Sustainability is one of the core values of the Flower Collective. Here are the ways we are committed to making the local floral industry more environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable.
Environmental
As many as 80% of florals sold in the United States are imported. In the year 2022, approximately $3.3 billion worth of flowers, potted plants, and bulbs were imported into the US, with the majority of those coming from countries in South and Central America.
Considering these numbers, it isn't surprising that the floral industry has long been labeled as unfriendly to the environment. From the use of harsh pesticides, abundant water usage, and the carbon emissions created by shipping (and cooling) florals over thousands of miles, there has been no shortage of complaints against the industry.
The Flower Collective of Central New York is working to change this.
100% of the flowers available through FCCNY are grown here in Central New York. Many of the blooms travel less than 20 miles from the farm where they're grown to their final destination. This cuts out the emissions of long-distance shipping and gives our customers access to fresher (and longer-lasting) blooms.
In addition, our farmers are committed to sustainable growing practices. This looks like promoting native species when possible, using low/no-till planting techniques, growing crops suited to our climate so that heated greenhouses are not necessary, and using natural or organic pest-control.
Economic
While farm workers are required to be paid minimum wage, most farmers do not make a living wage. Increasingly, farms have been required to rely on tax subsidies or value-added products in order to provide for their families.
In addition to the low wage standard of farming in general, growing high-quality crops in the cool, seasonal climate of Central New York can be challenging. Many growers are forced to rely more and more on irrigation systems and external structures to produce quality blooms. When you combine the increased cost of production with the amount of labor required to grow flowers, it is especially hard to make flower farming profitable.
At FCCNY we are working to reduce costs for local flower farmers and promote a living wage through the flowers we sell. Working as a collective allows our members to share the costs of supplies, aggregation, and distribution. In addition to detailed market analyses, we analyze the cost of production for each crop to ensure that all farm-related labor is calculated at a living income.
There is power in numbers, and working together allows farms of all sizes to aggregate their crops and provide a more traditional wholesale experience to buyers while also fighting for industry-wide sustainability.
Social
Despite the rate at which the industry is growing, flower farming can be lonely. Nearly all of our growers work and farm alone, with no additional employees. When we asked our growers what farming challenges they face, an overwhelming number said that they felt a lack of community between growers.
The Flower Collective was born out of a desire to connect the farmers in our community. We believe that by working together we can share the workload of running a farm while also creating strong, supportive relationships!
One of the first programs we set up when creating the Flower Collective was a mentorship program. Through this program, new growers are paired with experienced growers to help them plan crops, work through challenges, and answer any questions they might have. We also offer monthly meetings for our growers to further connect with each other and learn about an aspect of flower farming. These connections are key to increasing job satisfaction and decreasing burnout among farmers!
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