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Melbourne florist Jane Marx, founder of same-day delivery service The Beautiful Bunch, is preparing to send more than 1,000 bouquets this Mother\u2019s Day. Each artfully wrapped arrangement \u2013 pastel-toned sweet pea, peachy tulips \u2013 will come from farms in Victoria. \u201cBecause the best flowers are the ones grown closest to you,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re lucky enough to have a lot of variety in Victoria,\u201d Marx says. \u201cOur customers trust that whatever we\u2019re putting into our arrangements is the best of the season, but unfortunately that\u2019s not reflected more broadly in the flower consumer market.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s estimated only 50% of flowers bought in Australia are grown here, according to Flower Industry Australia. Chief executive Anna Jabour says that percentage shifts again during peak times. \u201cThere\u2019s an influx of imported flowers, mainly because major supermarkets purchase a significant amount of imported flowers for periods such as Mother\u2019s Day,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
While not all flowers sold at supermarkets are imported, Jabour says there is no mandatory country of origin labelling for cut flowers in Australia. This makes it difficult for customers to make an informed choice. \u201cWe think that if the community realises not all flowers are grown here, they will choose Australian grown,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Although flowers are an expensive purchase \u2013 with bunches often retailing for more than $100 \u2013 florists say they\u2019re frequently an impulse buy. This means shoppers don\u2019t always make informed decisions about quality.<\/p>\n
Flowers are imported to meet year-round demand for popular varieties such as roses, which are usually brought in from Colombia and Ecuador.<\/p>\n
Imports aren\u2019t necessarily cheaper, and carry additional costs. There is a quality cost, as they\u2019ve undergone fumigation and other chemical treatments, says Jabour. \u201cFlowers that are imported into Australia are fumigated with methyl bromide and they\u2019re dipped in glyphosate,\u201d she says. Flowers grown overseas also carry an environmental cost, as they\u2019ve travelled by plane or ship, and a social cost, due to poorer labour conditions of workers<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sydney florist Sarah Regan, who runs same-day delivery service Little Flowers, is committed to selling 95% Australian grown flowers for those reasons. \u201cWith local flowers, you get better quality, better freshness, no transit times and less environmental impact,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cWe consider imports to be an absolute last resort. I think customers don\u2019t necessarily think about it proactively, but they do care once they know,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s part of our responsibility as business owners to help educate people \u2013 in a nice way.\u201d<\/p>\n The Beautiful Bunch, which employs women from refugee backgrounds, has a commitment to selling 95% Australian grown flowers too. \u201cWe have social impact embedded into the work we do, so buying imported is not a good fit,\u201d Marx says.<\/p>\n