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 VeriFlora® is America’s first comprehensive sustainability
certification program for the floral and potted plant industries. The
VeriFlora® "Certified Sustainably Grown" label is your guarantee that
flowers and potted plants have been produced in an environmentally and
socially responsible manner and meet the highest standards for
freshness and quality. When you choose a VeriFlora® product, you are
contributing to a global movement to encourage companies to become
sustainable. Already, this has resulted in significant and positive
change for farmers, farm workers, and the environment.
The VeriFlora® certification program establishes procedures for
verifying agricultural production and handling practices, from soil
preparation and seed planting through production, harvest, and
post-harvest distribution. The program is administered by Scientific
Certification Systems(SCS), a leader in third party certification
services and standards development. To be certified, growers and
handlers must meet rigorous performance criteria in the following key
areas:
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Sustainable Crop Production –
Controlling pests and diseases with the least environmental impact;
building soil fertility and health to support the ecosystem, prevent
erosion, and capture and store carbon from the atmosphere; phasing in
organic practices over time.
- Ecosystem Protection – Protecting
ecosystems in and around the farm, including streams, rivers, riparian
zones, wetlands areas, habitats and species with recognized high
ecological value, and other biologically and culturally significant
areas.
- Resource Conservation and Energy Efficiency
– Conserving precious natural resources through careful water use and
quality control practices, energy saving initiatives, greenhouse gas
emission reduction efforts, and product packaging minimization.
- Integrated Waste Management – Providing
safe storage and proper handling and disposal of farm chemicals, and
encouraging composting or recycling of agricultural and
non-agricultural wastes.
- Fair Labor Practices – Ensuring a safe, equitable and healthy work environment, and providing access to key services as needed.
- Community Benefits – Supporting local
communities through preferential purchasing, hiring, infrastructure
improvements, and collaborative problem-solving.
- Product Quality – Implementing quality
assurance and product tracking procedures to ensure that sustainably
grown products are properly handled from the time they leave the farm
until they reach the consumer, for maximum freshness and longevity.
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