Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
extent this can be ascribed to the MPS program, or if other factors are involved. In
any case, the existence of the program gives a very important platform for grow-
ers to document their production inputs and provides a firm basis for making other
production and marketing decisions.
Presently, in the United States, there is little movement towards a label require-
ment by major grocery or big box retailers (Hering
2012
), but this is subject to
change. Conversely, the Fair Trade label system, that was initially for food products
such as coffee and tea, but increasingly for spices and other food ingredients, has
grown rapidly in the USA (Gunther
2011
).
Growers and their individual customers are confronted with a number of compet-
ing labels, and it is hoped that over time one of just a few major labels will emerge.
However no one really knows the importance of this issue to the end consumer. To
what extent is “responsible”, “sustainable” or “organic” important to the consumer?
Our prediction for North America is that while such labels and products will in-
crease in importance over time, price will be the ultimate determinant of product
availability and selection. If labelled products are more expensive than standard
product, the product will remain as a niche item.
Carbon Footprints in Floriculture
Well before we had highly developed transportation systems, local greenhouses
grew flowers for use within a limited area. Greenhouse firms were located very
close to cities and villages, and the flowers that were produced were available to
the customer within hours of harvest. In the United States, the post World War II
boom in transportation infrastructure saw the movement of large-scale cut flower
production to areas such as Colorado where higher elevation meant cooler summer
temperatures and generally higher light availability, both key environmental fac-
tors in the production of a higher quality product. Thus, growers could grow better
quality flowers and deliver them more quickly due to improved technology and
improvements in infrastructure.
By the early 1970's it became clear that other production areas could be devel-
oped to serve the North American market, principally in South America (Colombia
and Ecuador). Their even higher elevations and near-equatorial location provide
excellent growing conditions, with high light, even day length and cool growing
conditions all year round. In addition there is adequate air transportation to get
flowers to the consumer (or, at least the wholesaler) within a few days of harvest.
An added benefit at the time was very low wages, a lack of environmental, worker
safety and social regulations. This led to very low production costs, and the oppor-
tunity for large profits to be made.
Thus, the route to maximum profit was to exploit the best growing regions (mini-
mal cost for greenhouse structures, remove the costs for ventilation or heat, artifi-
cial assimilation lighting, and r elaborate environmental control systems, and source
greatly reduced labour costs as against the traditional North American or Northern
European production system of expensive glass greenhouses, extensive heating and
