Day 16: Fair Trade Certified Flowers
Flowers serve as thoughtful gifts, beautiful decorations, and a way to brighten up someone’s day. For centuries, flowers have been used to convey sentiments of love, commitments of friendship, or devotion to family. The many messages represented by flowers makes them a large commodity in the global economy.
Unfortunately, the happy thoughts associated with the giving and receiving of flowers does not always trickle down to the workers who pick and wrap the flowers that will one day make a beautiful bouquet on a dining room table. Flower workers are too frequently exposed to harmful chemicals in their work environments, do not get paid fair wages, and do not have the job security that would allow for them to care for their families–a reality that is made even more difficult by the fact that many of the world’s flower workers are women.
In 2007, TransFair USA began certifying Fair Trade flowers in the Flower factory in Ecuador. When these flowers are purchased, a portion of that fee is given back to the communities where the flowers were picked and cut. The money is distributed through community cooperatives and is used to fund scholarships, health clinics, housing, and other necessities for members. Fair Trade Certification for flowers also ensures that working environments maintain high standards for chemical hazards, protecting workers from harmful exposure.
Flowers are a great gift to give any time of year, but it is especially important during Fair Trade Month to show support for Fair Trade flowers and the workers that bring them to us, fresh and beautiful! A great way to do this (besides buying a beautiful bouquet) is to Give a Gift of Fairness that helps give something back to the flower producers. The Give Protective Clothing to a Flower Worker gift does just that! By giving this gift, you are showing that the work environment standards that TransFair USA holds flower companies to is important to you! Give a gift today!
Learn More about Fair Trade Certified Flowers: http://www.transfairusa.org/content/flowers/index.php
