1-800 Flowers: Investigate Conditions in Your Colombian Factories!

With Mother's Day coming up this weekend, flower sales with be at a high. Unfortunately, horrible exploitation goes into about 80% of the flowers Americans give for Mother's Day. Workers are exposed to pesticides, denied medical care, and sometimes even fired if they become pregnant -- all for a $300/month salary.

The company 1-800 Flowers imports flowers through Ascoflores, an export association that provides about 75% of the flowers from Colombia to the US.

This is especially bad since they claim on their "about us" page that they try to work with sustainable organizations that pay a living wage!

Working mom Lorena never wanted to work in the cut flower industry. But she needed the money once giving birth to her first child at 19. In the region of Colombia where Lorena has spent her entire life—known as the Bogota Savannah—cut flowers are king. “There’s no other work, no other industry here,” she told Vice. As a single mother, Lorena had few alternatives but to enter the vast farms and cut flower factories.

Years of dangerous work have wracked Lorena’s body, leaving her with debilitating injuries. Lorena traded her youth and health to support her family. “I don’t want the same for my daughters,” she told Vice. Thankfully, neither of her daughters have to work in the industry.

Ask 1-800 Flowers to investigate the conditions in the Colombian factories they source flowers from, and pledge only to work with growers who treat workers with respect, fair wages and safe conditions!

Dear Sir,


We the undersigned ask that you stand up for workers rights in Columbia and only source your flowers from factories that protect their workers.


Horrible exploitation goes into about 80% of the flowers Americans give for Mother's Day. Workers are exposed to pesticides, denied medical care, and sometimes even fired if they become pregnant -- all for a $300/month salary.


The company 1-800 Flowers imports flowers through Ascoflores, an export association that provides about 75% of the flowers from Colombia to the US.


This is especially bad since they claim on their "about us" page that they try to work with sustainable organizations that pay a living wage!



Working mom Lorena never wanted to work in the cut flower industry. But she needed the money once giving birth to her first child at 19. In the region of Colombia where Lorena has spent her entire life—known as the Bogota Savannah—cut flowers are king. “There’s no other work, no other industry here,” she told Vice. As a single mother, Lorena had few alternatives but to enter the vast farms and cut flower factories.


Years of dangerous work have wracked Lorena’s body, leaving her with debilitating injuries. Lorena traded her youth and health to support her family. “I don’t want the same for my daughters,” she told Vice. Thankfully, neither of her daughters have to work in the industry.


Investigate the conditions in the Colombian factories they source flowers from, and pledge only to work with growers who treat workers with respect, fair wages and safe conditions!

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