WHY BUY LOCAL?

Recently I was chatting with a friend, and she said, Christine, I am embarrassed to admit that I really didn't know what a flower farmer was. She said I thought a flower farm meant a greenhouse that grew annuals for containers. I honestly never considered how or where cut flowers are grown.

I assured her it was okay and that education about locally grown flowers is the most significant part of my job, and you just reminded me I need to share more about our process. Even for me, it's easier to stand in the grocery store and look at the tomatoes and think of Harvest Moon down the road growing beautiful produce.

But what about standing at the flower cooler in the grocery store? Do you think about the origin of that bloom?

Probably not, and that is okay because you are not alone. In a recent poll, 78% of people who purchased flowers did not know where their flowers came from. There are many reasons for the lack of flower farms in the US today, but I will save that soapbox chat for another day. Because of COVID, there have been significant disruptions to the distribution channels in the foreign export markets into the US.

Typically the cut flower chain looks something like this:
Foreign growers > Importer/Broker > Flown to Wholesaler > Distributed via truck to local wholesaler > Florists/Grocery Store > then FINALLY to you.

Depending on local farms like ours shortens the distribution channel and footprint and gives you the freshest blooms possible, and keeping the money back in our local economy.

I am proud that our supply chain looks like this:
Local farm > You.

Our flowers are truly fresh, often cut the same day you receive them, and rarely leaving water post-harvest. Though our growing techniques might require more work at times, I am proud to support the environment and community that so graciously supports us. It brings me such joy to see the honeybees enjoying our hard work as much as we do.

I know flowers are not a necessity in your daily life but I believe they provide nutrients for the soul and our local community. Giving and receiving flowers brings undeniable joy. I know buying local is a conscious choice and I can’t thank you enough for allowing this dream to bloom.