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A Rose By Any Other Name
Torontoist Boy Reporter won’t be sending flowers to anyone this Valentine’s Day. But if he had to, he’d consider sending an organically-grown bouquet from Eco Flora.
With annual sales in the US around $17 billion, flowers are big money. Most of the roses, carnations and other buds that make their way up to Canada are grown in South and Central America where wages, working conditions and standards about pesticides are almost non-existent. The pesticides end up poisoning the local groundwater, animals in the surrounding environment and in many cases the workers themselves. All of this is enough to make Boy Reporter think twice about buying that bouquet.
Fortunately local florist, Scott Graham, saw a niche for organic flowers and started up his online retailer almost two years ago. For about $60, Eco Flora will deliver a dozen roses anywhere in the GTA, not much more than the pesticide laced bouquet you can pick up at your local florist. Graham’s attention to detail is also impeccable. The bouquets come wrapped in fair trade paper and biodegradable cellophane.
If e-commerce isn’t your thing you can wander up to North York’s Hatcher Florist. They also sell organic flowers certified by Sierra Eco.
Photo courtesy of Sierra Eco