State's Flower Growers: Buy Local For Valentine's Day

Share | |

If you're buying a bouquet for Valentine's Day, the people who grow and sell flowers in California are urging you to buy local.

Listen now:

Monday, February 10, 2014

Kasey Cronquist is with the California Cut Flower Commission. He says there's a good chance the flowers you send your Valentine's will be imports.

"I would estimate that over 95% of the roses being sold this Valentine's Day are going to be coming from countries like Colombia and Ecuador," Cronquist says.

Cronquist says consumer demand for locally grown food is translating to flowers as well.

He says if buying local is important to you then check for the "California Grown" blue and gold license plate tag on the flowers you buy...or ask the person selling you flowers.

Meanwhile, Cronquist says California's flower farms were well-prepared for the drought.

"We've been through these types of situations before and for most of our farms they've already implemented the kinds of conservation strategies that are necessary."

Such as drip irrigation and "hydroponics" - a way of growing plants, not in dirt, but in recycled water.