Growing flowers sustainably with concern for the environment, social responsibility and economic growth is a major focus for cut flower growers in Colombia and the US. And they take great pride in their accomplishments!
Colombia, the world’s 2nd largest exporter of cut flowers, supplies 68% of the flowers sold in the US and accounts for 78% of all flower imports, produced over 4 billion cut flower stems in 2009. Of these, 85% are grown under Florverde standards, with 55% aching full certification.
Florverde is a strict code of conduct established in 1996 by Asocolflores (Association of Colombian Flower Exporters) member growers and is audited by independent 3rd party auditors, who grant certification to farms that meets the stringent sustainability standard criteria. Florverde meets the demanding criteria of GlobalG.A.P., the most widely accepted international sustainability standard, and is recognized as an equivalent standard. (For more information on the Florverde program, go to www.florverde.org)
California growers, represented by CCFC, the California Cut Flower Commission, account for 85% of all cut flowers produced in the US and 20% of all flowers sold. Cut flowers grown in California meet the strictest growing standards in America, overseen by the United States Department of Agriculture and the California Department of Food and Agriculture. California’s flower farmers take great pride in their efforts to be environmentally sensitive and progressive, with many farms independently working to exceed the mandatory Federal and State regulatory requirements inherent with growing in California. The ‘CA Grown’ label provides confidence to you that the flowers you purchase are grown with environmental integrity