Exotic Flowers in Boston

There are many different industries that go into supporting a country’s economy.  Based on several factors including but not limited to location, culture, language, technology and transportation accessibility, each country varies with particular types of business that they are dependent on to keep the region’s finances flowing healthily.  For example, China and Norway are leaders in the highest exportation of fish, namely because of their convenient proximity to the ocean.   Without this resource, it is doubtable that they would have been able to become the experts in fisheries that they are today.  There are other reasons that are not situated around the geographic properties as well such as the chocolate phenomenon that is crucial to German commerce.  Funny, its not because they have the climate to host abundant cocoa orchards but instead the answer lies with the fact that Europeans were named the first official  “chocoholics” when the sweet treat was originally introduced.  The demand for chocolate alone was the only factor needed to surge an economic spike for spending, allowing Germany to invent top quality brand names such as the Stollwerck Chocolates Company.  

photo credit: florint.org

So if every country has at least one mega source of income, I had to ask the question, “Who are the leaders of the floral industry?”  With a little research, I found an interesting list of the top 5 places that depend on flowers to keep their economy circumventing.  Here’s what I found-are you surprised?

Top 5 Exporters of Flowers

1.   Netherlands

Tulips remain one of Holland’s most popular flowers for export although the world acclaimed Dutch auction is located right in the city of Aalsmeer, which is their real moneymaker.

2.  Colombia

Roses top the growing charts even though orchids and Birds of Paradise are also sought after for export.

3.  Ecuador 

photo credit: businessinsider.com

Ecuador is a competitor of Colombia because they also harvest millions and millions of roses that are known for their vibrant color and large heads.

4.  Ethiopia

Carnations are a great crop for Ethiopia to sell world wide because they are hearty and comfortable with the country’s naturally warm climate.  

5.  Kenya

Roses and general cut flowers are Kenya’s floral focus, representing around 35% of the Dutch trade in Holland.  Every year, this African country grows in demand for their beautiful product.  

Bringing Flowers Home to Boston

I’ve bet you’ve visited flower shops a million times before, carrying beautiful blossoms that strike you as soon as you walk through the front door.  Buckets of sunflowers, roses and hydrangeas are the most common varieties that are being carryied this month but did you ever wonder how they got there?  Often, we don’t take into account the logistics involved with flower transportation and don’t realize how this factor alters conditions including availability, longevity and even price influxes or reductions.  The process is quite fascinating when you really get down to it.  Understanding how it all works will not only help you to become a savvier shopper but it will also give you a greater appreciation for the stunning stems you bring home weekly to put on your tables.  So here’s how it works…

There are a few different approaches that florists use to select their flowers.  They can be local, meaning that they are grown in greenhouses and farms that are close in proximity to your area or they can be imported from far away, even from another country.  Let’s start with the “greener” method and begin in our own backyard…

Locally Grown

There are many reasons why you should consider buying flowers that have been raised to supply your floral specialty shops.  For one thing, their travel time from being cut, boxed and shipped is going to be considerably shorter than imports sent from far off places like Japan, France or Canada (although wait-there’s bonuses to that too).  This can positively affect the flower’s lifespan to be longer and lower costs due to a decreased need of fuel for gas or air flight. It also allows you to know more about the product and be able to find out how the crop was harvested and what by what means with regards to chemical vs. organic support materials.  Buy shopping locally, you can also help sustain these growers within your community thus supporting a higher production of fresh flowers for your neighborhood.  

Imports

Imported flowers are generally purchased from an auction or a large wholesaler that buys what the florists wants and then reships it to them after they have bought from a far away grower.  The first issue that needs considering is that they have a long way to go before they get here.  Airplanes are usually the first choice for shipping because they arrive relatively quickly and have a large storage area for cargo.  Problems associated with imported flowers usually pertain to delayed flights where the flowers are kept too long in heated facilities without water or my favorite-trouble with US customs when they arrive to the gates.  Any unordinary fibers or bugs will win that shipment a one-way ticket to the incinerator meaning they’ll never make it to the florist at their cost making things pricey.  Another problem is that buyers cannot see first hand what they are paying for since the order has to first survive its transportation route.  A spectacular sample of a dahlia looks great online but if it’s had a bumpy ride over, it can be quite disappointing to the end user.  So why do you ask, import flowers in the first place?  Countries such as Holland provide the world with an auction that showcases rare and unique product from around the world.  Things can get pretty dull when you’re using the same varieties of plants and flowers so including a broad range of choice helps designers create fresh and fun looks that keep their customers satisfied.  Being able to access a broader spectrum of color and texture is what keeps the industry learning constantly and adapting to contemporary themes and styles.  The third important reason for importing is that although New England grow beautiful product of our own, there are some things that we simply don’t have the conditions for.   This is when a secondary source becomes extremely useful particularly within wedding events.  Connecting with a large variety of suppliers both educates and influences Boston florists to provide the best arrangements for their customers so a healthy combination of the two is a Boston florist’s best bet!