Here in America, we are blessed to have sun, earth, and water; all the basic elements essential for growing flowers.  So why are almost 80% of the flowers used in our cut flower industry imported from other countries?  From the bouquet you hold as you walk down the isle to your beloved, to the bereavement arrangement you send for the loss of a loved one, to that amazing arrangement at your table in your favorite restaurant; there is a strong chance that the majority of those flowers began their life in a much more exotic country than we may ever hope to visit on our annual vacations. 

    BUT WHY? 

Certain types of flowers will only grow and thrive in specific regions of our amazing earth. Certainly, those would require importing if it is a must that particular flower be included in your arrangement. But your more “standard” flowers, your roses, carnations, zinnias, sunflowers, etc; those could easily be grown here in our county and purchased locally.  

    I’d like to inspire you to honestly think about all of the occasions you have purchased or received a gift of cut flowers…I’m not talking about anything still connected to its roots and purchased at a greenhouse, I simply mean a bouquet, a corsage, a boutonniere….do you remember exactly what blooms were in it?  Was it all the more special because you picked out each and every type of flower yourself to make it exactly like the picture you had in your mind.  Or do you not even remember what flowers were used, you only remember the feeling of joy and sometimes even peace that the flowers themselves brought to you.  I’d like to inspire you, when you next find yourself in need of cut flowers, please take a moment to consider how those flowers became available to you.  Did they arrive buy boat, or plane and then truck? Or were they cut out of a field locally by a farmers hands that you could have a conversation with at your kids weekly activities?

    Local can be defined in several ways.  If you want it to mean you are only willing to purchase within a 60 mile radius (YAY me, because you are who I’m looking for). But it can also mean that you need a certain type of  flower to fly 3,000 miles across the country to your shop.  Local can simply mean you are supporting American companies. Whether it be a small family farm in your hometown or massive out of state farm supporting a large workforce that could very well be supporting a town of its own.  Local on any level is what we need to focus on.  With all of the supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic, which have been projected to have long term ramifications.  I’d like to inspire you to be part of that CHANGE and start supporting our local American economy in whatever manner you can.