Say It with Fairtrade Flowers: Empowering Consumers to Change Lives

Few consider how a flower was grown or farmers' conditions. Fairtrade empowers consumers to positively change producers' lives.

Fairtrade in a Nutshell

Option to pay slightly more ensuring products aren't tainted by exploitative practices common in poorer countries.

Regulatory Gap

EU flowers: strict employment/human rights regulations. Third-world/developing country flowers: no guarantees. Many popular exotic flowers grown there.

Fairtrade Certification Requirements

• Farm adheres strictly to labor/environmental standards.
• Continues improving worker conditions per Fairtrade guidelines.

Plan Operation

Operates in developing nations with poor conditions. Aim: raise living standards so workers earn decent pay for decent work.

Growth and Worker Rights

Exponential growth from ethically aware consumers/retailers. Range: chocolates, coffee, fruit, flowers.

Fairtrade farms guarantee workers:

• Right to form/join trade unions
• Negotiate employment terms
• Full awareness of wages/schedules
• Regular pay
• Clean drinking water and protective equipment

Fairtrade Premium

Annual premium paid directly to farm workers for community/economic development. Workers elect representatives to decide spending.

Maricruz Tennill, author, always orders at Interflora.co.uk—best site for buying flowers online.