From Farm to Florist: BFA Directors Gain First-Hand Insight in Kenya
A first-hand look at flower production in East Africa – from growing and harvesting to sustainability, people and the realities behind part of the supply chain serving UK florists.
In early June, British Florist Association Directors Jamie Grant, Katrina Skybak-Doyle and Jo Biddle travelled to Kenya as guests of Florint and Marginpar, joining a small international group of florists and industry representatives for an immersive look at flower production in East Africa.
Over four days, we visited several flower farms, met the people behind the businesses, and gained first-hand insight into the growing, harvesting and processing of flowers destined for markets around the world, including the UK.
As an organisation committed to supporting florists with balanced, practical and informed information, the visit provided a valuable opportunity to see part of the supply chain that many florists rely upon every day, but few have the opportunity to experience in person.
Seeing the supply chain first-hand
One of the strongest messages to emerge from the visit was the importance of understanding the realities behind flower production.
From soil preparation and crop management through to harvesting, grading and packing, we observed the significant skill, care and labour involved in producing high-quality flowers. Much of the work remains highly manual, requiring experienced teams and close attention to detail at every stage.
Sustainability in practice
Sustainability is a topic that continues to generate discussion across the floriculture industry, and seeing growing practices first-hand provided valuable context.
The farms we visited demonstrated approaches including rainwater harvesting, water storage reservoirs, natural water filtration systems, crop rotation and integrated pest management programmes.
Soil health, composting, crop rotation and biodiversity also formed part of the picture, alongside Kenya’s equatorial location and the role that consistent daylight can play in reducing additional growing energy.
Why visits like this matter
Conversations around sustainability, sourcing and responsible business practices are complex. Visiting farms, asking questions and speaking directly with the people involved helps build a more informed understanding of the challenges and opportunities across the industry.
Visits such as this do not provide all the answers, but they do provide valuable perspective.
Practical industry insight is part of the BFA offer.
Membership also brings business support, benefits, professional visibility, events and a stronger collective voice for professional floristry.
