In the romantic city, just before Valentine's Day ... a campaign against red roses
Merchants in Paris try to discourage customers from buying roses due to their environmental damage. Reuters
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They are the traditional conjunctions of romance: Valentine's Day in Paris, the city of love, and a gift of red roses ... But some flower dealers in Paris try to discourage customers from buying roses due to their environmental damage.
Most of the roses sold in France before Valentine's Day, which is the industry's peak sales period in the world, are imported by air freight from countries such as Kenya, which results in carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.
Flower dealers, concerned about the environmental damage caused by the trade, say there are alternatives that can be grown locally and they are trying to encourage consumers to try them.
But they face an arduous struggle because the tradition of gifting red flowers on Valentine's Day, which falls on February 14th, is rooted in many cultures.
Hortense Harang, founder of the online flower shop "Flowers From Here", is leading the campaign to discourage people from buying roses.
"The red roses date back to the 1950s," she says.
"Roses do not grow in our lands this season," she added.
Her campaign met with support.
"It makes no sense to get roses from the other side of the planet if we can get them locally," said Edith Beisenfelder, 46, who works in the local and imported rose trade in Paris.
But old habits die hard.
Celine Argent, 40, owner of Sylvin rose shop in Paris, said she encourages customers to buy tulips as a way to express love.
Her shop this week though was filled with red roses to meet demand.
"It is a tradition that people cannot change. The red rose is still the Valentine's Day rose," she added.
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