Floral Care and Handling

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What is it?

Care and handling refers to procedures used throughout the distribution channels grower to shipper to wholesaller to retailer to consumer---which inflluences flower quality and, ultimately, vase life.
Categories of treatment include:
1. Use of cut flower preservative.
2. Use of high quality water.
3. Proper refridgeration---temperature and humidity control.
4. Ethylene control---sanitation and special chemical treatments.

More specialized procedures are used with specific floral crops.

Why are these procedures needed?

The need for proper care and handling is threefold:

First, for the flower because:
- Cut flowers are highly perishable---they don't last forever. Thus, life-prolonging techniques are essential.
- Cut flowers carry on living processes that are very sensitive to environmental changes, so the environment must be controlled.
- Five of the most common reasons for early deterioration of cut flowers can easily be controlled through proper care and handling. They include:
1.The inability of stems to absorb water
2.Excessive water loss
3.Not enough carbohydrates.
4.Disease.
5.Ethylene Gas

Second, for the floral customer because:
- Quality---today's floral customer is very aware of freshness and quality characteristics like longevity. Proper care and handling assures that the product is less likely to be damaged and wilted on receipt. That means:
- Fewer complaints
- Greater customer satisfaction.

And third, for you because:
- Awareness---Customers will be aware that your product has been properly treated and is superior. This differentiates your firm and your products from others being offered in the marketplace.
- Economics ---There is potential for increased profits. Greater customer satisfaction means more and larger repeat sales! And proper care and handling can reduce shrinkage or product spoilage---the percentage of floral crops dumped because they're unsalable. Instead of dollars and cents down the drain, proper care and handling can lead to dollars and cents in sales!

How are these procedres performed?
- The key is to employ a combination of all techniques at every level of distribution.
- Each person handling flower---YOU ARE THE KEY TO LONGEVITY---you need to use proper life-prolonging techniques. These techniques are not effective if only practiced by a few people. Everyone must work together!
- This guide is a begininng---a step toward learning how to use these procedures. Read it and try the procedures. Let your employees read it. Keep it in handy place for quick reference. Most importantly, spread your ward! Make sure your customers know that you are using these techniques and teach them how to use the procedures also.

The information in this guide is arragned in basic categories, from product inspection through ethylene control. Special up-to-date tips are given for each area. Then specific information is given for major floral crops, including a selection of cut summary chart for quick reference and glossary.
In considering the procedures described on the following pages, keep this timely comment in mid:

"Dissatisfaction---not higher prices---is whats crippling this industry. We must get the whole industry involved and working together."
-Mel Schwanke
Greens Greenhouse and Treasure House
Fremon, Nebraska

Now is the time to start your care and handling program!