The Floriculture Industry: Thorns without Borders Martin Donohoe

“Say it with flowers”

Flowers Long history of religious, folk, heraldic and national symbolism Gifts of love, friendship and filial devotion –St. Valentine’s Day –Mothers’ Day

The Floriculture Industry $30 billion cut flower industry Major producers: Holland, Columbia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ecuador, India, Mexico, China, Malaysia World’s largest producer: Dole Fresh Flowers

The Floriculture Industry Largest import markets: U.S. and Germany Only 1/3 of cut flowers sold in U.S. are domestic –Most from CA

The Floriculture Industry 190,000 workers in developing countries Ecuador and Columbia account for ½ of flowers sold in U.S. Most profit flows to large, multinational corporations, headquartered outside producing countries –Small amount reinvested locally

Floriculture and Women Predominantly female workforce –Low wages –No benefits –Short contract cycles –Child labor, dismissal for pregnancy, unpaid overtime common

Floriculture and Labor Labor organizers harassed, workers fired for trying to organize unions Third party contractors shuffle workers from plantation to plantation, avoiding payment of social security and inhibiting union organizing

Floriculture and the Environment Floriculture displaces crops grown for local food consumption –Contributes to malnutrition and increased local food costs Requires large quantities of irrigation water –120 liters/dozen roses –Contributes to drop in water tables

Floriculture: Toxic Exposures Flowers = most pesticide-intensive crop –Greenhouses increase ambient levels of pesticides –1/5 of pesticides banned or untested in U.S. –Carcinogens, persistent organic pollutants/endocrine disruptors

Floriculture: Toxic Exposures Flowers carry up to 50X the amount of pesticides allowed on foods USDA inspects for pests, but not pesticides

Floriculture: Health Effects Over 50% of workers have symptoms of organophosphate pesticide exposure (cholinergic symptoms) Other common health problems: –Allergic reactions, heat stroke, pneumonitis, RSI, cellulitis, UTIs, neuropathies, mental health problems, cancers, reproductive problems (low sperm counts, spontaneous abortions, fetal anomalies, etc.)

Floriculture: Health Effects Labeling, handling, and storage problems rampant Protective gear often lacking, not working Reuse of pesticide-saturated greenhouse plastic for domestic purposes not uncommon Workers wash / bathe children in same sink

Floriculture: Health Effects Local physicians poorly-trained, lack resources to manage pesticide- related health problems Many providers employed by floriculture company –Conflict of interest

Symbols of Love: Alternatives and Solutions Flowers: –Grow your own –Purchase locally- or internationally-produced, organically-grown, labor-friendly bouquets Farmers’ markets, Whole Foods, other upscale markets (contributes to carbon offsets) Others

Alternatives and Solutions Flowers: –Consumer education –Pressure on supermarkets, florists –Boycotts → voluntary eco-labels in Europe –NGOs developing industry standards –Food First Information Action Network’s Flower Campaign → voluntary International Code of Conduct

Alternatives and Solutions Flowers: –Veriflora Certification System: Organic production with phaseout of pesticides Water conservation Safe waste management Mitigation of previous environmental damage Fair labor practices / fair wages / overtime pay / right to organize Unannounced audits ensure compliance

Alternatives and Solutions Flowers: –Veriflora Certification System: Campaign focused on Supermarkets (29% of U.S. flower sales, market share increasing, 50 major companies) Less focus currently on wholesalers (1200 nationwide) and florists (30,000, 47% of market share) Society of American Florists yet to endorse –Fair trade flowers

Alternatives and Solutions Consider alternative tokens of affection –Homemade gifts (cards, photo collages, videos, poems, meals, home improvement projects) –Donations to charities –Eco-jewelry made from recycled materials by indigenous peoples Profits returned to local communities, providing wide-ranging social and economic benefit

Conclusions Beneath the beauty of cut flowers lie practices involving significant damage to local communities, human health, and the environment Consumers and health care advocates should work, individually and collectively, for reform of the floriculture industry

Paper/References/Contact Info Donohoe MT. Flowers, diamonds, and gold: The destructive human rights and environmental consequences of symbols of love. Human Rights Quarterly 2008;30: