The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) has hit back against increased criticism surrounding flower imports from Africa, as the spotlight returned to ‘food miles’ around Mother’s Day.

The seven million bunches of flowers purchased for mothers in the UK contribute £225m to the flower industry, but an article, ‘Is it OK to Buy Flowers?’ in the Guardian last week said this is at huge expense.

Citing poor water resources and low wages in Africa, as well as the carbon footprint of importing flowers rather than sourcing from a number of UK suppliers, the piece suggested it was "greedy and short-sighted" to try to offer year-round availability of some varieties.

But the FPC responded angrily to the piece, saying shunning imports would be detrimental: “It is definitely okay to buy flowers, either from the UK or overseas, for Mother’s Day or for any other occasion and be reassured about any concerns about the environmental impact.

“‘Food miles associated with the export of fresh fruit vegetables and cut flowers from sub-Saharan Africa equate to only 0.1 per cent of the UK’s entire carbon emissions. Switching to low-energy light bulbs can reduce more emissions than rejecting fresh produce from Africa - and doesn’t affect the 1.5m people in Africa whose livelihoods depend on agricultural exports to the UK.

“Let’s just compare the carbon footprint of Africa (1-2 tonnes of carbon per head) with that of the UK (11-14t per head) and the US (22t per head). Kenya, for example, takes environmental issues seriously and is developing its use of clean energy such as geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind.

“The fresh produce industry fully supports the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with all aspects of the food chain, not just transport.

“However, we must put ill-founded concerns about the impact of transportation of cut flowers from developing countries in their proper perspective, especially when the majority are transported on scheduled passenger airlines which will fly regardless, and balance them against the need to assist the development of local economies in Africa.”

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