Red
roses For Valentine’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries or other special
occasions, giving flowers often seems like a gift from Mother Nature
herself.
But when flowers are doused in pesticides and
transported long (i.e., energy-intensive) distances, their eco-appeal
quickly evaporates. The health impact conventionally-grown flowers has
makes them even less desirable.
Consider this: Seventy percent of
U.S. flowers are imported from Latin America, where growers in
Columbia, Ecuador and other countries use pesticides that have long been
banned in the U.S. A 2002 survey of 8,000 Colombian flower workers
revealed exposure to 25 carcinogenic or highly toxic pesticides that are
not used in the United States.
Often, women flower growers
suffer impaired vision, asthma, and miscarriage or give birth to babies
marked by lower birth weights and higher blood pressure. Thirty-five out
of 72 Ecuadoran children tested by the Harvard School of Public Health
experienced organophosphate pesticides in the womb while their mothers
grew flowers. These children later suffered both higher blood pressure
and poorer spatial ability than kids who escaped prenatal exposures.
Overall, according to a study by the International Labor Rights Fund
(ILRF), two-thirds of Colombian and Ecuadorian flower workers suffer
work-related health problems ranging from impaired vision and
neurological problems Some women give birth to stillborn infants, or see
their children die within a month after birth.
Meanwhile, the
International Labor Organization estimates that 20 percent of flower
workers in Ecuador are children, who are more vulnerable to chemical
hazards than adults because their immune systems and vital organs are
still immature. According to Environmental News Network, roses can
contain as much as 50 times the amount of pesticides that are legally
allowed on the food we eat. The U.S. requires imported flowers to be
bug-free, but unlike edible fruits and vegetables they are not tested
for chemical residues. So even if you’re not growing these flowers
yourselves, you may still be bringing the chemicals used on them into
your home.
Fortunately, shoppers have a whole bouquet of alternatives to conventionally grown flowers and plants.
• Buy local – Check www.localharvest.org to find flower growers in your area, who can use less pesticides and
less energy to get flowers to your door. Farmers markets also sell
flowers, greens and plants that can make wonderful botanical gifts.
• Buy certified organic flowers. Some options to look for:
Organic
bouquet Veriflora requires organic farming practices, ecosystem
protection, minimal energy use and packaging, and fair labor and
community development practices.
Organic Bouquet $49.95/dozen roses; 877-899-2468
Manic Organics Flowers $79.95/dozen red roses; 678-377-8258
Diamond Organics organic flower sampler of 16-18 stems $59; tropical flower bouquet $49 for 8 stems (in season); 888-ORGANIC).
California
OrganicFlowers grows flowers in season; Anemones, Protea, Narcissus and
Dutch iris are available now through March for $44.95; 530-891-6265.
1-800-Flowers Fair Trade certified sweetheart roses, 36 stems, $44.99.
The
Sun Valley Group Lillies, tulips, hyacinths and freesias; available
wholesale and from a limited number of local retailers; 800-747-0396.
Storefronts:
Whole Foods, food coops, natural food stores and other responsible
retailers are increasingly carrying organically grown flowers and
plants. If you don’t see them when you shop, ask for them.
Beware
Florverde: Colombia's flower exporters trade association says it
certifies its members for improving worker safety and welfare.
Nevertheless, almost 40 percent of the toxic chemicals applied by
Florverde farms in 2005 were listed as extremely or highly toxic by the
World Health Organization. If you needd to buy flowers, choose those
that are certified organic or sold under the Veriflora label.
For more information, get your own copy of Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World
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