The Blooming Flower Industry

How does the floral industry impact the environment and our lives in the world and here in Indiana?

Evelyne Evans

Floriculture has existed and impacted the economy since the late 19th century, though over the years, the demand for flowers has skyrocketed due to many factors, examples being the traditions of valentines day and the development of agricultural machinery, I hope to be able to pinpoint some of the impacts the flower industry has on Indiana, and some ways Indiana itself plays a role in the consumption and production of flowers.

Welch Wholesale Florists

Welch Wholesale Florists is one of the biggest organization of florists in the world, they produce flowers for many larger corporations such as Walmart, Kroger, and Meijer.

Kroger

Kroger holds one of the most accessible ways to purchase flowers and is one of the largest sellers of florals as a large store chain.

Walmart

Walmart has a much smaller variety of flowers, though Walmart sources their flowers locally, many of their flowers coming from Welch Wholesale Florists as it's cheaper than importing flowers.

Meijer

Meijer does not have a designated floral section, but Meijer often will have their sensonal section, with a assortment of Christmas Cacti and Easter as well.

Gardens Gate

Gardens Gate is a local greenhouse here is Auburn, separate from wholesale cut flowers, Gardens Gate sells plants in soil, due to this, shops like Gardens Gate tend to be more beneficial to environmental challenges due to the flowers still being live and able to properly produce for pollinators.

Welch Wholesale Florists

Welch Wholesale Florists is one of the biggest organization of florists in the world, they produce flowers for many larger corporations such as Walmart, Kroger, and Meijer.

Here we have mapped Welch Wholesale Florists Inc, where they send out and process flowers right here in Indiana!

Kroger

Kroger holds one of the most accessible ways to purchase flowers and is one of the largest sellers of florals as a large store chain.

Here on the map we showcase one of our local krogers, kroger is known for it's Mother's day flowers and low prices.

Walmart

Walmart has a much smaller variety of flowers, though Walmart sources their flowers locally, many of their flowers coming from Welch Wholesale Florists as it's cheaper than importing flowers.

On the map shows a Walmart here in Auburn, though Walmart mostly sells outdoor plants rather than cut flowers.

Meijer

Meijer does not have a designated floral section, but Meijer often will have their sensonal section, with a assortment of Christmas Cacti and Easter as well.

Here on the map we have a Meijer that is located in Fort Wayne.

Gardens Gate

Gardens Gate is a local greenhouse here is Auburn, separate from wholesale cut flowers, Gardens Gate sells plants in soil, due to this, shops like Gardens Gate tend to be more beneficial to environmental challenges due to the flowers still being live and able to properly produce for pollinators.

With wholesale flowers, they are imported from either local farmers, or other countries entirely to be sold in stores, such as Walmart, Kroger, and Meijer, with the flowers having to be transported, this takes many trips by plane to be able to ensure the flowers arrive fresh and unwilted, these flowers are often grown in countries, like the following.

Keukenhof

Keukenhof, in The Netherlands, is the largest flower garden in the world, even on the map you can zoom and see the rows of flowers, Keukenhof is one of the biggest attractions in The Netherlands generating 25 million euros.

Royal FloralHolland

Royal FloralHolland is the world's largest cut flower trade, the trade gets its flowers from local fields in The Netherlands and auctions them off in local towns, some of the flowers being shipped to Indiana itself! Royal FloralHolland has generated 5.6 billion euros in 2021.

Aalsmeer Flower Auction

One of the locations for the Royal FloralHolland auction, most active in the spring the auction bids millions of flowers to larger companies in many parts of the world, the flowers are bid on by the thousands.

Rijnsburg

The location of the annual Rijnsburg Flower Parade, this parade has 12 floats, each adorned with hundreds of flowers on august 13th, many tourists come to see the parade and stay in the town and shop for flowers that are offered at the parade.

Flevoland

Flevoland has hundreds of tulip fields that look like grids of color from a aerial few, many people travel out just to drive on the perimeter of the fields in the spring until the flowers are harvested and sold to larger corporations or locally.

Keukenhof

Keukenhof, in The Netherlands, is the largest flower garden in the world, even on the map you can zoom and see the rows of flowers, Keukenhof is one of the biggest attractions in The Netherlands generating 25 million euros.

Royal FloralHolland

Royal FloralHolland is the world's largest cut flower trade, the trade gets its flowers from local fields in The Netherlands and auctions them off in local towns, some of the flowers being shipped to Indiana itself! Royal FloralHolland has generated 5.6 billion euros in 2021.

Aalsmeer Flower Auction

One of the locations for the Royal FloralHolland auction, most active in the spring the auction bids millions of flowers to larger companies in many parts of the world, the flowers are bid on by the thousands.

Rijnsburg

The location of the annual Rijnsburg Flower Parade, this parade has 12 floats, each adorned with hundreds of flowers on august 13th, many tourists come to see the parade and stay in the town and shop for flowers that are offered at the parade.

Flevoland

Flevoland has hundreds of tulip fields that look like grids of color from a aerial few, many people travel out just to drive on the perimeter of the fields in the spring until the flowers are harvested and sold to larger corporations or locally.

With The Netherlands large flower industry, The Netherlands has the highest level of carbon emissions in the European Union, ironically The Netherlands has some of the highest risk of the effects on climate change, a study shows 3 kg of CO2 is made per flower.

Ruby Moon Floral

Ruby Moon Floral is a local flower farm in LaOtto, the owner specializes in wedding arrangments and wedding bouquets. She offers U-pick flowers from her assortment of blub-grown flowers.

Creekside Meadows Flower Farm

Another Indiana flower farm, they provide flowers to local florists, like The Sprinkling Can in Auburn.

P&D Flower Farm

They grow on a bit of a larger scale, due to this their fields are divided into a section where they offer the ability to pick your own flowers, and flowers that are sold in bulk.

Field To Vase LLC

Their flower farm is similar to Ruby Moon Florals, their flowers are produced on a smaller scale, they offer bouquets of flowers rather than U-pick.

Hickory Hills Flower Farm

Their flower farm is one of the most visited in their area, they offer larger scale production, photography, and a U-pick experience.

Ruby Moon Floral

Ruby Moon Floral is a local flower farm in LaOtto, the owner specializes in wedding arrangments and wedding bouquets. She offers U-pick flowers from her assortment of blub-grown flowers.

Creekside Meadows Flower Farm

Another Indiana flower farm, they provide flowers to local florists, like The Sprinkling Can in Auburn.

P&D Flower Farm

They grow on a bit of a larger scale, due to this their fields are divided into a section where they offer the ability to pick your own flowers, and flowers that are sold in bulk.

Field To Vase LLC

Their flower farm is similar to Ruby Moon Florals, their flowers are produced on a smaller scale, they offer bouquets of flowers rather than U-pick.

Hickory Hills Flower Farm

Their flower farm is one of the most visited in their area, they offer larger scale production, photography, and a U-pick experience.

Small scale flower farms are often overlooked, but they produce little to no carbon emissions compared to large scale producers, with the smaller farms, they are able to more efficiently produce flowers for their community and in fact reduce carbon by growing the flowers outdoor, where they can photosynthesize and be available for pollinators.

Ethiopia

The Ethiopian flower industry is the 5th largest flower exporter in the world, with low labor costs, with over 100 flower growers on 1,700 hectares. Ethiopia exports $191M in cut flowers annually.

Ecuador

 Ecuador is the world's biggest producer of roses, the country is prime flower soil, getting more sun annually due to its location, Ecuador exported $835M in cut flowers in 2021.

Kenya

flower sales generated Kenya is Africa's number 1 flower producer, with Kenya flowers being sold in 60 other countries, millions of people depend on the flower industry to make a living as Keyna made $960 million in 2019.

Colombia

Colombia is the 2nd biggest flower exporter in the world, over 55% of America's cut flowers are imported from Colombia, flower exports from Colombia totaled some 1.42 billion U.S. dollars.

The Netherlands

Often nicknamed The Land Of Flowers, The Netherlands is the world's top flower exporter, with this they generate 6.5 billion USD annually, about 60% of the country being devoted to agriculture and horticulture.

Ethiopia

The Ethiopian flower industry is the 5th largest flower exporter in the world, with low labor costs, with over 100 flower growers on 1,700 hectares. Ethiopia exports $191M in cut flowers annually.

Ecuador

 Ecuador is the world's biggest producer of roses, the country is prime flower soil, getting more sun annually due to its location, Ecuador exported $835M in cut flowers in 2021.

Kenya

flower sales generated Kenya is Africa's number 1 flower producer, with Kenya flowers being sold in 60 other countries, millions of people depend on the flower industry to make a living as Keyna made $960 million in 2019.

Colombia

Colombia is the 2nd biggest flower exporter in the world, over 55% of America's cut flowers are imported from Colombia, flower exports from Colombia totaled some 1.42 billion U.S. dollars.

The Netherlands

Often nicknamed The Land Of Flowers, The Netherlands is the world's top flower exporter, with this they generate 6.5 billion USD annually, about 60% of the country being devoted to agriculture and horticulture.

The flower industry is widespread throughout the world, many countries rely of their flowers for economic stability and even basic living needs, they sell their flowers to other countries to be able to make profit, many countries are able to capitalize on holidays, selling millions in flowers on days of the year such as Mother's Day, and Valentines Day. Some of the top flower importers are the following.

Germany

Germany is the 5th largest flower importer in the world, Germany's florists often depend on Ecuador, as the most popularly sold flower in Germany is roses.

The United States

The United States imports over 40% of The Netherland's flowers, the US is the 4th largest importer, and many florists depend on the flowers they import to be able to sell back to communities.

The United Kingdom

The UK imports millions of flowers from The Netherlands, as they are rather close together, the UK thrives from buying and selling flowers for holidays and just year round.

France

France has over 15,000 florists being the second largest flower importer in the world, a lot of France's economy relies of importing flowers in bulk and selling them in bouquets.

Russia

Russia is known for its around-the-clock flower farms, there is an army of flower shops in Russia, many just being used for gifts and Valentines Day, but Russia's florists are absolutely thriving.

Germany

Germany is the 5th largest flower importer in the world, Germany's florists often depend on Ecuador, as the most popularly sold flower in Germany is roses.

The United States

The United States imports over 40% of The Netherland's flowers, the US is the 4th largest importer, and many florists depend on the flowers they import to be able to sell back to communities.

The United Kingdom

The UK imports millions of flowers from The Netherlands, as they are rather close together, the UK thrives from buying and selling flowers for holidays and just year round.

France

France has over 15,000 florists being the second largest flower importer in the world, a lot of France's economy relies of importing flowers in bulk and selling them in bouquets.

Russia

Russia is known for its around-the-clock flower farms, there is an army of flower shops in Russia, many just being used for gifts and Valentines Day, but Russia's florists are absolutely thriving.

In conclusion, the flower industry is a deep and interlocking series of roots to help produce billions of cut flowers, but can't be exactly a priority, millions of people depend on the flower industry to pay for their basic living needs, but large scale flower farming is a threat to the environment. Furthermore, the carbon emissions can be fractionalized by supporting smaller scale flower farms, with the locals growing their own flowers or buying from hand planted soil, not only does it provide an enjoyable experience, but can support small businesses, and provide a brighter future for our environment. For larger industries, a good way to reduce the carbon they emit is to sell planted flowers rather than cut them. by setting live flowers in soil for others to plant, not only do they still make a profit, but the live plant can continue to thrive and be able to make the world a bit more green again. As for Indiana, supporting our flower farms can help raise our bee population and better impact our economy.