Our World

Made in China: Bouques of Roses?

The Chinese government has developed a new plan to redevelop the social and economic landscape of southwestern China while taking on the world in the exportation of cut flowers.
Chinese government officials hope that by marketing cut flowers as an industry, people far from the Chinese coast line will prosper from the nation’s growing prosperity as well. Beijing official believe that the new industry could bring tens of millions of isolated, poverty workers to the middle to rich city dweller status.
These underpaid workers already harvest the roses, cut their stems to a proper length, strip them of their thorns and tightly pack them, by hand, to ship them out. China hopes to send these flowers to main stream countries like the United States and the Netherlands, by auction and/or regular sales. The first shipment to America is expected late this week in Los Angeles.
“Our plan is to become the biggest flower producer and exporter in Asia in 10 to 15 years, and possibly the world’s largest after the Netherlands.”

posted by Anonymous @ 9/25/2006 09:19:00 PM