After 3 days on Capitol Hill meeting with congressional members, staffers and various trade and diplomatic offices, here is what I’ve learned.

Our businesses and our farms are being held at the mercy of US legislators who are negotiating a trade package that will include free trade agreements (S.Korea, Panama, and Colombia) and preference programs that expired late last year and on Feb 12^th 2011.

Under the ATPDEA (Andean Trade Preference-Drug Eradication Act) US business people such as our company and our trade partners were asked to go out into rural Ecuador especially on the borders with Colombia and Peru to offer jobs and business opportunities to land owners and workers. Both American and Ecuadorian business leaders have made these investments and to date Ecuador has zero acres of Coca-leaf production. In contrast, Colombia has over 170,000 acres of Coca production and Peru over 200,000 acres according to the US government. Recently Ecuador found 7 acres near the Colombian border and it was a huge scandal, the government quickly moved in and eradicated it. Ecuador is a very serious partner with the United States and the world with regard to illegal drug eradication.

Ecuador has been successful in building businesses that offer opportunity beyond illegal narcotics. Now the US government over the past few years has forgotten its partner, allowed its ATPDEA beneficiary status to come close to expiration only to be renewed for 6 weeks, then renewed for 6 months and now not at all. Its costing millions in tariffs to businesses that support the US economy and to businesses that are expected to continue investments without clear direction from the US government. No business can continue to make necessary investments that benefit trade with the United States without clear direction in regard to the costs of doing business.

Aside from Oil exports, the US enjoys a trade surplus with Ecuador; Ecuador uses the US dollar as its monetary unit and has always been a strategic partner to the United States. Ecuador has also cooperated with the United States in the struggle against international terrorism. Ecuador is a peaceful republic that is not requiring billions in military aid as other US partners do, and it’s not a country that has a trade deficit with the US or takes US jobs.

A 6.8% tariff is being imposed on our products and this is putting some farms in difficult positions. One of our leading partners in Ecuador is now paying over $100,000 in tariffs per month and requiring more expense just to wade through the red tape of requirements. Other industries like frozen broccoli exporters are paying 15% tariffs now and its unclear how they will continue to invest in Ecuador for the US market.

Cut flower workers enjoy social security (Pensions and Health benefits), overtime wages past 40 hours, savings accounts and more benefits than typical US farm workers. Ecuador’s workforce is not illegal immigrant labor that fears to stand up and speak if being abused or not paid its wages. In contrast, a farm that might be using illegal immigrant labor in the US could have employees that are paid low cash wages under the table, and those employees could risk deportation if they were to stand up against unfair wages or treatment by farm owners.

If US business owners and Ecuadorian national business leaders cannot count on the US government for clear and permanent direction on its trade relationships with Ecuador, many farms will be forced to close, lower wages, cut costs, or cut programs like certifications for organic and sustainable production methods. These programs ensure US consumers know who has grown their products, how the environment was cared for and how well the workers are treated, paid and trained to do their jobs safely. This will be a major step backwards for the United States and its growing green sector jobs and forward moving global leadership.

The US government cannot ignore countries because they are not currently problems. Ecuador not being a producer of coca is not a coincidence, Ecuador supporting the US on the war on terrorism is not a coincidence. Ecuador is one of the most eco-friendly, democratically elected governments in South America. We have similar interests, share the same currency and our government should support this country NOW and not wait until it has a civil war or major crops of illicit drugs.

Flower crops that are part of the ATPDEA are not crops that take jobs from Americans. These flowers cannot be grown in the US.

Over 70% of the flowers sold in the US are grown in Colombia and Ecuador. The US does not have the production potential to grow this domestically; many varieties will not grow commercially in the US and this industry employs many union and non-union workers throughout the United States.

Kroger Supermarkets and Safeway alone with their union labor in the floral department buy 95% of its roses from Ecuador and Colombia. Without these flowers, nearly 3,300 Union Floral Attendants would lose their jobs in a department shut down due to lack of supply or higher prices that makes the category un attractive to maintain in their stores.

There are over 36,000 Supermarkets in US where the floral department has been a solid department since the late 70’s early 80’s. Over 20,000 direct jobs in the supermarket floral departments and distribution centers are due to supply coming from Ecuador and Colombia. This is a $30 Billion Dollar a year industry in the United States.

Miami Florida is the largest importer and exporter of products between Ecuador and the United States. Over one hundred Cut flower import companies reside in Miami and employ thousands of skilled and unskilled workers, from sales and marketing executives, to dock workers and truck drivers, Ecuador is a key part of the US economy and should be treated fairly with regard to international trade. Not only should the ATPDEA be renewed now, but also it should be renewed no shorter than 2 years while a serious effort towards a more permanent trade framework can be established.

You may have seen us on these outlets in May

People Magazine:

Orlando Sentinel:

FoxNews.com:

The Wendy Williams Show:

Real Simple:

Houston Chronicle:

NBC 4’s San Antonio Living:

Telemundo’s Acesso Total Miami:

Mother Nature Network:

The Daily Green:

Houston Chronicle Online:

San Antonio Express News:

Beaumont Enterprise:

Ecorazzi:

TakePart.com:

LiveinTheNow.com:

Associated Post Online:

Green Living AZ Magazine:

WendyShow.com:

Inhabitots.com:

Arizona Sports and Lifestyle Magazine:

RetroHousewifeGoesGreen.com:

TheHealthyVoyager.com:

TheHappyHomeWorkshop.com:

FashioningChange.com:

BetterWorldBuzz.com:

CapitolaPatch.com:

CasaLatina.com:

VeganCooking.com:

TinyGreenMom.com:

Hope you were able to catch us on one of these outlets. We’re committed to raising awareness with regard to farms around the globe that grow in a responsible manner. We all have choices when we spend our money online. I want to know the environment was cared for when making the products I buy…I want to know that the workers are paid fair and just wages, I want to know they are provided all the training and equipment needed to return home each night safely. I want to know the local ecology surrounding a farm or factory is cared for in a responsible manner.

Recent Media Activity

•       Bloomberg Television

• Additional Pick up

• Bloomberg.com

• Washington Post.com

• YouTube

•       FOX & Friends

• On set February 12-14^th

•       LXTV

•       Better TV

•       CNBC.com

•       MSN Money

•       The Daily Green (Hearst’s green living website)

•       Houston Chronicle

•       San Antonio Express

•       Portland Monthly Magazine

•       Statesman Journal

•       NBC 4 San Antonio Living

•       ABC 7 Chicago

•       NBC 9 Denver Twin Cities Live

•       Channel 11 News Ephrata

•       Fox News St. Louis

•       CW St. Louis

•       Good Day Sacramento

•       CBS Memphis News Channel 3 at 9AM

•       The Morning Show—ABC and Fox News shows in Savannah, GA Market

•       ABC 7 Los Angeles— “Green Right Now” blog

•       ABC 7 San Francisco— “Green Right Now” blog

•       ABC 7 Chicago – “Green Right Now” blog

•       We are Austin

•       Toronto Sun

•       Inside Jersey

•       The Seattle Times

•       Pittsburgh Post Gazette

•       Star Tribune.com

•       KPLR11.com

•       Cape Cod Today

•       Woman’s World Magazine

•       Playboy.com’s The Smoking Jacket

•       Star Tribune.com

•       Examiner.com

•       About.com

•       Arizona Foothills Magazine

•       Hamptons.com

•       Earth 911.com (1 of 2)

•       Earth911.com (2 of 2)

•       Take Part.com

•       PracticallyGreen.com

•       Just Means.com (1 of 2)

•       Just Means.com (2 of 2)

•       Tonic.com

•       SheKnows.com

•       CANow.org

•       Tres Sugar.com

•       The Bachelor Guy.com

•       Working Mother.com

•       Café Mom.com

•       Ms Magazine.com

•       1800Recycling.com

•       Philantrophy.com

•       Pretty Little Green Things

•       Mother Nature Network

•       Ecorazzi.com

•       Ecolizzie.com

•       The Kind Life—Alicia Silverstone blog

•       Tiny Green Mom.com

•       The Coastal Source.com

•       Tiny Green Bubble.com

•       BlogHer.com

•       The Green Spot.com

•       Style Lush.com

•       Green Earth Bamboo.com

•       York Daily Record

•       2000 Weddings.com

•       Hollistic House.com

•       Mom Goes Green.com

•       Perishable News.com

•       Yuma Sun.com

•       OCWeekly.com

•       We Are Austin.com

•       Tiny Green Bubble.com

•       Casa Latina.com

International Women’s Day is March 8th

This year, March 8^th marks International Women’s Day, a global day of appreciation set aside to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future

Organic Bouquet celebrates women everyday by employing over 60% of female employees on their Certified Sustainable Farms in Ecuador and Colombia, providing zero-interest loans, childcare, healthcare, education, environmental protection and more to local workers.

The largest online provider of eco-friendly and organic floral gifts, Organic Bouquet is a mission-based company focusing on environmental, social and economic sustainability. Organic Bouquet’s flowers are grown in a manner that is not only environmentally friendly, but also provides outstanding resources for farm workers and artisans. Organic Bouquet is involved in several community projects around the globe and holds over 55 partnerships with charitable organizations, ensuring that purchase helps to improve the life of a flower farm worker, their family and the local floral community.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, choose a bouquet from one of our Flowers for Good collection. Our Flowers for Good program was established to help our non-profit partners continue to make positive changes in the work they do. Choose from any one of our charitable bouquets and a percentage of your purchase will go toward making the world a better place.

World’s Tallest Roses On ABC’s “The View” Create #1 Google Search

Orlando, FL — Feb 12th, 2010

At a stunning four to six feet in height, these spectacular roses made a strong impact on the Valentine’s Day segment of “The View” on Friday morning.  Demand rose throughout the day, making Organic Bouquet the #1 search in the nation on Google by the afternoon.  These eco-friendly stems are grown in Ecuador nestled between two volcanoes where they grow naturally tall without the use of harmful synthetic chemicals. Each stem boasts a large bloom, an astonishing 3-4 inches in diameter, creating a sea of lush red petals that stay fresher longer.

Offered by Organic Bouquet (www.organicbouquet.com) – the nation’s leading supplier of earth-friendly flowers and gifts – when you buy these roses, you’re not only removing harmful chemicals from our environment, you’re also helping farm workers in developing countries support their families.  Each purchase helps provide education, medical care and jobs with livable wages for growers and artisans.  In addition, certified sustainable farms employ over 60% female workers-providing job opportunities where there once was none.

“Being sustainable is not just about our company. It’s about our partners, our industry associates and our customers.  The demand for our product from “The View” demonstrates the desire consumers have to make the right decisions,” said Organic Bouquet’s CEO, Robert McLaughlin.

OrganicBouquet.com selections make a positive impact even when they’re in transit; a contribution is made to a fund that’s restoring forests in Central America to offset the carbon released during transport. That commitment extends right down to the packaging – printed with soy- and water-based ink on recycled or recyclable materials.  Being socially responsible has never been easier, more affordable or more beautiful.

2.15.2011 2:28 PM

How to Take Care of Flowers

Whether you got flowers from a sweetie or picked up a bouquet yourself, learn how to keep those blooms beautiful.

Don’t forget to look for organic and fair trade flowers.

Photo: Organic Bouquet

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3 Deadly Crops for Bees 7 Ways to Shield Bees from Pesticides Simple Ways to Care for the Earth Real Health Care Reform Starts With Our Food System How Much Land Does It Take to Feed a Bee Colony? More Than You Think

By Robert McLaughlin

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Buzz up!

Keep your cut flowers fresher longer with these simple flower care instructions:

• Prepare a solution of warm water and a flower food packet, or mix 2 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice and 1 tbsp sugar per quart of water
• Fill a vase with the solution to within 1-2 inches of the rim
• Remove any leaves and foliage that would fall under the water line
• Cut each stem at about one-half inch from the bottom, at a 45 degree angle, with a sharp single blade knife or floral clippers
• Display arrangement in a cool location between 65-72 degrees and away from direct sunlight and heat or dehumidifying sources

Additional Tips:

• Roses have an outer layer called “guard petals” that keep the bloom tight and protect the flower during shipping. They may appear discolored or bruised – simply remove these petals and the rose will blossom over the next few days.
• Lilies will bloom over the course of several days. Remove the pollen to avoid staining. Pollen dust can be removed from the flower petals by lightly brushing with a pipe cleaner. Cut off expired lily blooms as blooms closer to the tip continue to open.
• Flowers need to be rehydrated after shipment. They will “perk up” after several hours of drinking when cared for according to the instructions above.
• Top off the water level daily
• Clean the vase, change the flower food solution and recut the stems every two days

Robert McLaughlin is CEO of Organic Bouquet, which sells organically grown flowers that have been certified by third-party agencies, including the USDA, Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance. Organic Bouquet is a carbon neutral company, having partnered with CarbonFund.org in a carbon offset program that supports re-forestation projects in Guatemala.

Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/eco-friendly/how-to-take-care-of-flowers#ixzz1ERU9SQrV

Organic Bouquet

When our thoughts turn to love, we often turn to flowers.  Long established as a romantic gesture, there is nothing like a dozen roses to melt the heart of your loved one.  Many people do not realize, however, that hothouse flowers are grown in greenhouses filled with pesticides, and the blossoms you hold to your face have been repeatedly treated with toxic chemicals.

There is a wonderful company determined to change the way we grow and buy flowers, however.  Organic Bouquet is the largest online provider of organic floral arrangements and gifts.  All of their flowers, from select farms in California, Ecuador and Columbia, meet stringent standards for environmental safety, monitored by multiple certification agencies and associations.

Their eco-friendly flower arrangements include roses, calla lilies, tulips, gerbera daisies, hyacinths, sunflowers, alstromeria lilies and blue iris, and are shipped nationwide to all 50 states.

CEO Robert McLaughlin has created a company that positively affects the environment, the floral industry, and the people on the farms of California, and South and Central America.  They make choices every day to support responsible commerce, environmental stewardship and the health of the people who work for them.

“Sustainability is a slippery word, one that has a different meaning for different groups,” says Mr. McLaughlin.  “Being sustainable is not just about our company, it’s about our partners, our industry associates and our customers.”

“All plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables and livestock were grown or raised for thousands of years organically.  Only in the last 100 years have we discovered synthetic chemicals and begun to overuse them,” he continues.  “As we’ve destroyed millions of acres and polluted millions more, this phasing out of synthetic chemicals and returning to natural methods prove that synthetic chemicals have been a brief but damaging fad that hopefully will never be repeated.”

Good things to know about Organic Bouquet:

• The company partners with Carbonfund.org in a carbon offset program to mitigate greenhouse gases generated from shipping your flowers and gifts.  Each time you make a purchase from Organic Bouquet, the amount of carbon emissions  from that shipment is offset by rolling funds into the Nicaragua Reforestation Project—a project which will sequester more than 150,000 tons of CO2 through reforesting abandoned pasture land with native tree species.
• Shipping boxes are made from recycled and recyclable materials.
• Boxes are printed with water based ink, which is naturally non-toxic and low in VOCs.
• All of their inserts and gift cards are printed on recycled or recyclable materials using soy-based ink.
• Their glass vases are made from 100% recycled glass.

If all of that isn’t enough to convince you, consider this:

The company’s flower farms employ 60% women, all from the surrounding villages.  These jobs empower women, help bring the family out of poverty, and improve the lives of their children.  Each certified farm has medical facilities on site, day care for workers, health education, above minimum wages, and teaches a trade.

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