Consumers, companies push for supply chain transparency
Now, consumers are holding companies accountable, and expect sustainable and quality products to be delivered to their homes. Simplified and transparent supply chains appeal to consumers, and the farm-to-table movement is taking off, delivering fresh food and flowers direct from farms.
Flowers and transparent supply chains
Flowers are harvested at their point of origin, often in Colombia, which provided the U.S. with 65 percent of its fresh-cut flowers in 2013. Next, flowers are imported to the U.S. via Miami, and are then stored in large refrigeration units. The flowers are shipped in trucks to wholesalers, and from there are sent to flower shops.
FedEx is pushing for transparency in the industry through a shorter supply chain. Its new flower delivery system allows florists in the U.S. and Canada to place orders directly to flower farms in Colombia, Ecuador and the Netherlands. With the international priority delivery, the flowers arrive fresh from the farms, directly to the florists, in 48 hours.
Companies like The Elite Flower are pushing for transparency in the industry. The Miami-based importer owns the largest private flower farm in Colombia, and brings 700 million stems per year to the U.S. through a transparent, six-step supply chain.
Source: TechCrunch
