Local Advantage
Why We Can’t and Wont Compete.
The Advantage of Locally Grown Roses
I can’t compete, nor do I want to. That’s my simple answer when I’m asked how I feel about the current administration’s decision to eliminate tariffs on Ecuadorian imported roses. Roses grown en mass in a distant country, harvested and processed by low paid workers often working in hazardous conditions, and shipped via a refrigerated airplane to customers is not something I want to compete with.
As my husband said to me the other day, you sure think a lot about roses! It’s true, I’m obsessed with them and I feel that passion sets JenniFlora apart. Hours upon hours is spent tending the roses, guessing their needs to ensure they thrive. That care and attention has helped us form an intimate relationship with each rose variety that we grow, learning their unique traits, harvesting stage, and individual charm. It’s no surprise that after spending so much of our days dedicated to growing the most beautiful roses, the only way we’d choose to grow is in a sustainable way. Sustainable rose farming is a lot more than just harvesting blooms! It begins with building healthy soil via permaculture practices, and extends to planting hedge roses to creating a buzzing ecosystem for beneficial insects and animals to thrive. No harsh chemicals are applied to control for pests, only organic or natural products are used. These careful and labor intensive rose farming practices create blooms that are in a class of their own.
Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to form trusted relationships with local florists, grocery stores, flower distributors and flower enthusiasts who value our roses and the sustainable farming practices we utilize. The creations they produce are unbelievable, and I feel great pride knowing our roses helped elevate their arrangements with that extra special bloom. As a grower who is also a florist, I feel uniquely positioned to advise as to which blooms would look best within a specific color pallet, often texting or calling florists as we strategize together their order. Recently, a florist requested Koko Loco roses but we were out of stock. I suggested Honey Dijon roses that turned lavender in the recent heat wave (they’re normally golden in color), and they were thrilled with the blooms. That level of customer service is really important to me, and it’s one aspect that I love about my job!
Yes, our roses do cost more than imported options. That cost is what’s required to continue to grow the highest quality roses possible using sustainable practices, a cost I’m not willing to compromise on. I feel confident our customers will continue to value and support our farm into the future despite lower cost options being available in the market. They will continue to choose a higher quality product, customer service (it’s me that you speak with!) and aligned values of buying from a local producer. I’m so very grateful to our supporters who choose the local advantage with each purchase they make.
Thank you so much for supporting JenniFlora!