If you have been shopping at Whole Foods (and other select retailers) you have probably seen Rainforest Alliance Certified flowers. You may have wondered- “What does the Rainforest Alliance seal mean”? The RA seal with the frog in the middle signifies that the producer has earned the right to display the seal by meeting sustainability standards.
Why Buying Rainforest Alliance Certified Flowers Is Better
“The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and improve livelihoods by promoting and evaluating the implementation of the most globally respected sustainability standards in a variety of fields. Through RA-Cert, the Rainforest Alliance’s auditing division, we provide our forestry, agriculture and carbon/climate clients with independent and transparent verification, validation and certification services based on these standards, which are designed to generate ecological, social and economic benefits.”
Look For The Rainforest Alliance Seal
The Rainforest Alliance certified seal means that they meet environmental, social, and economic sustainability standards. The seal makes it easy for consumers to spot products that they may wish to support. It is an easy way to make a difference. Read more at Shop The Frog.
I had the opportunity to attend a press trip to a Rainforest Alliance Certified Flower Farm in Costa Rica. It was a beautiful farm to visit as you may imagine.
Rainforest Alliance Certified Flower Farm In Costa Rica:
We visited Plantas y Flores Ornamentales (P&F) tropical flower farm located in Río Jiménez de Guápiles, Costa Rica. The P&F flower farm first achieved certification in 2007. The farm covers about 450 acres total. It maintains natural forest cover on over 10% of its land, conserving buffer zones for rivers while expanding its vegetative barriers by planting native species. Preserving some forest area is one small part of Rainforest Alliance Certification.
We met with the Production Manager, Juan Pablo Villalobos. He is the man responsible for making sure that they meet the Rainforest Alliance certification standards. He said, “When they gave me the responsibility, I said there is no way we can do all of this. Now that we have come this far with so many improvements, I would say there is no way we could go back.” Those words really grabbed me. I think that they are at the crux of environmental issues as a whole. It seems too hard to make the changes, but once you make them you realize they weren’t as hard as you thought. Especially when you experience so many benefits.
What Are The Biggest Changes That P&F Made In Order to Achieve Certification?
P&F stopped burning their waste. They started composting and recycling. They started planting trees. P&F began conducting analysis on the quality of the water. They put in practice more stringent regulations on pesticide use. They increased worker training. We are talking about major improvements!
Benefits of Rainforest Alliance Certification:
Villalobos said, “In the start we became certified to be a leader at the market, but we find less worker accidents, we find that workers are protected from pesticides. We find we are saving money by making our own organic nutrients for the soil, we find less soil disease. We are making environmental and social improvements and it is not just for the market any more. It has brought the employees and their families forward and we can not go back. We can not accept less.” Then he showed us the new machine that breaks up the flower plant waste for composting. He was excited and I could feel it.
The visit to P&F was really beautiful. We began at their tropical flower packing plant. The flowers come in and get washed and submersed in a hot pepper dip to repel bugs. The flowers are cut just right and sorted. Then they are packaged in groups or in bouquets and boxed for delivery. I asked one lady, “It is so beautiful but do you just get used to if after seeing it everyday”? She said, “For me, no. It is still beautiful everyday.”
Here are a few photos of the beautiful tropical flowers I saw:
After looking at all the beautiful gathered flowers, we went to see the section of preserved rainforest and the flower fields. In the small section of rainforest that we walked through, it was covered with plants, lots of birds, and insects. We even spotted 3 Blue Jeans Poison Dart Frogs!
Then when we left the rainforest area we walked straight into the flower farm area. About 5 minutes later we spotted 3 sloths! There were two in one tree that was towering above the flowers. The third sloth was in another tree about 25 feet away that also towered over the flowers below. I felt very lucky to see them. The farmers were surprised at how excited we were. They said that they are proud to have the sloths living there and that is why they keep the trees.
It was fun spotting the beautiful tropical flowers in amongst their foliage. There were so many pretty shots at the P&F flower farm! Here are a few views below:
I hope you enjoyed learning about Rainforest Alliance certified flowers as much as I did.
Related Posts:
Sustainable Agriculture at a Passionfruit Farm in Costa Rica
Visit To A Rainforest Alliance Certified Banana Farm and Packing Plant
School For Field Studies In Costa Rica- Sustainable Development
renee says
Beautiful pictures–thanks for sharing them. I would have been excited about seeing those sloths, too 🙂
Pamela C says
Actually the photography is quite mediocre, but the Land is exceptionally beautiful. The Volcanic soil in many part of Costa Rica are excellent growing grounds for many products, co-ops abound. As in travel
to all areas there are many dangers, some that the person you interviewed will not tell you about. Many
very nice people who will help you.