Valentine’s Day Flowers — Fair Trade and Delivered with Next-Day Shipping

Valentine’s Day is all about flowers for some people. It’s hard not to smile when you receive a beautiful bouquet of roses or some other arrangement that smells good and adds a little nature to your day.

Choose fair trade flowers for your loved one.

If you haven’t figured out what you’re doing for your sweet someone for this holiday of love, or you want to supplement your gift with flowers, you can still order flowers and have them arrive before this holiday. Keep in mind that many flower delivery services don’t offer Mondays as a delivery option since delivery trucks don’t run on Sundays. Packages received any time next week would still be appropriate I’m sure.

Maybe you have a socially conscious loved one who would appreciate fair trade flowers. More sustainable options are available in the UK, but here in the U.S., we have a few options too.

Why buy fair trade and organic flowers?

Many workers in other countries suffer physical, mental and sexual abuse in order to keep prices low. Fair trade certification means that workers are treated fairly and paid a fair price. Also, environmentally friendly practices are used to grow the flowers.

Where to find fair-trade and organic flowers?

For delivery in 2011 as far as I can tell, California Organic Flowers is one option that offers next-day shipping. They deliver Tuesday-through Friday and Saturday, although they may not deliver to rural areas on this day. Their flowers are certified USDA organic and fair trade.

Organic Bouquet is another eco-friendly option. The USDA, fair trade and the Rainforest Alliance have certified them. They will deliver on Valentine’s Day.

Sam’s Club offers green, eco-friendly options, according to The Daily Green. Whole Foods also offers fair trade flowers in their stores.

While 1-800-Flowers does offer a few fair trade gift baskets, none of their flowers are fair trade certified.

Note 2/11/2011: Due to the pressure of several campaigns, 1-800-Flowers will once again begin offering fair trade options, which should be out by Mother’s Day this year.

Do you know of any fair trade options where you live?

Photo Credit: left-hand

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Categories: National Holiday