For many, buying a bundle of cut flowers from the grocery store is an easy fix for a hostess gift or even to brighten up the home with fresh flowers. Having just witnessed long lines of men in the grocery store waiting to buy bouquets of cut flowers for their wives or mothers for Mother’s Day, I realized that most people do not realize the serious negative environmental impact these flowers have on the world.
Cut flowers are a 40 billion dollar a year industry. Almost all of cut flowers, 79%, are grown in South America, Africa or Southeast Asia. These flowers are grown in greenhouses using fungicides, pesticides, and herbicides. Many of these substances are banned in the United States, including DDT and methyl-bromide. Both of these substances have not only been linked to human health problems such as skin rashes, respiratory problems and birth defects, but also have been related to environmental problems as well. DDT usage has wiped out many bird and animal populations and methyl-bromide has been associated with the destruction of the ozone layer. These substances are dumped into the environment where these flowers are grown and seep into the groundwater causing massive pollution.
Production of these flowers hurts the people and environments where they are grown and also causes havoc in the United States or other countries where they are sent. These flowers are sent all over the world and travel far distances using oil and petroleum. In order to gain entry into these countries, the flowers are often sprayed with more toxic chemicals to ensure they pass inspection and no bugs or insects accompany them. Also, the flowers are sprayed with preservatives so they look fresh and will keep longer.
But wait, there’s still more … once the flowers get to a florists shop, florists usually use floral foam for the arrangement.  This non-biodegradable foam is a petroleum bi-product that lets off gases like formaldehyde when soaked in water. Sometimes, an aerosol leaf shine product may be used to make the leaves shine. The many effects of aerosol on the environment and our health well documented.
Even if you are not buying them from a florist and just picking them out of a bucket in the grocery store, the devastating environmental and human impact of the production of these flowers far outweighs the minimal benefit of enjoying the beauty of these flowers for a few days. We need to wake up and smell freshly grown flowers rather than cut ones. Locally raised flowers can be just as thoughtful and beautiful! We need to know where the flowers we buy are coming from! Just like out food sources, our flower sources are important too!
– Linda Ingham
As a mother of five, licensed attorney and fitness nut, Linda Ingham enjoys writing about many subjects, including law, gardening, health and fitness, child rearing and travel. Check out her articles at www.pathacross.com
