Why Shop Locally Grown Cut Flowers?
A Bloom’s Club Bouquet
A Bede’s Blooms + Co. wrapped bouquet filled with dahlias, snapdragons, zinnias, celosia & more!
Shop Local Flowers
Why Shop Locally Grown Cut Flowers?
When you purchase a bouquet, do you know where your flowers come from? While grocery store and big-box floral departments may seem convenient, the reality is that most commercially available flowers have traveled thousands of miles, been treated with harsh chemicals, and spent days out of water before they ever reach your hands. By choosing locally grown cut flowers, you’re making a decision that benefits not just yourself, but also the environment, your community, and even your local florists.
The Environmental Impact of Imported Flowers
The global cut flower industry relies heavily on international shipping, and the statistics are alarming:
Emissions & Carbon Footprint: Nearly 80% of flowers sold in the U.S. are imported, often from South America, Africa, or the Netherlands. This means they require air freight, refrigerated transport, and multiple layers of packaging to prevent damage. The carbon footprint of a single bouquet can be staggering.
Plastic & Waste: Imported flowers are often wrapped in excessive plastic sleeves, bundled with non-recyclable foam, and shipped in bulky boxes. Once these flowers arrive, much of the packaging is discarded into landfills.
Chemicals & Pesticides: To survive their long journey, commercial flowers are heavily treated with fungicides and pesticides—many of which are banned in the U.S. but still used in other countries. These chemicals not only linger on the flowers but also pose risks to workers and florists handling them daily.
Why Florists Benefit from Local Flowers
Florists who work with local flower farmers experience firsthand the advantages of fresh, sustainably grown blooms:
Reduced Loss & Waste: Many imported flowers arrive damaged, dehydrated, or unusable, leading florists to discard a significant portion of their shipments. With locally sourced flowers, each stem is usable—meaning more value for the money spent.
Longer Vase Life: Flowers that are harvested at the proper time and placed directly into water maintain their strength, structure, and beauty for much longer. Unlike imported flowers that may sit for days without hydration, locally grown blooms arrive fresh and vibrant.
Safer Working Conditions: Florists who handle chemically treated flowers daily may experience health effects from long-term exposure. With locally grown flowers, florists work with fresh, non-toxic stems that are safer for both themselves and their customers.
A Better End Product: Higher-quality flowers mean happier clients, better reviews, and a reputation for stunning, long-lasting arrangements. Local flowers also offer seasonal variety and specialty blooms that aren’t available through mass-market wholesalers.
Access to Unique Varieties: Many flowers grown locally are simply not available in grocery stores or big-box retailers because they are too delicate to withstand long shipping times. This means florists and customers alike have access to rare, specialty blooms that elevate their arrangements.
Realistic Balance for Florists: Now, I know florists need access to flowers all year round. I am in no way suggesting buying 100% local—that's simply not possible as a florist. But what if you could increase what you buy locally by just 20%? How much would that impact your business with a higher-quality product for your customers and more support for your local businesses?
Supporting Your Local Community
When you choose to buy from a local flower farmer, you are directly supporting a small business—not a massive corporation. Here’s why that matters:
Your Money Stays Local: Studies show that if every household spent just $100 more a year at local businesses rather than chain stores, an additional $3 million could be infused into the local economy, creating thousands of jobs annually.
Supporting Families, Not Corporations: Local flower farmers aren’t getting rich off flowers—in fact, for many of us, it’s an expensive passion! Your purchase helps fund a child’s dance lessons, keeps the farm running, and supports ethical, sustainable practices. When you place an order at a big-box store, it’s just another transaction. But for your local flower farmer? It’s a reason to celebrate and I can promise there is a happy dance attached to it!
A Personal Connection: Unlike big-box retailers, local flower farms offer a personal touch. You’re not just buying flowers; you’re forming relationships with farmers who care deeply about the quality of their blooms and the happiness of their customers.
Community Impact: When you support a local grower, you’re supporting a dream. At Bedes Blooms, we love to give back, one of our three-year business plan goals is to create jobs for survivors of human trafficking and domestic abuse. Working in the garden and with flowers helps with healing, teaches valuable life and work skills, and provides a supportive environment for rebuilding lives. Your choice to buy local flowers directly contributes to initiatives like this, creating meaningful change in the community.
The Difference in Product Quality
Quality is everything when it comes to flowers, and the difference between locally grown and imported stems is striking:
Immediate Hydration: Flowers from a local farm are hand-cut and placed directly into water, ensuring maximum freshness and longevity. Commercially grown stems often sit unwatered for days, drastically shortening their lifespan.
Proper Harvesting Techniques: As a farmer-florist, I am continually educating myself on the exact moment each flower variety should be harvested for peak performance. This attention to detail results in longer-lasting, more vibrant blooms.
Unique & Specialty Blooms: Many delicate, high-value flowers—such as lisianthus—suffer in transit and are rarely available from wholesalers. Locally grown flowers provide access to specialty blooms that are nearly impossible to source commercially. Many of these varieties are exclusive to local growers because they do not ship well, giving customers access to flowers they won’t find in a grocery store bouquet.
Dahlias, dahlias, dahlias
Unique & Specialty blooms available from a local grower.
Why Work with a Local Flower Farmer for Weddings & Events?
If you’re planning an event, sourcing flowers from a local farmer offers benefits beyond just aesthetics:
Cost Savings: Cutting out the middleman means you get a higher-quality product for your budget.
Customizable Experience: Want a more hands-on approach to your wedding flowers? Many local farmers offer a personal, tailored experience where you can choose exactly what you love.
Guaranteed Freshness: Instead of working with flowers that have spent a week in transit, you get blooms harvested just for your special day.
Mental Health & Well-Being Benefits
Beyond the environmental and economic impact, local flowers provide something even deeper—joy. Studies have shown that fresh flowers improve mood, reduce stress, and create a sense of calm in a space. Knowing that your flowers were grown ethically, sustainably, and with care makes them even more meaningful.
Choosing locally grown cut flowers isn’t just about buying a bouquet—it’s about making an impact. It’s about reducing waste, supporting small businesses, improving the quality of flowers in our homes and events, and knowing that every bloom was grown with care.
So next time you need flowers, consider skipping the supermarket and seeking out a local grower instead. Your community, your florist, and even your own vase life will thank you.
With gratitude & floral magic,
Alex Winans
founder & owner, Bede’s Blooms & Co.
