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Colombian Flower Growers Win EPA Ozone Protection Awards
US Environmental Protection Agency Acknowledges Achievements
of Colombian Floriculture Industry
[Bogotá, Colombia] Friday 27, April 2007 - The
US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced the
list of winners of the 2007 Ozone Protection Awards. Two Colombian
flower growing companies, JARDINES DE LOS ANDES and FLORES DE
FUNZA, located in the Bogotá Savannah were recognized in the category
of Organizations, Association and Work Teams for outstanding development
of integrated pest management systems and the level of environmental
sustainability practices on the flower farms. Both companies are
members of Asocolflores and participants in FlorverdeŽ, the certification
program that guarantees not only the quality of our flowers but
also the social and environmental commitment of Colombian flower
growers. The awards will be presented to both companies on May
1st.
The EPA award program started in 1990 to recognize the leadership,
commitment and technical progress achieved by individuals and
companies to protect the ozone layer. During the last 17 years
this award has been presented to 485 individuals, companies and
working teams in 40 different countries.
When announcing the winners, David S. Godwin, a
senior officer at EPA stated one of the most significant achievements
of the Colombian floriculture industry, the world's second largest
supplier of cut flowers, has been to abolish the use of Methyl
Bromide on all farms. With nearly 7,000 hectares of flower production
and exports amounting to $967 million US, Colombian flower growers
have been able to control pests and diseases through innovative,
integrated pest management programs without having to use Methyl
Bromide, a chemical known to contribute to ozone layer deterioration.
Godwin also recognized Asocolflores, the Colombian Association
of Flower Exporters, for the establishment in 1996 of Florverde,
the socio-environmental certification program that promotes workers'
welfare and encourages flower growers to apply environmental best
practices in their production processes.
http://www.epa.gov/ozone/awards/index.html
www.florverde.org
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