Colombian flowers dominate the American flower market with 62 percent of all of the roses sold; 92 percent of carnations sold; 93 percent of all chrysanthemums sold; and 97 percent of all alstroemerias sold.4, said Augusto Solano, President of the Colombian Association of Flower Exporters (Asocolflores). At the same time, Solano added that “Colombia is blessed with high altitudes, permanent sunlight and predictable weather patterns, making it an ideal spot to grow different varieties o flowers. Like coffee, our flowers are the finest in the world.”
Colombia exported more than one billion dollars worth of flowers world wide in 2007. Floriculture and related industries in Colombia create near to 200.000 jobs. Including their families, close to one million people depend economically on floriculture. Sixty percent of floral farm workers are single women who are heads of households.
As the size and influence of the Colombian floriculture industry expands, it continues to enhance working standards and make great strides in improving the lives of floral workers. Asocolflores is celebrating eleven years of Florverde®, its unique certification program which was created to improve the lives and living standards of floral farm workers and their families; to preserve and protect the environment for the industry’s farmers for generations to come; and to ensure high-quality, affordable flowers for consumers year-round. Currently 171 Colombian farms, comprising half of the acreage devoted to growing flowers, have qualified for or are in the process of qualifying for, Florverde® certification7 and it’s estimated they will export almost 300 million stems of certified flowers during the Saint Valentine’s season.
“The Colombian flower industry is extremely proud of the work we have done and the advancements we have made since the inception of Florverde®. Today, the Florverde® label is recognized among commercial flower buyers in the United States and Europe as assurance that our flowers are grown in compliance with international social, environmental, labor, and occupational health and safety standards,” said Solano. “We want American consumers to be assured of this as well.”
Florverde®-certified farms’ uses of agricultural chemicals are consistent with U.S. regulations. Workers are educated and trained in the safe use of these chemicals and provided appropriate safety equipment. Access to on site medical care, dining areas and hot meals are provided. Some farms go beyond specified worker requirements and offer child care, housing subsidies and literacy education.
Certification is verified by an independent third party, SGS, a renowned international audit company headquartered in Switzerland, widely recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. SGS has worked with such companies as Avon, McDonald’s, the GAP and Shopko.
Established in 1973 to represent the interests of the Colombian flower growers in world markets, the Colombian Association of Flower Exporters (Asocolflores) represents more than 70 percent of total Colombian flowers exports.
1. Economic Research Service, USDA, 2006 Yearbook Summary.
2. Asocolflores, Better Flowers for a Better World, page 2, 2004 data
3. Foreign Agricultural Service FATUS database, USDA, 2006 data as of November, 2006.
4. Economic Research Service, USDA, 2006 Yearbook Summary.
5. Colombian Floral Industry Executive: Americans, Please Buy More Flowers, October 13, 2006. Available from: http://www.asocolflores.org/noticias/noticias.php?action=detail&id_publicacion=244.
6. Asocolflores, Better Flowers for a Better World, page 2, 2004 data
7. SGS Certification, December 2007
COLOMBIA IS THE LEADING SUPPLIER OF CUT FLOWERS TO THE UNITED STATES.
- Three quarters (77%) of all cut flowers sold in the United States come from Colombia and are valued at over $418 million at customs.
- In 2006, Colombia exported more than two billion flower stems to the U.S., an increase of 60% since 2002.
- In 2006, the U.S. imported 99% of its carnations and alstroemeria, 98% of its mums and 70% of its cut roses from Colombia.
- After Holland, Colombia is the second largest exporter of flowers in the world, exporting $906 million worth of flowers world-wide in 2005.
- In 2006, U.S.-Colombian bilateral trade was an estimated $14.7 billion.
SINCE ITS CREATION IN 1996 FLORVERDE® HAS EVOLVED FROM A PROGRAM OF CONTINOUS IMPROVEMENT TO A RECOGNIZED STANDARD FOR SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CARE.
- Florverde® was initially created to enhance overall performance by providing a systemized approach to improve labor conditions and environmental practices.
- In response to NGO allegations of poor environmental stewardship and working conditions in the early 90s, Colombian farmers developed a set of standards that became the foundation of Florverde®.
- Initial participation in Florverde® is voluntary. Once certified compliance is mandatory to maintain certification.
- More than 160 farms comprising half of the Colombian floriculture acreage participate in Florverde® today.
- Florverde® flowers are grown with 50% less pesticides as compared to 1998.
- Today Florverde® is a model program for the Ecuadorian flower and Colombian banana industries.
FLORVERDE® COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OFFER THE WORKFORCE, 60% WHO ARE WOMEN HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS, IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE.
- Florverde farms provide their workers with health insurance, disability and retirement benefits.
- The average work week in member companies is 46.5 hours vs. the legal work week of 48 hours and the average wage of workers is higher (20%) than the minimum legal wage.
- Workers on Florverde® -certified farms are required to be over 18 years old.
- Florverde®-certified farms provide access to on-site medical care, dining areas and hot meals and increasingly offer child care, housing subsidies and literacy education.
- Florverde® uses the data it collects to advance the social needs of the growing communities and design new programs accordingly.
USE OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS ON FLORVERDE®-CERTIFIED FARMS IS CONSISTENT WITH UNITED STATES’ REGULATIONS. SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES MINIMIZE CHEMICAL AND WATER USE.
- Chemicals banned in Colombia are consistent with chemicals banned in the United States.
- Since Florverde® has been in place there have been no cases of ill workers related to the effects of chemicals or pesticides.
- Florverde®’s labor and environmental standards require extensive training with respect to the handling and use of agricultural chemicals and require use of personal protective equipment as outlined in training materials.
- While agricultural chemicals are often necessary, the Colombian flower industry encourages sustainable farming through the use of pest management methods to reduce pesticide use, drip irrigation, rainwater collection systems and organic fertilization.
- Florverde®’s goal is to reduce pesticide use by 60% from today’s levels in three years.
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