Tips for Valentine Flower Shopping

Valentine’s Day is the Super Bowl of the flower world, and nearly 300 million stems are about to be sold, but the vast majority of them — more than 80% — will be imported from nations across the globe.

If you would like to reduce your carbon footprint and shop local this holiday, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1) The red roses synonymous with V-Day are Ecuadorian. They’re farmed by low-wage workers, can be loaded with pesticides, and will have been on a truck, boat and airplane before arriving at your local retailer. Consider shopping for seasonality instead of specific varieties. This time of year, cold-weather producers here in the states are harvesting gorgeous early bulbs like tulips, anemones and narcissus.

2) Buying from local florists and shop owners instead of big online companies will get you a better product and more bang for your buck. Ask your florist if they can prioritize local or America-grown flowers and foliage over imported varieties when crafting your bouquet. Most will be happy to make this effort.

3) If buying at a grocery store, check the UPC label. Imported florals will be labeled with their country of origin, and American grown flowers will have the American Grown Heart Seal or indicate they are grown in the USA in some other way. In the Sacramento area, flowers from local farms like Neve and Full Belly are available at upscale grocers like the co-ops, Whole Foods and Nugget.

Thanks for shopping local and supporting American growers like us!