Globalization has brought about a greater awareness and concern for partners in trading relationships with North America, and around the world. Environmental policies, like the Kyoto accord, are trying to bring accountability to companies who harm the environment.

Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with where their products are coming from and under what social and environmental conditions they are produced. Reports of human rights abuses and harmful environmental practices have affected the sales of everything from running shoes and clothing to coffee and fresh produce.

The floral industry has been scrutinised as well, and sales in some segments of the marketplace have been affected. In 1999, German media reported on environmental and social abuses by flower growing farms in South America. The public was shocked and angered by this, and a drop in floral purchases followed. As a result, wholesalers reported a decrease of 20% in their imports and attributed it directly to the negative publicity.

In Canada and the United States, articles have appeared on the internet and in magazines about floral farming practices in South America for several years now. Oxfam, one of largest and well-known development agencies in the world, reported on the cut flower industry in Columbia and included these reports at their launch of their ''Make Trade Fair'' campaign. In Quebec, several media outlets have done radio, television news and newspaper reports about these same practices. As a result of these, and other awareness campaigns, florists report that clients come in asking where their roses and other flowers come from.

We believe the greatest opportunity is in being prepared

There is no question that the North American consumer is beginning to ask for "green" flowers. There is a continual growing trend toward organic products and we are seeing the results of the consumer's demands on the shelves of stores right here. Supermarkets are devoting more floor and shelf space to these products.

We know that it is vital to take a leadership position to offer responsibly grown flowers. We want to position ourselves for the future of the floral industry, which lies in supplying quality products with social and environmental accountability.

The next time you go to your local flower shop, ask if they carry certified flowers. We know that real change will happen when consumers insist that the only kind of flowers they want to buy are sustainably grown, ethical flowers….Sierra Eco flowers!

We can change the world...one flower at a time!

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