Buying flowers directly from the grower? Here's what you should know before you do.
“Fresh From the Farm” Flower Delivery – The Truth Behind The Claim
Often, online floral delivery services tout their flowers as being “Fresh From the Field” or “Farm-to-Vase Bouquets.”
But, are you really buying flowers fresh from the farm?
Not exactly, but with a little bit of preplanning, it gets pretty close.
Advances in communications and technology, along with the streamlining of the traditional floral supply chain by online flower delivery companies, make it possible for flowers to arrive as soon as the next day from California and in less than a week from South America.
This allows for fresher flowers that last longer, as long as three weeks in some cases, at surprisingly affordable prices.
Today, 80% of all flowers sold in the U.S. are imported, mostly from South America. Although it begins at the grower level, there are other government-mandated steps involved in the supply chain before they arrive on the recipient’s doorstep.
Online flower delivery companies are working hard to speed up these mandatory processes and get flowers delivered as soon as possible after they are cut.
How Farm Direct Flowers Are Changing the Game
Convenience, impulse, and/or necessity are the reasons most people buy flowers (or practically anything) online.
There are some who also believe they are getting better value or saving money online because they are buying direct, cutting out the “middleman.”
That’s why the sale of fresh flowers has shifted away from the retail florist to supermarkets, convenience stores, and online sellers.
But even with all the advances, you need to be aware not all floral delivery services are alike.
Not All Online Flower Delivery Services Are Created Equal
Ordering flowers online has gotten much simpler these days. But there are a couple of things to keep in mind when buying flowers from online flower delivery services.
Most of the traditional floral sites like Teleflora, FTD and 1-800Flowers focus on same-day delivery, leveraging their networks of local florists.
If you need flowers at the last minute, these would be your best options.
In addition, Proflowers and FTD also offer a number of bouquet choices under $50 that can be delivered same-day.
If you are looking for lower-priced options, these might be your best bets.
Some of the boutique sites like The Bouqs Co., Urban Stems, Farmgirl Flowers, and Ode À La Rose focus on unique flowers and presentation.
If you are looking for a unique floral gift, these sites might be better options for you to consider.
Looking For Real Convenience?
Even Benchmark Bouquets has opened a store on Amazon.
Benchmark is the largest direct-to-consumer supplier of farm-fresh flower bouquets. They are the growers, designers, and distributors.
If you have ever browsed around your grocer’s floral department, there’s a good chance you’ve seen flower bouquets from Benchmark on display.
If you enjoy the convenience of shopping on Amazon, this is another option to explore.
When you buy flowers from an online service for delivery rather than through a local florist, there are a few things to keep in mind.
- The flowers you send will arrive boxed, not arranged as is usually shown on the website.
This is the biggest misconception about buying flowers that are shipped direct.
If you would prefer your flowers to arrive arranged, you should order directly from a local florist in the delivery area. - Same-day delivery is not possible using package delivery services like UPS and FedEx.
Overnight delivery of flowers by UPS or FedEx will arrive the next day. Overnight delivery is also only available Tuesday – Saturday. To fill that void, Amazon Prime offers next-day delivery, provided the order is placed by Noon.
If your flowers need to be delivered same-day, or if you are looking for delivery on Sunday or Monday, the online service will use a local florist for fulfillment and delivery (something you could do yourself and pocket the savings).
- Grower-direct are not always the best choice for every occasion.
Avoid sending grower-direct flowers to hospitals or funeral homes. Because they arrive boxed, they may not be willing or able to accept delivery of these items. Again, it would be best to use the services of a local florist when sending flowers for these occasions.
Local Florists Aren’t Going Away!
The biggest key when ordering flowers is not flower quality. The quality of the flowers sold today is at an extremely high level.
It’s more about the delivery and presentation. In my experience, most people are willing to pay more to get that right.
And nobody does it better than a local florist.
Most local florists offer value-priced bouquet options for their customers, giving them more choices for every occasion and budget.
Call and talk with the florist to be sure your selection is perfect for your important occasion.
You can trust them to make certain that your flowers arrive on time and in perfect condition.
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