Flower Industry Australia identifying Australian grown flowers
Source: Stock and Land. Words and Pictures: Holly McGuinness
May 9, 2023.
After decades of failed attempts to have Australian grown flowers added to the national country of origin registrar, an industry body has come up with their own solution.
The country of origin labelling would mean any imported flowers must be identified as such, making it easier for consumers to put their money towards products that benefit the economy and Australian farmers.
Flower Industry Australia chief executive Anna Jabour has been fighting for years to have flowers added to the registrar as she hoped for better transparency for consumers.
"The federal government has previously declined to add flowers to the mandatory labelling scheme so in the interim while we continue to advocate and ask [Agriculture Minister] Murray Watt to allow flowers to be a part of it, we've come up with our own solution," she said.
They've launched green and gold, biodegradable bands with the words, "Australian grown" clearly visible for Australian producers to purchase.
"Board members have been advocating this to the government for twenty years, we've been through this process before," Ms Jabour said.
Not only is it better for Australian's to purchase from local producers, she said, but there's also pest and disease risks associated with importing flowers.
302 Flowers owner and flower farmer Anna Sfyris who's based in Gisborne in the Macedon Ranges supports the labels, with her own already ordered and on the way, she hoped to see them widely used across the industry.
"I think it's a great idea because they're biodegradable and they're functional, so you can use them, but also know that they're not contributing to waste and then promote awareness of Australian locally grown flowers," Ms Sfyris said.
"I think people want to support their fellow Australians and buy local you know, I think we've sort of learned it from COVID-19 and people essentially want to care for each other.
"We just need to be informed so they can make the choice about what they want, and I think the Australian people have the right to know who grew it and where it came from."
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