either go with 50 or blooms, and we recommend the blooms to double the effect and really inundate mom with beautiful flowers on her special day. You make everyday a present. If your mom is simply marvelous then she deserves this Marvelous Mom Medley. And boy do they tick the beautiful box on this arrangement, with two types of pink lilies next to pink roses, and Green Bells of Ireland to add a bit of an exotic look to it.

Proof that beauty comes in all sizes, with light pink roses and blue hydrangea being the standouts. Lavender roses are in a class all by themselves, and they look great next to white Asiatic lilies. This takes care of the elegance, while a hand-blown artistic vase makes this artful, and does a great job of presenting the flowers.

Pink petal roses can be just what mom needs to feel special, loved, and thought of. You can adorn the roses with your choice of vase, either a Lenox porcelain vase or the embossed silver vase as shown which goes with the theme of roses.

Your Favorite Rose Says More About You Than You Think

Moms deserve more than one day to be celebrated! These handcrafted cards show that you went the extra mile to make something from the heart. Show you care by inundating her with amazing chocolates, treats, and much more all in one basket. Shades of Pink and Red These pink and red roses look amazing together, and it can be a nice change from the classic all red or all pink bouquet of roses.

Beautiful Butterfly Bouquet If mom loves butterflies this is the bouquet to get her. Modern Tulips Simplicity rules in this modern display of tulips. Treasured Love Mom is an absolute treasure, and this Treasured Love arrangement is spot on if mom loves carnations. Sunflower Garden Bouquet A stylish ceramic pitcher holds the sunflowers in this bouquet, and is something mom can use in the kitchen once the flowers are gone. Rainbow Spray Roses Spray roses are similar to a regular rose but smaller in size and split off into several flowers at the top instead of just one.

Thoughtful Expressions Bouquet Lavender and purple are the two main colors in this bouquet, and mom will love the gentle nature it has. Two Dozen Assorted Roses for Mom Two dozen roses never looked as pretty as this assorted bouquet for mom. Gerbera Brights Bouquet These brightly colored daisies look like they were picked from a field of wildflowers, and look stunning on a table or counter once mom receives them.

Wonderful Day Bouquet Mom will have an even more wonderful day when you get her the Wonderful Day bouquet.