The Difference Between Organic and Non-Organic Flowers

When you walk into the produce section at the supermarket, you may notice that the fruits and veggies are divided into two sections: organic and non-organic. Organic sections popped up in grocery stores during the early 2000s, when the pesticide-free foods surged in popularity. However, the idea of natural farming techniques was nothing new--that was how all food was grown before the development of additives that fertilized the soil, fought off pests, and increased productivity.

Just like the produce we eat, commercially grown cut flowers are a product of nature that has felt the effects of both organic and non-organic farming practices. Since the new millennium, there has been a lot of interest in chemical-free flowers, and the demand is not likely to decrease anytime soon. But what is the difference between organic and non-organic flowers? Where the flowers are grown, who oversees their production, and the customers’ expectations all play a role in whether or not a flower variety is a good candidate to be grown organically.

Organic Flowers

The basic qualification of organically grown flowers are those that are not exposed to any chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Farmers may use organic manure and compost in lieu of man-made soil enhancers. They are grown from seeds that are not genetically modified, and insects are fended off with homemade concoctions of herbs that bugs don’t like. That all sounds pretty simple, but it gets more complicated when organic flower farms wish to be certified by organic growing associations like the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Organic or California Organic. Farmers must prepare applications and fees, and have their operation inspected by the agency. By meeting these organizations’ standards, flower farmers can assure their clients that their product is organic.

One of the main goals of organic flower farming is to reduce the environmental impact. While fertilizers and pesticides may create some desirable qualities in flowers, those chemicals inevitably get washed into the earth where they can cause problems for other plants and animals. The people who work on organic flower farms benefit from these practices, too, because they are not exposed to chemicals that can have harmful effects on humans with repeated exposure.

However, growing flowers organically does result in some limitations at times. Clients may not have as wide of a selection of flowers as they would with non-organic flowers that are produced at a higher volume. More labor is needed to manually tend to the organic flowers without relying on chemicals, which can increase the cost that is passed onto the consumer. Organic flowers may present more irregularities than those that are chemically treated, but that can also be seen as part of the unique beauty of nature.

Non-Organic Flowers

Non-organic flowers are grown using fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and growth regulators. That all may sound a little scary, but imagine what a flower would think if she saw the array of beauty products inside your bathroom cabinet. These chemicals help to make flowers look and grow the way that we expect them to today. Non-organic flowers are known for their ability to be shipped and for their longevity.

The ability to ship well is very important to the floral industry. Most flowers are grown overseas in the Netherlands, Columbia, Kenya, and Israel. These countries grow some of the most popular flowers including roses, carnations, Gerber daisies, mums, and orchids. Floral farming has become a major employer in some third world countries with ideal growing conditions. Flower farming has played a big role in revitalizing their economies and creating jobs.

We know that organic flowers can benefit both the environment and farm workers, so why hasn’t everyone switched to organically growing flowers? Part of the reason lies in consumer wants and needs. Just like the grocery store produce section, people have a choice of whether to buy organic flowers or non organic, and there are many players involved in the supply chain. The flowers that grow on the farm are sold to a wholesaler, who then supplies them to local flower shops, who arrange them for everyday customers. For some consumers, the higher price tag of organic flowers outweighs their other benefits. Local flower shops may wish to meet their customers’ needs with flowers that are consistently available in large quantities, more uniform in appearance, and with a wide variety available all year long. Old habits die hard, but trends do suggest that customers may now be more open to seasonally available organic flowers, full of pleasant surprises.

So, next time you are browsing your local flower shop, consider all the science, thought, and effort that goes into bringing those organic or non-organic blooms to you and those you care about!

This article was published by Chad Kremp