Colombia to Export 300 Million Stems of Certified Florverde(R) Flowers This Valentine's...

Colombia to Export 300 Million Stems of Certified Florverde(R) Flowers This
Valentine's Day

Colombian Flowers are Good for the Earth, Workers and You

BOGOTA, Colombia, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Looking for that
"feel-good" gift for Valentine's Day? You won't have to look very far. With
300 million stems of certified Florverde(R) flowers headed to the United
States from Colombia, millions of sweethearts can feel good about the flowers
they will purchase for the holiday of love. The majority of Colombian flowers
shipped to the U.S. are grown on Florverde(R)-certified farms, which are in
compliance with stringent U.S social and environmental standards.

"Everyone can feel confident purchasing flowers this Valentine's Day and
everyday," said Augusto Solano, President of the Colombian Association of
Flower Exporters (Asocolflores). "Buying flowers supports an international
industry that continues to make strides to improve social, environmental,
labor and occupational health and safety standards."

About Florverde(R)
As the size and influence of the Colombian floriculture industry expands, it
continues to enhance working standards to improve the lives of floral workers.
Asocolflores is celebrating eleven years of the Florverde(R) program, the
unique certification process which was created to improve the lives and living
standards of floral farm workers and their families, to preserve and protect
the environment for the industry's farmers for generations to come and to
ensure high-quality, affordable flowers for consumers year round. Currently
171 Colombian farms, comprising half of the acreage devoted to growing
flowers, have qualified for or are in the process of qualifying for
Florverde(R) certification.

Florverde(R)-certified farms use of agricultural chemicals is consistent with
U.S. regulations. Workers are educated and trained in the safe use of these
chemicals and provided appropriate safety equipment. On-site medical care,
dining areas and hot meals are provided. Some farms go beyond specified worker
requirements and offer child care, housing subsidies and literacy education.

Certification
Certification is verified by an independent third party, SGS, a renowned
international audit company headquartered in Switzerland, widely recognized as
the global benchmark for quality and integrity. SGS has worked with such
companies as Avon, McDonald's, the GAP and Shopko.

More About the Colombian Flower Industry
-- Colombia exported more than one billion dollars worth of flowers world wide
in 2007.
-- Florverde(R) was initially created to enhance overall performance by
providing a systemized approach to improve labor conditions and environmental
practices.
-- Initial participation in Florverde(R) is voluntary. Once certified,
compliance is mandatory to maintain certification.
-- Seventy-seven percent of all flowers imported into the U.S. are from
Colombia.
-- In 2006, the U.S. imported 99% of its carnations and alstroemeria, 98% of
its mums and 70% of its cut roses from Colombia.
-- Colombia is the second largest exporter of flowers in the world (after
Holland).
-- In 2006, U.S.-Colombian bilateral trade was an estimated $14.7 billion.
-- Florverde(R) flowers are grown with 50 percent less pesticides as compared
to 1998 usage.
-- Florverde(R) is the model program for the Ecuadorian flower and Colombian
banana industries.
-- The Colombian flower industry encourages sustainable farming through the
use of integrated pest management practices to reduce pesticide use, and
encourages drip irrigation, rainwater collection systems and organic
fertilization.

Established in 1973 to represent the interests of the Colombian flower growers
in world markets, the Colombian Association of Flower Exporters (Asocolflores)
represents more than 70 percent of total Colombian flowers exports.

SOURCE Colombian Association of Flower Exporters

Shawn Campbell, +1-815-730-1772 s.campbellzurawski@comcast.net, for the
Colombian Association of Flower Exporters