Do you know where your vegetables came from? Do you know who brewed your beer or made your wine? These days the answer is typically “yes.” In a world where it often seems we are racing to mediocrity, I am thrilled to watch the “farm to table” and “field to fork” food movements continue to grow.
According to the USDA, there are currently 8,268 Farmers Markets in the United States, up from 3,706 in 2004. People are demanding access to fresh, seasonal and local foods; and retailers, farmers and all sorts of individuals are responding.
Right next to the produce section in the grocery store, and the most colorful booth at the farmers market is the flower section. The same trend effecting fruits and vegetables is finally coming to flowers. It might surprise you to learn that 80% of the flowers sold in the United States are grown in far flung places like Columbia and Ecuador. The top three biggest sellers; roses, carnations and alstroemeria, are grown almost exclusively in South America.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Sun Valley Group's Flower Talk
