Why this Florida Florist chooses local and organic flowers first

We all want to do right, but it can be really confusing to navigate the most responsible way to be a flower consumer. Phrases like sustainable, eco-friendly, and green can be thrown around and mean different things to different people. So it’s really important to me that I’m transparent with my clients about how I source my flowers.

Hierarchy of Florals

No matter what time of year it is, I’ll always prioritize locally, organically grown. But I make sure to balance it with client needs, and availability. So let me break it down for you. In order of most desired to least desired, here’s how I go about making my design choices:

Locally, organically grown (most desired)
USA organically grown
Internationally grown, organic
Conventionally grown, international (least desired)

TL;DR Let me break each one of those down for you a bit more. I’ll share some definitions and reasoning behind my hierarchy of florals behind all my floral design decisions.

Locally, organically grown first and foremost

What does local mean, really? Although there isn’t a standardized definition of “local”, it usually that means within a 100 mile radius. Now for the hierarchy within the hierarchy. I prefer from my own cutting garden, of course, and absolutely love being able to create bespoke arrangements that are selectively grown from seed. They absolutely can not get more fresh. If I don’t have the availability, then I look to neighbors’ gardens (with permission, of course!) I really treasure the special relationships I have with other gardeners around Tampa. After that, I will look to local farms. I love being able to support other local growers through my floristry. So please know that when you’re supporting me, you’re also choosing to support local farmers such as Little Pond Farm, Meacham Urban Farm, and Mindful Blooms.

What does organically grown mean? Organically grown means that plants are being grown with safe, natural, and sustainable practices. There aren’t any harmful pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers. Special shout out to Little Pond Farm for being certified organically grown, but that’s out of reach for many small growers like myself. However, I still feel confident in the organic practices of local farmers I have met and witnessed their dedication to growing sustainably firsthand. You can read more about my other sustainability actions here.

USA Organic provides options

If local and organic isn’t available, I’ll go for USA organically grown. There are a limited number of farms that will ship their blooms, but I aim to keep tabs on availability of all sorts of flowers across the US- roses, mums, peonies, and other stems that might be tricky to grow here locally. It’s a special treat! Once again, I do prioritize organically grown, ensuring that the flowers are safe for your home, the farmers that grew them, and the land.

Organic International

If I can’t find USA organically grown, I’ll look for organically grown internationally. This can be tricky, as there aren’t a ton of options out there. Sometimes I can find organically grown international flowers at Whole Foods, or through a wholesaler.

Conventionally Grown Flowers

My last choice is to use conventionally grown flowers that are grown internationally. This is the typical route for most florists, and I don’t mean any shade by putting them last on my hierarchy. I just usually don’t find these ingredients to be as fresh or inspiring. Once you’ve experienced local, it’s hard to go back. Still, flowers are always enchanting and provide much needed beauty and connection during the slow summer season here in Florida.

Prioritizing local, but loving all flowers

In a perfect world, I would use Florida grown organic flowers all year round. But we have to be flexible and recognize that our farmers need a break to prepare for the next season. Each year, more and more growers show up to the flower scene. I’m just a part of the renaissance of locally grown flowers all across Florida. You can find other growers by cruising the Florida Grown Flowers Instagram page, or hopping on over to Floret Flowers Directory. Hopefully, the more we’re able to support locally grown, the more locally grown options will become available. It’s better for people, the planet, and the flowers.

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