This short video “Local Flowers, Local Farmers: A Growing American Movement” was created by the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers and illustrates the movement back to locally-grown cut flowers. Several visits to different farms and florists around the country are featured, along with many interviews with growers/farmers, customers, and researcher John Dole. The interviews are used to illustrate the history of cut flowers in America, how imported flower took over the industry, and explains the current movement away from imported flowers toward locally produced cut flowers and the benefits of the latter.
“When we buy flowers from local growers we support our community’s economy, provide employment, promote rural livelihood, and preserve open green spaces. But there is even more that we can do; encourage others to seek out the shops, stores, and markets that sell local flowers and support the growing movement to label them. Local flowers are truly fresh and long-lasting, produced in great seasonal variety and in a wide range of color, form, and fragrance. They increase biodiversity, healthy soil, and water conservation.”
Watch the video to learn more!
Our Local Cut Flower Producers
To find producers of local flowers near you visit http://ascfg.org. Here are a couple on the list that are near Essex, New York:
Essex Farm (Essex, NY)
Full-diet CSA in which cut flowers are a product available to CSA members and for sale in our farm store. Please contact to talk about flowers for any special event, or if interested in becoming a CSA members.
Mad Crazy Flowers (umbrella venture of Juniper Hill Farm in Westport, NY)
Mad Crazy Flowers is about an acre and a half of cut flowers. currently we grow many different varieties of perennials and annuals. We specialize in local weddings but also have a flower C.S.A. and go to multiple farmers markets a week.
Do you know of more?
ADK Farmer Dan (@adkfarmerdan) says
Another good benefit of local flowers is that many of the flowers folks buy from the big box stores contain pesticides which can harm beneficial insect populations. We love growing organic sunflowers and will grow more every year, especially for the birds in Winter. You can get CYO (cut-your-own) Sunflowers later in the season here at Triple Green Jade Farm.
George Davis says
Great point! Thanks, Dan. Please keep us updated on the progress of your CYO sunflower crop.