Safer Stems: How Local Flowers Reduce Chemical Exposure in the Floral Industry

A monarch butterfly drinks nectar from a pink zinnia at Fernwood Flower Farm

Most people don’t think twice about sniffing a bouquet of flowers.  In fact, for most people, their first instinct is to bring flowers directly to their nose to enjoy the fragrance.  But research has revealed a sinister truth about the cut flower industry.  For decades, industrial flower farms have been under scrutiny for the dangers of their operations, from unfair worker treatment to unregulated use of chemicals that are banned in human food production.  In addition, as the climate crisis looms, experts continue to warn farmers about the dangers of pesticide runoff for wildlife and potable water supplies.  In the last several years, however, scientists have started to question just how far these dangers extend.  

In 2017, the Journal Environmental Health Insights published an alarming study that investigated pesticide residue exposure in florists.  The study confirmed a shocking result: florists were exposed to an average of 37 active substances while doing their daily work of handling and arranging imported cut flowers.  Despite working thousands of miles away from the flower fields where these chemicals were applied, it is clear that florists are experiencing significant, measurable exposure to these harmful agricultural chemicals.  Agricultural chemicals have an extensively researched track record of chronic toxic effects for the people who come in contact with them, ranging from moderate to severe health symptoms, including cancer, genetic damage, and reproductive challenges.  

Through decades of empirical data, it has been found that these practices are downright dangerous.  With rates of disease on the rise and a growing awareness and concern about the safety of these chemicals, florists are looking for safer alternatives – and many are turning to locally grown flowers to improve safety for farm workers, florists, and the planet alike.

Safe to Touch & Sniff: Small farms use significantly less pesticides, with most growers opting for organic-approved pest and disease management – and some avoiding sprays altogether.  This significantly limits chemical residues on the flowers from seed to vase, meaning that conditions are safe from the farm workers to the florist to the consumer.

Safe to Compost: Small farms actively make farming choices that do not contribute to chemical runoff and environmental toxicity.  Without harmful pesticide residue, the blooms can be safely composted and repurposed to replenish topsoil – a critical resource that is degrading faster than it can be restored in nature due in part to unsustainable farming practices.

Safe for Pollinators: Pollinators are crucial members of our planet, ensuring that food crops are properly pollinated and our ecosystems remain healthy.  Pesticide use poses a significant risk for the natural world, with some sources reporting that more than 90% of pollen samples from beehives in agricultural landscapes are contaminated with more than one pesticide.  Pesticides don’t discriminate between beneficial wildlife and pests, meaning that any exposure puts pollinators in danger.  Many small farms work in tune with nature, cultivating fields that produce a high volume of stems while also prioritizing biodiversity.

Choosing local flowers is not just about quality, freshness, and aesthetics.  It’s about the health, safety, and sustainability of the floral industry at large.  Locally grown cut flowers make a difference in our communities and on the entire planet.