ENHANCING MARKET ACCESS FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMS
KaBloom’s wholesale platform connects growers directly to retail and wholesale customers, providing them with an opportunity to set their own prices, market and distinguish their products, and ultimately earn more money for themselves and their employees. KaBloom supports approximately 50 partner farms, many of which are small and medium-sized; our farms have an average size of 15 hectares and employ 150 to 200 employees. We estimate that our platform supports more than more than 5,000 employees, usually women and often single mothers, who receive living wages and benefits. Our farms also tend to be located in small towns so the presence of dependable full-time jobs is meaningful, and many farms have a significant impact on their communities.
KaBloom is committed to supporting the environmental and social welfare of its partner farms and their employees. Cut flower farms can become sustainably-certified through one of the major certification bodies, including Veriflora, Florverde, GlobalG.A.P. and Rainforest Alliance. However, due to a variety of historical factors, certification levels are much lower among cut flower farms than other types of growers, such as coffee. KaBloom is committed to changing this situation and aims to achieve 100% sustainability among its cut flower farmers by 2020.
TARGETING 100% SUSTAINABILITY BY 2020
LEADING INDUSTRY-WIDE EFFORT TO INCREASE CERTIFICATION AMONG CUT FLOWER FARMS
To encourage certification among our own partner farms and across the industry, KaBloom is leading an effort to ensure that all cut flower farms have the opportunity to implement socially-responsible practices. Attaining certification requires farms to make significant investments in time and money, and many small and medium-sized farms lack the financial and human capital required to achieve certification. To address this issue, we are establishing an independent non-profit organization, the Sustainable Floral Fund, which will provide financial and technical support to farms seeking to become sustainably-certified. KaBloom will donate one percent of all revenues earned through our wholesale platform and develop and sell a line of products of which 10% of sales will be donated to the fund. Additionally, KaBloom will encourage other industry participants to support the fund and work with government agencies and nonprofits to raise additional donations for the fund. Leveraging its position and strong relationships with partner farms and others in the industry, KaBloom will be well-placed to lead and effect change in the cut flower industry, particularly among smaller growers.
KaBloom is committed to supporting the environmental and social welfare of its partner farms and their employees. Cut flower farms can become sustainably-certified through one of the major certification bodies, including Veriflora, Florverde, GlobalG.A.P. and Rainforest Alliance. However, due to a variety of historical factors, certification levels are much lower among cut flower farms than other types of growers, such as coffee. KaBloom is committed to changing this situation and aims to achieve 100% sustainability among its cut flower farmers by 2020.
SUPPORTING LOCAL NON - PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
