Some Australian-grown flowers will be bunched together by new green and gold rubber bands to help buyers identify local blooms.
Peak industry body Flower Industry Australia is selling the bands to its 250 florist and grower members across the country to strengthen the branding of locally grown flowers. Chairman Michael van der Zwet has grown cut flowers at his family business on Phillip Island in Victoria for more than three decades.
He said the rubber bands were a relatively new initiative to encourage people to buy locally grown. "They've only been in [circulation] for a month or so. It's been very well received," he said.
It is estimated that half of all flowers sold in Australia come from overseas, including countries such as Kenya, Colombia and Ecuador. Last year, the federal government reviewed the country of origin regulations for all products and decided changes would not be expanded to include cut flowers.
Read more at abc.net.au