Product Highlight: Here Comes the Sun(flowers)!

And not just sunflowers! While the sunnies are out in full force right now, summer at the Chico Certified Farmers’ Market is overflowing with a plethora of pretties, anxiously awaiting to brighten your home. You can get all sorts of flowers all year long at the Chico Certified Farmers’ Market, but we highly recommend taking a stroll through the especially colorful aisles that are currently bursting with summer blooms!

Keep reading for some insight into why buying local flowers is important, and then snag a bundle of fresh cut, locally grown flowers from the Chico Saturday Farmer’s Market this weekend!

Why Buy Local Flowers?

Where do flowers come from and how are they grown?

“Sadly, most of the cut flowers available in the U.S. come from overseas. In the past two decades, production has shifted to foreign countries, primarily in Latin and South America, where barriers have been relaxed to encourage trade. Colombia now supplies over three quarters of all the cut flowers sold in the U.S. and may gain more share if Congress passes a proposed free trade agreement. Combine this with rising land prices, high labor costs and tighter agricultural regulations and it’s no wonder that making a living is becoming more difficult for U.S. flower growers.

In addition to the long distances most flowers travel, thornier issues surround how they are raised. Conventionally grown flowers are sprayed with some of the most toxic chemicals used in agriculture, both during their growth and after harvest. Since flowers aren’t generally eaten, the environmental and human health consequences of floriculture are often overlooked. However, the effects on farm workers, florists, and the Earth can be significant. Shoppers concerned about sustainability should consider buying bouquets directly from the grower and asking questions about their production methods.”

So support your local farmer for fresh, beautiful, responsibly grown flowers!

Info provided by cuesa.org