If you know much about Flowerlink, then you know we’re incredibly proud of our Ecuador heritage. The South American country has the perfect climate and infrastructure to produce the world’s best roses. In a period of only thirty 30 years, cut flowers have revitalized the Ecuadorian economy and made Ecuador one of the top exporters of cut flowers to the US. Currently, the nation continues to be on the forefront of environmental and social advances within the cut flower industry…. but, how did we get to this point?
In 1983, the cut flower industry was introduced to the country of Ecuador. It would take nearly a decade before the industry would truly blossom, however. In 1991, the Andean Trade Preference Act was enacted which allowed for the tax-free export of cut flowers to America. Between 1995 and 1998, the cut flower industry grew an incredible 37% each and every year until flowers became one of Ecuador’s biggest and most profitable exports.
With the explosion of demand came new problems, though. Concerns over working conditions and environmental impact cast a shadow over Ecuador’s rose production. In 1999, the International Code of Conduct for the production of cut flowers would finally come to Ecuador. This code of conduct would form the basis for the Flower Label Program (FLP) which would ensure that workers within the cut flower industry were treated and compensated fairly. This meant that certified farms would be prohibited from employing workers under the age of 15 and no worker would labor under dangerous conditions. This also meant the banning of dangerous, life-threatening pesticides dubbed the “Dirty Dozen.”
Ecuador would take its efforts a step further in 2001 when the Centro de Estudios y Asesoría en Salud would begin inspecting Ecuadorian flower producers to make sure that they complied with all FLP standards. Now 10% of all of Ecuador’s floriculture industry is certified by the FLP and of course, this includes the farms that provide Flowerlink’s roses as well.
Ecuador’s Best Roses Brought to Southern California with Flowerlink
Flowerlink has been providing Los Angeles wholesale roses to florists, supermarkets, and event planners in Southern California for a decade. We carry new and original varieties that were grown on Ecuadorian family-owned farms under the strictest social and environmental guidelines.
If you want to bring the world’s best roses to your event or shop, we’d love to help. Just contact us and we can send you more information about our roses as well as samples of our finest varieties.
