{"id":147482,"date":"2025-06-07T09:08:44","date_gmt":"2025-06-07T09:08:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/why-the-origin-of-flowers-remains-a-well-kept-secret-even-for-the-most-discerning-consumers\/"},"modified":"2025-06-07T09:08:46","modified_gmt":"2025-06-07T09:08:46","slug":"why-the-origin-of-flowers-remains-a-well-kept-secret-even-for-the-most-discerning-consumers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/why-the-origin-of-flowers-remains-a-well-kept-secret-even-for-the-most-discerning-consumers\/","title":{"rendered":"Why the origin of flowers remains a well-kept secret, even for the most discerning consumers."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

A Market Dominated by Importation<\/h2>\n

Every year, \u00a0France\u00a0 imports over 80% of the cut flowers it consumes. While the \u00a0Netherlands\u00a0 remains the largest supplier \u2014 acting as a significant European logistics hub \u2014 numerous flowers come from much farther afield, particularly from \u00a0Kenya, Ecuador, Colombia,\u00a0 and \u00a0Ethiopia\u00a0. This is no coincidence: in these regions, the sun shines for over 12 hours a day, the soils are fertile, and the temperatures remain stable throughout the year, creating ideal conditions for low-cost production.<\/p>\n

These foreign flowers \u00a0flood the French market\u00a0, especially during winter when local production slows and demand surges for occasions like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and family celebrations. The paradox is simple: we buy more flowers when it’s cold, even though French production relies on seasonal cycles and lacks heating facilities.<\/p>\n

An Invisible Origin… and No Obligation for Transparency<\/h2>\n

Unlike fruits, vegetables, or even eggs, \u00a0ornamental plants are not required to display their origin\u00a0. This means you can purchase a bouquet of roses without ever knowing whether they come from a greenhouse in the Var, an Andean plateau in Ecuador, or the shores of Lake Naivasha in Kenya.<\/p>\n

Florists are not obligated to disclose this information, although they may do so voluntarily. Some claim to inquire about their suppliers, while others rely on labels or straightforward trust. However, the \u00a0consumer remains without reference points\u00a0, even if they pay attention to their purchases.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Country of Origin<\/strong><\/th>\nClimatic Advantages<\/strong><\/th>\nHuman\/Environmental Costs<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Kenya<\/td>\nStable climate, proximity to an airport<\/td>\nUnderpaid labor, precarious working conditions<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ecuador<\/td>\nFertile volcanic soils, altitude<\/td>\nIntensive production, long-distance air transport<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Colombia<\/td>\nTemperate climate, U.S. support<\/td>\nDisparate social conditions, little regulation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ethiopia<\/td>\nRapid sector development<\/td>\nLess regulation, poorly controlled pesticides<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Netherlands<\/td>\nControlled greenhouse production<\/td>\nHigh energy consumption (heating, lighting)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

An Economic… and Political Challenge<\/h2>\n

Why does this ambiguity persist? Simply because \u00a0the main market players have no interest in greater transparency\u00a0. The \u00a0Netherlands\u00a0, which centralizes a significant portion of global trade via its flower exchanges (like Aalsmeer), have invested in foreign productions, particularly in Kenya and Ecuador. Disclosing origin would raise \u00a0consumer awareness\u00a0 and thus jeopardize this model.<\/p>\n

In France, several attempts have been made to impose a form of labeling. Parliamentarians have proposed debates, and collectives have campaigned for better traceability. However, \u00a0blockages arise from European bodies\u00a0, where labeling rules for food products (Inco regulation) do not yet extend to cut flowers. The topic gets postponed, or relegated to local initiatives.<\/p>\n

The Environmental Paradox<\/h2>\n

At first glance, transporting flowers by plane seems absurd from an ecological standpoint. However, studies show that \u00a0heated greenhouse production in Europe can have a carbon impact equivalent\u00a0 or even greater than outdoor cultivation in developing countries. \u00a0Less energy is required for production, but more for transport,\u00a0 often leading to an equilibrium in overall environmental impact.<\/p>\n

However, \u00a0the social impact remains entirely opaque\u00a0. Meager wages, difficult working conditions, and the use of unregulated pesticides are realities invisible to the end consumer.<\/p>\n

Towards a More Visible French Flower?<\/h2>\n

In light of this situation, initiatives are emerging. The collective \u00a0La Fleur Fran\u00e7aise\u00a0 promotes local producers, short supply chains, and voluntary labeling. Brands like \u00a0Hortisud\u00a0 emphasize their Var heritage, collaborating with committed florists. Yet, these initiatives remain \u00a0marginal against the sheer volume of imports\u00a0 and the general public’s lack of knowledge.<\/p>\n

French flowers are often fresher, picked at maturity, and can offer rarer varieties. However, they are \u00a0less competitive in winter\u00a0, struggling to compete without substantial logistical, economic, or political support.<\/p>\n

The attentive consumer remains in the dark. Until origin labeling is mandated, it remains impossible to know what one truly supports when purchasing a bouquet. This lack of transparency, perpetuated by powerful interests, keeps every flower quieter than it ought to be.<\/p>\n

Source: UFC Que Choisir<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n


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General News – 2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Market Dominated by Importation Every year, \u00a0France\u00a0 imports over 80% of the cut flowers it consumes. While the \u00a0Netherlands\u00a0 remains the largest supplier \u2014 acting as a significant European logistics hub \u2014 numerous flowers come from much farther afield, particularly from \u00a0Kenya, Ecuador, Colombia,\u00a0 and \u00a0Ethiopia\u00a0. This is no coincidence: in these regions, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":147483,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36399],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-147482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147482","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=147482"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/147482\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/147483"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=147482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=147482"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=147482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}