Buyers may not care where their flowers come from, but growers do. here's why

When you buy a bouquet of flowers today for someone special, do you know where the flowers grew? Does it even matter?

The national body representing Australian flower growers and florists recognizes this.

At least half of fresh-cut flowers sold in Australia are imported and up to 10 million roses are flown into the country for Valentine's Day.

A standing woman surrounded by bouquets of colorful flowers.Anna Jabour says country of origin labeling for imported flowers should be put back on the federal government's radar.(Supplied)

Flower Industry Australia chief executive Anna Jabour said while imported food can have a label showing where it is made or produced, flowers should too.

"We did have assurances from the previous federal government that the flowers were going to be added to the country of origin labeling," she said.

< p class="_39n3n">"So it was really a kick in the guts when they weren't.

"So we're taking steps with the new government because we would like to see this decision reconsidered."

Last year a Deloitte Access report The economy came out against the proposal to extend labeling from country of origin to flowers.

a man pushes a cart of buckets of roses into a cold roomTasmania's biggest rose grower, Andrew Lee, has worked hard for weeks preparing for Valentine's Day. (ABC Rural: Laurissa Smith)

Ms Jabour said the majority of flowers sold in major Australian supermarkets were imported and the invasive pests on those flowers posed a real risk.

"Most people don't know that," she said.

"I think it's important for consumers to have the choice."

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's risk analysis report on imports of cut flowers and foliage is expected in the middle of the year.

Flower farm boom shop

During the pandemic, there has been a spike in small-scale flower farms entering the industry.

Sending flowers from Africa or South America has become very expensive, making it easier for growers to compete with cheaper imports.

Looking for her Sister Liz Preece recently turned her hobby of floriculture into a business on the family farm in Cressy, northern Tasmania.

A woman stands with a bouquet of dahlias in front of an enclosure   Agrotech   Feb 15, 2023   0   65  Add to Reading List

Buyers may not care where their flowers come from, but growers do. here's why

When you buy a bouquet of flowers today for someone special, do you know where the flowers grew? Does it even matter?

The national body representing Australian flower growers and florists recognizes this.

At least half of fresh-cut flowers sold in Australia are imported and up to 10 million roses are flown into the country for Valentine's Day.

A standing woman surrounded by bouquets of colorful flowers.Anna Jabour says country of origin labeling for imported flowers should be put back on the federal government's radar.(Supplied)

Flower Industry Australia chief executive Anna Jabour said while imported food can have a label showing where it is made or produced, flowers should too.

"We did have assurances from the previous federal government that the flowers were going to be added to the country of origin labeling," she said.

< p class="_39n3n">"So it was really a kick in the guts when they weren't.

"So we're taking steps with the new government because we would like to see this decision reconsidered."

Last year a Deloitte Access report The economy came out against the proposal to extend labeling from country of origin to flowers.

a man pushes a cart of buckets of roses into a cold roomTasmania's biggest rose grower, Andrew Lee, has worked hard for weeks preparing for Valentine's Day. (ABC Rural: Laurissa Smith)

Ms Jabour said the majority of flowers sold in major Australian supermarkets were imported and the invasive pests on those flowers posed a real risk.

"Most people don't know that," she said.

"I think it's important for consumers to have the choice."

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's risk analysis report on imports of cut flowers and foliage is expected in the middle of the year.

Flower farm boom shop

During the pandemic, there has been a spike in small-scale flower farms entering the industry.

Sending flowers from Africa or South America has become very expensive, making it easier for growers to compete with cheaper imports.

Looking for her Sister Liz Preece recently turned her hobby of floriculture into a business on the family farm in Cressy, northern Tasmania.

A woman stands with a bouquet of dahlias in front of an enclosure

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