Tip of the Week

Better Blooms for Mother's Day

Most of the cut flowers we shower our mothers with on Mother's Day are imported from Colombia, Ecuador and the Netherlands. While exotic presents from faraway lands are always a success with Mom, when it comes to flowers, you're better off picking local and organic blooms.

Not only does transporting Mom's roses from Colombia to her kitchen table waste energy, but flower farmers abroad often have the leeway to spray their crop with pesticides banned in the U.S. for being associated with health hazards ranging from respiratory illness to cancer. Those chemicals certainly harm the health of the agricultural workers exposed to them, but they can also linger on petals, adding a toxic touch to the centerpiece.

So don't forget to bring your mom flowers, if she likes them, but bring her a local bunch. Check out Local Harvest for farmers in your area. And if you have to send her your love from another state, go with an organic delivery service like Diamond Organics or California Organic Flowers that carry USDA certified organic arrangements grown in the U.S. Even better, look for flowers with VeriFlora's sustainably grown certification which also ensures that the farm employs fair labor practices. Visit Veri Flora for retailers.

See Make Mom's Day for more Mother's Day tips.

© The Green Guide, 2008

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