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Fair Trade Certified™ Flowers
For every flower that we are able to sell, a child is able to study. Here in Ecuador, there are so many children that do not study. For this reason, it's very important to buy Fair Trade flowers, because our children are our future.
--Mariana Vasquez, Hoja Verde Flower Farm
A Better World is Blooming
Every time you buy Fair Trade Certified flowers, your purchase contributes to the well-being of flower workers around the world. When you see the Fair Trade Certified label on bouquets, you can be sure that your purchase will help put nutritious food on people's tables, send their children to school, and help them to invest in community development.
True Sustainability
Fair Trade is an innovative business model that certifies that the products you buy are part of an equitable system of trade that produces real improvements in the lives of millions of people around the world. By creating the conditions for communities to become genuine participants in global trade, communities can build truly sustainable environmental, economic, and social practices. A portion of every purchase you make goes directly to a community development fund for workers, who collectively decide how to use the money. Projects have included scholarships for children, housing, and micro-enterprises. Best of all, Fair Trade Certified growers are caring and careful stewards of the land, increasing the use of natural pest controls and reducing water and energy use, so that their children and their children's children will be able to live healthy, fruitful lives.
Raising the Bar for Quality
Fair Trade not only improves lives, it improves the quality of products. Fair Trade Certified products have consistently rated among the highest for quality and taste. And Fair Trade Certified flowers are no exception. Some of the world's most dramatically beautiful flowers are produced on Fair Trade farms, by people who take pride in the quality of their products because they've been given the opportunity to earn a fair share of the rewards.
Empowering Women Worldwide
Over 90% of gift flowers in the US are given to women. In addition to fair wages, Fair Trade certification requires the farms provide employee benefits including 12 weeks paid marternity leave and childcare. In response to the required guidelines, some Fair Trade Certified flower farms have given many supervisory positions to women, which represents an enormous shift. Thanks to your purchase of Fair Trade Certified flowers, women worldwide have the opportunity to equal access of employment.
Behind the Label
TransFair USA is the only independent, non-profit certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States. In addition to flowers, TransFair USA certifies coffee, tea, herbs, cocoa, sugar, vanilla, rice, and fruit. For more information, click here.
What You Can Do
The demand for Fair Trade Certified flowers is increasing, and they're available at more and more retail stores and online florists. If you don't see them at your favorite flower shop or supermarket, ask them to carry Fair Trade Certified flowers. They can contact us for information about sourcing and selling Fair Trade Certified products. We will even help them with tons of free marketing materials!
Read more about Fair Trade Flowers in the FAQ.
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