Farmers plead for Aussies to buy local flowers this Valentine's Day
Source: 9news.com.au / by Allanah Sciberras
February 9, 2023.
With Valentines Day around the corner, flower farmers have a message to loved-up Aussies: buy local.
Passionate growers are among many in the industry who want customers to buy blooms that are grown in Australia rather than the abundance of stems imported from overseas.
It's estimated 10 million rose stems will arrive in the country ahead of next Tuesday.
Cut by hand, flowers at 302 Flowers in Victoria are supplied to wholesalers and the public.
"When the flower is ready, we cut it. It's not languishing on a shelf somewhere, the freshest you can get it from a farm," 302 Flowers owner Anna Sfyris said.
"This is the freshest you can get it.”
In an effort to steer people away from imported blooms, advocacy groups also want "country of origin" stickers on bouquets.
"We know consumers want to know where flowers come from, it makes common sense," Flower Association of Australia's Anna Jabour said.
The advice from flower growers is to buy only what's in season and ask your florist where each stem was grown.
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