Growers Working Conditions In South America
Published in The Edmonton Sun - April, 2011
Quality cut flowers are in high demand, creating a lucrative business for many companies. Beautiful blossoms can
Fair Trade Fair trade is a movement that focuses on bettering farming communities around the world. It features a three-
Through a company called Florverde. This company was established in 1996 to establish practices that would ensure the quality of life of the workers and their families, as well as environmental sustainability for generations to come. Floreverde: Social Responsibility and the environmental commitment Florverde implementation ensures compliance with strict international social and environmental standards from Florverde was created as a strategic initiative for promoting sustainable floriculture with social responsibility at both the company and industry-wide levels. This comprehensive strategy includes: 1) a certification system 2) an information collection and analysis system 3) an assessment and mentoring process to drive continuous improvements The Florverde Certification System is made up of a series of regulatory documents dealing with strict standards that make up the criteria. These are supported by an information system and mentoring processes that assures continuous improvement and validate that flowers certified under this label are produced under the highest environmental and social standards. The Assessment and monitoring process have a variety of tools farms can use to maintain the standards: • On-site visits
Fertilizers and Pesticides The fertilizers used to grow the flowers are a natural compound, making them safer for both the workers and the
Worker’s Rights
There are other ways that fair trade benefits growers. Companies that believe in fair trade take better care of
Reproducing the Water Table
Flower farming takes a large amount of water. As a result, it depletes the water resources of surrounding lakes and rivers. The practices of fair trade address this concern by building farms that use a cycle of reprocessing to return the water to the environment naturally. Thus, the farm is able to sustain itself without exhausting the natural habitat of the surrounding area.
Fair trade works to improve the lives of flower farm workers in South America, while at the same time benefiting the environment. The result is a cleaner, safer, and more productive atmosphere for everyone. Award winning designer, Heather de Kok, AAF AIFD PFCI has a passion for all things flowers. Come to 3811 – 99 street, 780-988-8588 or go to her website www.heatherdekok.com to learn more. 
be given for any occasion or even no occasion at all. Many cut flowers are foreign imports from countries such as South America. They are cultivated on flower farms primarily for the purpose of selling to large flower distributors and florists. Many of these farms employ an ethical business plan known as fair trade. I wanted to give you the real inside story of things happening where we get our flowers from. Read on to learn how my company works with some amazing flower farms. 
pronged action plan, concentrating on environmental, social, and economic problems within these communities. Through its rigid standards, it fights against poverty, illness, harassment, and other difficulties faced by workers. The system is set up to help each community become self-sufficient. Companies that follow the fair trade system use only farms that promote a safer atmosphere for both the environment and the workers. The cut flowers they produce are promised to be ethically grown in a manner that is safe for all concerned.
planting to postharvest.
This initiative began in 1996 to develop best practices that could help ensure the quality of life of workers and their families, as well as environmental sustainability for generations to come.
• Round tables
• Performance information analysis
• Case-study documentation
• Group visits to learn by imitation
• Training through workshops, courses and seminars
• Auditing-type visits by Florverde experts
• RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT! (Occupational health, ILO, Water regimes and use, Pesticides traces on plastics, Smallholders implementation, etc) 
environment. Even the pesticides are organic. There are well over a hundred listed harmful chemicals that are often used in the production of cut flowers. South American flower farms that adhere to the fair trade movement refuse to use these substances. As a result, workers are healthier and able to work more, thereby producing more for the company. The environment is damaged less by these organic compounds and the customer is happier to receive less toxic flowers. Other defensive measures include protective gear that the workers are required to wear when entering a greenhouse. Masks, gloves, and any other necessary equipment are provided by the employer. 
their workers by offering health insurance, a fair and steady wage, and other valuable benefits. Pregnant mothers are given a paid maternity leave. Those who are nursing are allowed to take breaks to care for their infant.
