Better Blooms, Bon-Bons, Fine Wines and Java

Updated January 25, 2006

Cherish the planet as well as your beloved this Valentine's Day! New organic options bring full bloom to the romance of flowers, chocolate and wine. And for your best chocolate choices, download our Smart Shopper's Chocolate Card (see sidebar).

Flowers

In 2003, Americans spent an estimated $50 per capita on flowers, garden plants and nursery crops, and "green industry" floricultural grower receipts were predicted to reach $14.4 billion. But some industry costs remained hidden. The floral industry uses the highest level of pesticides of all agricultural sectors. And since the majority of flowers we buy originate abroad, this can include U.S.-banned pesticides such as DDT, Harper's Magazine reported in 2001. These chemicals may even remain on bouquets long enough to rub off on skin or be inhaled by your beloved: When the Environmental Working Group tested a small sample of roses in 1997, they found residues of several pesticides at up to 50 times the amounts allowed in food.

At the growing source, pesticide runoff from flower farms pollutes waterways, and for the most part workers still earn poverty wages. The Pesticide Action Network, E. Magazine reports, found in 1999 that nearly two thirds of Colombia's flower workers reported maladies such as headaches, nausea, impaired vision, rashes and asthma associated with pesticide exposure.

Try buying organic cut flowers instead of conventionally grown varieties. If you can’t find organic flowers locally, or don’t want to have them shipped, try growing your own. Organic bulbs are increasingly available from garden retailers. Although flowers growing wildly along the road may look pretty, it's best not to pick them as this may put in danger the survival of some species.

Organic Options:

• Buy fresh, dried blooms at your local farmer's market or www.driedflowersdirect.com (starting at $4.00).

• Send a bouquet of organic roses from Whole Foods or Wild Oats stores or buy one online from Organic Bouquet ($39.95/dozen and $54.95/two dozen; www.organicbouquet.com, 888-899-2468).

• Organic Tropical Bouquets are available in 8-stem, 16-stem and 24-stem varieties from Diamond Organics ($49 and up; www.diamondorganics.com).

• Looking for a little variety? Manic Organics has a wide selection of organic bouquets. From sunflowers to pale pink roses, there is something for any taste. (Starting at $60; www.manicorganicsflowers.com).

• Grow your own, or force bulbs if not in season (see www.bulb.com). Organic tulip bulbs are available from Johnny's Selected Seeds ($6.25/10 bulbs; www.johnnyseeds.com). Or try organic Eco tulip bulbs from Tulip World ($15.95/20 Garden Party Variety bulbs; www.tulipworld.com).