“God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December” – I saw that quotation in the Reader’s Digest when I was a child and have never forgotten it. However, only now do I discover who said it – Peter Pan author JM Barrie – although he himself thought he was quoting from another writer.
Anyway, I might add these days that “God gave us Fairtrade so that we might have roses from Kenya in February…”
We always have flowers in the house – usually golden ones. In spring we have short-lived daffodils, in summer yellow roses, in autumn yellow chrysanthemums and this winter we are back to yellow roses again. Apart from the ones pictured above, as I chose orange Marks & Spencer Fairtrade roses for a change.
I have to say that these sturdy, leafy, straight-stemmed roses from Kenya are a revelation, compared to the usual roses, which I assume come from the Netherlands. They are also a good deal at about £8 for a hefty bunch and last at least a week if not two weeks. I’m told the longest they have lasted is 32 days!
Marks & Spencer is not the only store to sell these roses, as I believe Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons and the Co-operative also stock them. The big flower delivery company Interflora also has some Fairtrade bouquets.

The Telegraph recently featured Fairtrade rose-growing for Waitrose in Kenya – click on this image by Clara Molden to go to the article…
We are just coming up to Fairtrade Fortnight in the UK (25 February – 10 March) which highlights the support we can give to small farmers in developing countries who are hit by fluctuating prices and even climate change.
Fairtrade urges people to buy products carrying its mark and brings together supporters, retailers, manufacturers, producers and consumers.
Recently I have made more of an effort to buy Fairtrade and I now regularly eat Fairtrade bananas – usually they are nice and small.
I also love Divine Fairtrade chocolate from the local Oxfam shop. The Kuapa Kokoo farmers of Ghana not only receive a Fairtrade price for their cocoa, but they also own 45% of the company.
There are all sorts of other Fairtrade products – coffee, tea, fruit and vegetables, cotton goods, beauty products – and even gold! Here’s a link to the Fairtrade website.
The problems of the world often seem huge and insurmountable. But it does seem easy to do a little bit towards change for the better – just by looking out for the logo and making different choices when shopping. Think of all the hard-working communities of men, women and children, who benefit…
This is important and I do try to buy Fair Trade when ever I can find it.. Michelle
I wonder how big it is in America?
Best wishes 🙂
Brilliant post, I help out my local Fairtrade group and have tweeted/linked to your blog post from their Twitter and Facebook accounts (https://twitter.com/EalingFairtrade).
Thanks Emily. And I forgot to mention Fairtrade honey!
Best wishes 🙂
[…] To celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight beginning tomorrow (from 25 February – 10 March), hope you enjoy reading this brilliant blog post on the benefits of Fairtrade roses: Fairtrade roses in winter. […]
I might be enthusiastic about some Fairtrade products but maybe not these roses. Partly because of the distance they have to travel and partly because I get unnerved by flowers which refuse to die.
That’s fair comment!
Although it’s always difficult to weigh up air miles against the heat of greenhouses growing flowers in Europe in winter…
The world’s not ideal, but at least I feel if I MUST have roses, it may be helping a community somewhere.
Best wishes 🙂
I too try to support fairtrade as much as possible but like Esther I wouldn’t buy the roses as I prefer buy seasonal flowers produced closer to home.
Sarah x
That is fair comment. I knew someone would put that point of view and I almost put it in the blog post myself!
But what would be seasonal local flowers at the moment, that aren’t at least grown in a hothouse?
I guess I could go into the garden and pick some holly and ivy…
I try to be good, but sometimes I fail 😦