SEATTLE, WA – Consumers in search of local, seasonal and sustainable flowers now have a one-stop destination to find American-grown bouquets and blooms — and to be assured of the origins of each stem they purchase.
SLOWFLOWERS.com is a free online directory designed to connect flower lovers to floral retailers, designers and studios that support and sell locally-grown and domestic flowers.
"People want to do the right thing and make sustainable choices in their lives and floral purchases are no exception," shared Debra Prinzing, the Seattle-based author of Slow Flowers (St. Lynn's Press, 2013) and leading advocate of American flower farming. "With imports representing over 80 percent of flowers sold in this country, the mission of Slowflowers.com is to help people who care about the source of their flowers easily find and identify ways to buy American-grown flowers."
Slowflowers.com launched on May 6, 2014, with more than 200 flower farms, studios and designers in its searchable database. Prinzing anticipates the site will eventually showcase 1,000 American-grown suppliers and retailers coast-to-coast in all 50 states.
The site feature easy-to-use search tools to find floral vendors in several categories, including retail flower shops, studio florists, wedding/event designers, and farmer-direct. An added feature highlights florists and farms that ship American grown flowers overnight – anywhere in the U.S. All members of Slowflowers.com pledge to supply their customers with local, regional and American-grown flowers.
Prinzing developed Slowflowers.com to fill an unmet need that she had as a consumer and lover of flowers. "Slowflowers.com is a simple solution to a problem I have continued to face over the past several years – and I know it's a solution that many consumers seek," she said. "While writing and speaking about American flower farmers and their flowers, I am continually asked how the average person is supposed to know where to buy American-grown flowers and how they can be assured that what they are getting is locally grown. I created Slowflowers.com to meet that need — a free, user-friendly resource that can help others, too."
Prinzing launched Slowflowers.com with a combination of personal funds and more than $18,000 in contributions generated during a highly successful 45-day campaign on the grassroots crowd-funding platform, Indiegogo. More than 220 individuals and floral businesses contributed to the campaign as “funders," with pledges ranged from individuals giving $10 to the California Cut Flower Commission committing $1,500 to help launch the website.
Eager for better information provided to the flower-buying public, Slowflowers.com's supporters include passionate consumers, flower farmers and florists. "As a long time flower farmer, I’m very excited to be a part of the Slow Flowers movement. I thank Debra Prinzing for her leadership in launching this resource," says Kate Sparks, owner of Lilies and Lavender, based in Doylestown, Pa.
"I'm so grateful that Debra Prinzing created this new website for designers and their clients who are looking for locally-grown flowers," says Gloria B. Collins of GBC Style, based in Montebello, N.Y.
"How refreshing to see Debra Prinzing championing a revolution," says Portland, Ore.-based landscape architect and flower consumer Bethany Rydmark. " I’m so eager to see the mindsets shift as growers, florists, and customers celebrate their unique regions and seasons and stunning links to the natural world."
For more information on SlowFlowers.com, to make a purchase, locate a farmer or a designer, or to join the network of American-grown flower providers, please visit Slowflowers.com.
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About Debra Prinzing: Slowflowers.com founder Debra Prinzing is a Seattle-based outdoor-living expert who writes and lectures on gardens and home design. She is the leading advocate for a sustainable and local approach to floral design and is credited with creating the term "Slow Flowers." Debra is the author of seven books including Slow Flowers and The 50 Mile Bouquet (both by St. Lynn’s Press) and is the producer/host of the weekly "Slow Flowers Podcast with Debra Prinzing," found on ITunes and debraprinzing.com
Source: SlowFlowers.com
