A Green Guide to Valentine’s Day: Break the Chains of Farmworker Exploitation and Pesticides this Holiday!

Valentines Day marks one of the biggest shopping days of the year, especially when it comes to chocolate and flowers. But did you know that often your tokens of affection are supporting pesticides, child slavery and farmworker exploitation? Learn more about the products you are buying and what you can do to support fair labor practices this February 14^th (or if you aren’t buying any gifts and choosing not to celebrate, here are a few more reasons to be contemptuous about the gross commercialization of romance):Flickr: User Nenna

Flowers: Fresh cut flowers and roses are a great way to show someone that you care about them; however, it is possible that those flowers were picked by an exploited or enslaved worker. Cut flowers that large floral retailers sell often come from countries like Colombia and Ecuador where workers rights aren’t always respected. Exploitation of workers in the flower industry is common, especially among female workers who are at a greater risk for sexual harassment and assault. Moreover, the Pesticide Action Network reports that flowers grown in Ecuador and Central America rely highly on dangerous pesticides that are harmful to workers and also use child labor. To learn more about flower practices in Ecuador check out this Frontline documentary:

To protect these women and children flower workers, look for bouquets bearing the Fair Trade logo or certification. Fair trade flowers can be find online at FTD Flowers or One World Flowers which even features “themed bouquets” such as “Honoring Japan” and “Helping Haiti.” Whole Foods also offers fair trade flowers in their floral department and local farmers markets offer seasonal organic bouquets grown nearby.

Chocolate: Like in the flower industry, child labor, environmental degradation and worker exploitation are also prevalent in cocoa harvesting. Much of the world’s chocolate supply comes from West Africa, where child labor is common. Over 40% of the world’s non-organic and non-fair trade comes from Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), where the International Labor Organization and US Department of State have reported widespread instances of child labor. Furthermore, to meet growing industry demands, farmers have been forced to clear forest territory in areas of rich biodiversity, to make room for cocoa farms. Check out the documentary “The Dark Side of Chocolate” to learn more about the “true story of how your chocolate is produced.”

For ethical chocolate online we recommend fair trade retailers www.coco-zen.com, www.naturalcandystore.com, and www.equalexchange.coop. This chocolate scorecard is also helpful when shopping at the supermarket. Locally, check out Videri Chocolate Factory in Raleigh, which uses all fair trade and organic cocoa beans (and offers tours of the factory to the public!).

Greeting Cards: According the EPA, the US consumes about 71 million tons of paper per year. This year consider saving trees by sending an e-card (we like this bilingual adult e-card by the Organic Consumer’s Association). Another option is to send an e-card with a donation to a non-profit. These “Gifts of Fairness” are a great way to appeal to the social conscience of your sweetheart.

Buying fair trade certified and organic products are the most important things you can do this Valentine’s Day to ensure the healthy and safety of workers and protect the environment. Many companies, small and large, do not offer fair trade products. Show your love this holiday by asking your local florist or filling out the comment section on chocolate manufacturers' websites to tell them that fair trade is important to you. For example, two years ago the FTD, one of the largest flower retailers in the world, began offering fair trade certified flowers as a result of a Change.org petition that garnered 9.450 signatures! 

Finally, if you have grand dinner plans this Valentine’s Day, consider eating locally. Within the Triangle we are fortunate to have many restaurants that are farm-to-fork or that are dedicated to using locally sourced ingredients. Two of these are partner restaurants, Piedmont in Durham and Zely & Ritz in Raleigh, prepare fresh, organic, locally grown dishes, with over half of their ingredients coming from local Coon Rock Farm. Both are offering Valentine menus that are guaranteed to be delicious and socially conscious. For those couples that feel like staying in this Valentine's, hit up your local farmers market and have your own picnic at home! Or better yet, you and your beloved (and maybe a group of friends) can pick your own produce! Use this guide to find out what farms in your area allow you to pick your own produce. While it might not be quite warm enough yet, strawberry picking is a great bonding activity, and you can use what you pick for brunch or dessert!   

 

This Valentine’s Day, the Farmworker Advocacy Network and farmworker advocates around the world invite you to show your loved ones that you truly care by putting your money where your values lie. Help break the chains of industrial agriculture and corporate globalization by choosing fair trade and organic flowers and chocolate for your Valentine’s Day gifts and by eating and shopping locally.