Una rosa es una rosa

There is no way to truthfully proclaim that the cut flower industry is good for the environment.  Nor is it possible to assert with confidence that the conditions for workers in the flower industry, on a global scale, are acceptable or humane.  A quick search on the internet will inform the reader of ecological and humanitarian issues related to the industry.

Today I visited a place called Agrogana, a small, family-owned flower farm north of Latacunga.  A friend whom I have yet to meet in person, Matt Terry (of the Ecuadorian Rivers Institute and Kayak Ecuador) put me in contact with Mr. A. Espinosa, whose family owns and operates the farm.  This morning Mr. Espinosa was kind enough to receive me for a tour and conversation.

The farm (and another one, farther to the north, operated and owned by the same family) employs about 180 local workers.  The farm I visited today cultivates around 60 different species of roses.

Agrogana is part of the Fair Trade movement.  Mr. Espinosa sells his flowers to responsible buyers in Russia, Switzerland, Canada, and the U.S.  Whole Foods Market is his primary client in the States.  Among the measures he takes to promote sustainable agriculture and responsible business practices here in Ecuador are the following (and they are, to say the least, amazing):

• He provides English classes and reading classes (Spanish) to the children, nieces and nephews of his workers.  These classes take place after school on the farm itself.  They are intended to supplement the education that the students receive during the day.  The setting of these classes is the tranquil, green, quiet space in which their parents and relatives work.  (More on this to follow.)
• He offers to purchase washing machines for the homes of his workers.  Their acceptance is voluntary.
• He works to offer good breeds of pigs to his workers.  The hope is that they might raise these pigs on the land near their homes, rather than purchasing farm-raised meat.
• When sufficient funds present themselves, he will build a vivienda, or communal living space for his workers.  
• He encourages his workers to take pride in their homes, lands, and work.  
• He provides his workers with safe, healthy working conditions.

The farm utilizes the bare minimum of pesticides necessary to keep the bugs at bay.  They are currently engaged in an experiment to cultivate `good` spiders that will eat the `bad` ones that damage the roses.  The spiders are microscopic and the project is an attempt at avoiding completely unnecessary use of pesticides.  Watching the good spiders work was pretty impressive.  They are of the same size as the bad ones, yet manage to put down between four and six of the enemies per day.  They are fat and happy and (hopefully) productive.

Checking out the bugs.

A healthy leaf (right) and a leaf affected by "bad" spiders (left).

My conversation with Mr. Espinosa ended in a promise that I would assist the group in their development of English classes for the worker´s children.  Additionally, I told them that I would visit the farm at least once a week to give classes myself.  I have many hopes for this side-project, and I feel fortunate to be a part of such a respectable endeavor.

One of two classrooms on the farm.  Green inside and out.