When looking at a flower, very few people think about how that flower was grown, or the conditions that the farmers had to endure in order to produce it. Thankfully, the Fairtrade plan exists in order to empower consumers to make positive changes to the lives of the people whose produce we so enjoy.

In a nutshell, the Fairtrade plan gives consumers the option of paying a little bit more to ensure that the products they buy have not been tainted by the exploitative employment practices that are common in poorer countries.

Flowers grown in the EU have to be produced in accordance with strict employment and human rights regulations. However, flowers grown in third world and developing countries carry no such guarantees, and many of the most popular exotic flowers are grown in these countries.

For a bunch of flowers to bear the Fairtrade mark, they have to produced on a farm that adheres strictly to the labour and environmental standards set out by the plan, and that continues to improve the conditions of their workers in line with the guidelines set down by the Fairtrade organisation.

The plan is operated in third world nations and developing countries, where working conditions tend to be pretty bad. Its overall aim is to raise the standard of living in those countries to the point where a worker can expect a decent days pay for a decent days work.

Since its inception, the Fairtrade plan has grown exponentially, mainly due to the keen interest of ethically aware consumers and retailers. There is now a whole range of Fairtrade products on the shelves, from chocolates and coffee to fruit and flowers.

As a condition of the plan, workers on Fairtrade certified farms have to have several rights, including the right to form and join trade unions, negotiate the terms of their employment, be kept fully aware of wage rates and work schedules, be paid regularly, and have sufficient access to clean drinking water and any necessary protective equipment.

The Fairtrade organisation also pays a premium directly to farm workers every year that can be put into community projects and economic development. In order to get the benefit of the premium, the farm workers have to elect representatives to decide how the money will be spent.

Maricruz Tennill, the author of this article, who always orders at Interflora.co.uk because it is the best site if you need to buy flowers online.