| Press Room
Dutch Touch
By Marianne Lipanovich for Organic Style, Spring 2008.
 Finding flowers for Mother’s Day or any special occasion is easy. Finding flowers grown where the health of both the farm workers and the planet is a priority is a little more difficult. Fortunately, Hans Brand, of B and H Flowers, Inc., has been a leader in supplying flowers with that extra edge.
Brand, whose family has been growing flowers professionally for five generations in Holland, moved to California in 1985 to take advantage of the opportunities and climate. He brought with him the wealth of information and technology that Dutch flower growers have amassed over the centuries. The equipment, from boilers to irrigation systems to state-of-the-art computer systems, helps create an ideal growing environment. What served well in the harsher climate of the Netherlands is equally successful in his milder locations in central and southern California.
 Switching to sustainable agricultural practices began about ten years ago. “I was becoming concerned about the hazards of spraying, and some pests were getting used to the chemicals. I thought Integrated Pest Management (IPM), using beneficial predatory insects for pest control, was the future,” says Brand. “Our grower and Carpinteria production manager, Alberto Arroyo, came to me and suggested we try using IPM.”
IPM combines good growing practices with early prevention. To avoid chemical spraying, plants are checked regularly, and beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, lacewings, trichogramma wasps, and the aptly named assassin bug, are introduced to keep harmful bugs under control.
Bug vs. bug
Brand began the eco-friendly program 10 years ago with gerberas, his premier crop. (Growing gerberas hydroponically allows full control of the growing medium, and the water used can be recycled.) Over the course of six months to a year, he converted the entire gerbera nursery to IPM. Next came sustainable labeling under the comprehensive Veriflora certification.
The new approach was immediately popular. “The employees very much appreciated the switch to sustainable practices. It was also good for production. We can pick flowers every day; we no longer have to wait 48 hours after spraying to go in.”
Wave of the future
 There were some setbacks. “At one point after about a year, pests began to get out of control. So we trained our staff to scout out problems. They put out flags to indicate early problems, and we evaluate what needs to be done. We can then take care of the problem when it is still small—and avoid the need for strong chemicals.”
Brand sees certified sustainable farming as the future of the flower business. “In 10 to 20 years, we will all be growing this way.”
“It’s better for people. It’s also better for the flowers. It’s not as harsh, and I think the flowers last longer and are more vibrant.” For everyone from grower to consumer, it’s a plus.
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