The Carbon Impact of Buying Farm-Direct

The Carbon Impact of Buying Farm-Direct

The Carbon Impact of Buying Roses Direct with April & Ashley  

Roses are beloved worldwide as symbols of love, beauty and celebration, but few of us consider their environmental footprint. The traditional floral supply chain is a long and complex process involving many handling points. And when you purchase a rose from just any website or shop, you could be receiving an inferior product. Buying roses directly from April & Ashley can significantly reduce their carbon impact, while guaranteeing fresher, more fragrant, and longer-lasting blooms. 

The Traditional Rose Supply Chain – And Its Carbon Costs 

Whether buying a rose online or in-person, we often don’t think about the long and arduous journey it’s taken before it gets into our hands. It passes through several stages and multiple handling points – increasing its emissions and overall carbon footprint with every step. Here’s a breakdown of the places it usually travels to before reaching its final destination: 

  1. Farms: Where it all begins. The rose is grown, harvested and prepared for its journey to the customer. It’s then loaded onto refrigerated trucks or planes to be shipped to a distribution center. Many roses are grown in countries like Ecuador and Colombia – resulting in a ton of miles to travel and loads of fuel usage.  

  1. Distribution centers/wholesalers: Hubs that sort and package flowers from all over the world. They often use large coolers and refrigerators to store them until they’re ready to be shipped out (once again) – this time to florists and grocery stores.  

  1. Florist shops & grocery stores: The rose is unloaded and either stored in yet another refrigerator or arranged for the customer to purchase. 

  1. The customer’s hands: Finally, the rose is ready to go to its forever home! 

The more points a rose has to travel to, the more fuel, packaging and energy is used. When you buy from April & Ashley, your rose travels once – straight from our farm to your doorstep.  

What Are Farm-Direct Roses?

April & Ashley specializes in farm-direct roses. This means they travel straight from our farm in Arizona to the customer’s doorstep – no middlemen required. All preparation and packaging done is onsite, and the roses are then transported directly to their final destination. It’s really that simple!  

Farm-direct roses are often aligned with eco-friendly practices – such as sustainable farming and onsite composting/recycling. This results in a fresher product – which translates to longer vase life and less waste. 

The Carbon Savings of Buying Direct with April & Ashley 

When you buy roses from April & Ashley, you’re contributing to a healthier planet. Here’s how our straightforward process helps us reduce our carbon footprint: 

  • Fewer emissions: Our roses travel from point A (our farm) to point B (the customer’s doorstep). Fewer handling points means fewer transit miles – and fewer emissions! 

  • Reduced packaging waste: Our roses are packaged onsite using biodegradable materials.  

  • Lower energy use: With fewer handling points, our roses spend less time in refrigerated transit. 

  • Carbon-conscious farming practices: We’re committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship. That means using eco-friendly gardening practices that conserve water, promote biodiversity and use minimal pesticides.  

Additional Benefits of Buying Farm-Direct 

While the environmental benefits of buying roses directly with April & Ashley are priceless, there are a few more worth mentioning: 

  • Support for small farmers & local economies: The profits from your purchase stay within our community – helping us create jobs and enabling sustainable farming practices. 

  • Transparency in sourcing & farming practices: Unlike many traditional retailers, our close relationships with growers allows us to provide detailed information about our roses – such as origin and cultivation methods.  

  • Higher quality control: Our roses are cut-to-order, not handled in mass quantities.   

  • Lower cost: Cutting out the middlemen lets us give you premium-quality roses at a lower price.  

How to Buy Sustainably-Sourced Roses 

Regardless of who you choose to buy your roses from, make sure they’re ethically grown and sustainably sourced. Here are a few green flags to look out for when choosing a rose vendor: 

  • Look for farms that ship direct-to-door. Ask about delivery logistics. 

  • Look for farms that use eco-friendly farming practices, reduced-plastic packaging, and minimal or organic pesticides.  

  • Choose seasonal varieties from local farms whenever possible. 

Make Your Impact 

Roses are a lovely addition to any garden or indoor space, but how they reach you matters. For your next rose purchase, consider farm-direct as a way to minimize carbon footprint, support growers, and enjoy fresher, longer-lasting blooms. Small changes in how we buy can make a big impact on our planet. Visit April & Ashley to browse our collection of premium rose bushes grown sustainably and shipped directly from our farm to your doorstep.  

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