02/12/08 Who Sprayed My Flowers

Rather than the book "Who Moved My Cheese", this Valentines Day a more appropriate title might be "Who Sprayed my Flowers". With the organic industry blossoming into virtually every sector, the exception seems to be organic flower sales. Apparently flower consumers aren't moved to buy organic. Could it be marketing or price? Probably both as "green" flowers labeled with the USDA Organic designation are tough to find especially this time of year when the farmers markets have closed, and are more expensive. Organicstyle.com seems to be one of the few sites offering certified flowers meaning no pesticides were used to grow or preserve the blooms. 79 percent of all flowers sold in the US hail from countries where we really don't know what is being used for pest control. For individuals passionate about sustainable flowers, the issue goes beyond their personal safety and becomes a concern not only for the environment but for the welfare of the poor and their children who work grueling hours in the flower fields.