Flower have much to offer. They bring us joy and beauty. They improve ecosystem health and boost food production. And they play an important role in many cultural practices and in celebrations of love and life.

The global flower industry, however, has a heavy footprint. The vast majority of farmed flowers are sprayed with synthetic pesticides, which harm pollinators and increase serious health risks for farm workers and florists. The average flower sold in the United States has been transported thousands of miles, at great cost to the climate. Not to mention that plastic use in the industry is widespread.

Locally, ethically grown flowers offer an alternative, and the movement for “slow flowers” has gained traction in recent years. In the Bay Area, that’s in no small part due to the hard work and advocacy of local business owners, including today’s two guests: Pilar Zuniga, the owner and lead designer at Gorgeous and Green and the Sustainable Flower School in Oakland, and Joanna Letz, the founder and owner-operator of Bluma Farm, which was formerly located in Berkeley. They join Terra Verde host Zoe Loftus-Farren to discuss the current state of the flower industry and what they see as the path forward.

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