Floral Standards for Flower Farm Collectives and Cooperatives

Floral Standards for Collectives and Cooperatives

By the Hensley's team, drawing on the work of a Pacific Northwest growers' co-op

Grow Sales Successfully with Best Practices

Whatever the size of the farm or the way it sells, delivering consistent quality is one of the strongest predictors of success. Flower buyers care intensely about how stems look and how long they last. Take sweet peas: harvested and handled well, a local bunch is a short-lived delight, all the more special because even the best last only about five days. Handled poorly, the same bunch wilts and drops petals, and the customer remembers only the disappointment.

The Importance of Crop-Specific Best Practices

Like vegetables, every flower crop has its own correct harvest stage and handling needs, and many flower farms grow dozens of different crops. Without knowing the details of each, results are a gamble. Sunflowers cut at the right stage can last around ten days in a bouquet, while the same flowers cut fully open may shatter within days. Both could have been grown equally well; the difference comes down to harvest and post-harvest know-how.

These details matter even more when selling to florists and other wholesale buyers, who purchase far more than an individual market shopper and whose own reputations depend on what they buy. Quality is what keeps those accounts. The farther flowers travel and the larger the volume sold, the more the grower's handling skill counts.

Developing the Floral Standards Reference Book

Floral Standards: A Practical Guide for Harvesting and Delivering Professional-Quality Flowers

Laid out much like a cookbook, this reference gives growers practical guidance for producing professional-quality flowers from field to delivery. It covers 230 cut-flower crops and is illustrated with more than 425 color photos.
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Selling as a group adds another layer, because the reputation of every member farm is on the line, not just one. Still, group selling has clear advantages, especially shared resources and a broader product list for buyers. Many small farms in the region now sell nearly everything through a farmer-owned wholesale cooperative.

Since 2011, the co-op has built a reputation for a wide range of high-quality seasonal flowers and foliage. Its member-owners are flower farms in Washington and Oregon, and it also distributes product from other West Coast growers throughout the year.

Because member farms sit in many different microclimates, from near the Canadian border down to Oregon's Willamette Valley, the co-op can offer more variety over a longer season than any single farm. Spread across hundreds of miles of the Pacific Northwest, the farms together supply Seattle-area florists and designers with more volume and quality for more of the year. Many buyers still shop the market floor in person, while online orders and regional deliveries keep growing.

The co-op recently published Floral Standards, a reference book of more than 300 pages for the growers who sell through its market. It is built on the co-op's internal spec sheets and standards and reflects years of on-farm experience from its veteran growers, with key data for 230 major flower crops.

New wholesale flower hubs keep appearing across North America and elsewhere. Whatever their legal form, whether for-profit, marketing collective or formal cooperative, any business selling local flowers for many farms runs into similar early challenges. Building a shared reputation for quality takes deliberate effort and open communication among growers and between growers and staff. A common tool for defining quality has been central to the co-op's reputation and to giving buyers a great experience.

Quality Begins in the Field

Member growers of the Pacific Northwest co-op.
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Labor Considerations

Specialty cut-flower growers choose crops that suit their soil and microclimate, site them carefully and care for them so they produce strong, healthy stems. As harvest nears, the focus shifts from growing to cutting and handling, and that is where Floral Standards is most useful. It walks through post-harvest care crop by crop and defines hydration solutions, low-sugar holding solutions, floral preservatives and crop-specific treatments. It also covers storage and transport, including cooler sanitation, cooler temperatures, conditioning, long-term storage, packing materials, packing for shipping and keeping the cold chain intact.

Harvesting Benchmarks

Floral Standards was written by and for flower farmers, growers and gardeners.
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Below are several of the harvest benchmarks from Floral Standards. They apply whether a farm sells wholesale to the trade or retail to the public:

• Scout crops often for pests and disease: Sell only clean, undamaged, high-quality stems.
• Water before you harvest: Irrigate the evening or day before cutting so plants have time to take up water. This matters most for woody, delicate or short-lived crops.
• Keep tools and buckets clean: Aim for food-grade cleanliness, washing buckets inside and out on a regular schedule to limit bacteria and keep displays tidy.
• Learn each crop's harvest stage: It differs from crop to crop and has a big effect on quality and vase life.
• Pick the right time of day: Many crops do best when cut in the cool of the day, while some benefit from an afternoon harvest.
• Bunch weight and stem counts: Keep bunches consistent. Using the crop spec sheets in Floral Standards, always include at least the recommended number of stems, and add more if stems are thin, have few side branches or carry smaller-than-normal flowers. Use judgment on bunch fullness so buyers get fair, comparable value from one bunch, and one farm, to the next.
• Grower's bunches: Crops vary. Some, like strawflowers and asters, produce a sturdy main stem plus thinner side shoots. In those cases a range of stem counts makes sense, and mixing both kinds of stems in each bunch gives good value.
• Groom bunches well: For neat bunches, cut stems to the specified length, remove leaves below the waterline, even up the stem ends, band each bunch near the bottom, and add ties, tags and sleeves with care.
• Cut straight into water or a post-harvest solution instead of piling stems to process later. If bunches end up out of water for a while, recut the stems before putting them back.
• Get field heat out fast: Keep cut bunches shaded while you work and get them to the cooler as quickly as you can. This is critical for short-lived flowers like lilacs and sweet peas and for crops that must be held at a specific stage, such as peonies and tulips. In hot weather it matters for almost every crop.

Floral Standards gives co-op growers a shared vocabulary across a huge range of crops. Over a year, members produce hundreds of annuals, perennials, bulbs, foliage plants, woody ornamentals and more. Even the most experienced growers cannot remember every crop's specs from one season to the next. When trying a new crop, a grower can check Floral Standards for the correct harvest stage and for varieties other farms have found reliable. Members reviewed the entries by genus, cultivar and hybrid, highlighting top sellers and heavy producers. A flower may look tempting online or in a catalog, but the growers' notes address the real question: does that particular variety earn money?

Harvest & Post-Harvest Floral Standards for 7 Top Crops

For a preview of what Floral Standardscontains, here are harvest and post-harvest notes for seven popular cut flowers:

Cut cockscomb celosia once the heads reach the size you want.
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• Harvest Stage:
  • Cockscomb types (C. cristata): cut when the heads reach the desired size. Do not wait too long; late-cut blooms turn brown at the base of the flower head and start shedding seed.
  • Plume and wheat types (C. argentea and C. spicata): cut when about half the flowers on the stem have opened. Stems cut too early tend to wilt, and stems cut too late brown at the base and drop seed.
• Post-Harvest Care: Cut into plain water and keep it there. Store at about 45°F (7°C). Holding below 41°F (5°C), even for a few days, can cause black spots and tissue damage on the flowers.
• Stems per bunch:
  • Cockscomb types (C. cristata): 5–7 stems, depending on head size and stem thickness.
  • Plume and wheat types (C. argentea and C. spicata): 8–10 stems.
• Standard Height: 16–20 inches.
• Typical vase life: 10–14 days.
• Shipping Notes: Holds up well when shipped dry-packed.

For sale on a market floor, cut lisianthus when no more than three flowers per stem are open.
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• Harvest Stage: For market-floor sales, cut when up to three flowers per stem are open, removing the first bloom if it looks old or damaged so the bunch looks fresh. Buds already showing color will keep opening after harvest. For grocery accounts and shipping, cut when one flower per stem is open and the next buds show color. Afternoon cutting, after plants have built up sugars from the day's sun, gives the longest vase life.
• Post-harvest care: Cut into and hold in a low-sugar holding solution (Chrysal #2 T-bag or similar). Can be held for up to about 2 weeks at 35–41°F (2–5°C); slow-release chlorine tablets help during longer storage. Stems bend upward against gravity, so store and pack them upright to keep them straight.
• Stems per bunch: 5–14 stems. The first cut of thick central stems may need only 5–8 per bunch, mid-season bunches usually take about 10, and the final harvest of side branches can take up to 14.
• Standard Height: 16–20 inches.
• Typical vase life: 7–10 days.
• Shipping Notes: Can travel dry-packed for short periods if cut at a tighter stage.

Ranunculus (Common/Romance™ Types)

Ranunculus open during the day and close at night. For top quality in local sales, let blooms open and close once or twice before cutting.
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• Harvest Stage: Ranunculus open in daylight and close at night, and for local sales the best quality comes from letting them do this once or twice before harvest. Bloom size varies a lot with variety, growing conditions and harvest stage. Buds cut before they first open give smaller flowers, though quality and vase life stay good. Flowers that have opened several times will no longer close, and their vase life is shorter.
• Post-harvest care: Cut into a low-sugar holding solution (Chrysal Bulb Bag, #2 T-bag or similar). The stems are brittle and break easily, so handle and transport them gently. Sleeving or a band or tie just below the flower heads keeps stems from tangling in the bucket.
• Stems per bunch: 10 stems as standard; 15 for mini types with buds about ½ inch or smaller.
• Standard height: 14–16 inches.
• Typical vase life: 10–14 days.
• Shipping Notes: Ships well dry-packed when cut at a tighter stage.

Cut snapdragons once 3–5 florets on the stem have opened.
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• Harvest Stage: Harvest when 3–5 florets are open. Remove leaves that would sit in water. Stems snap easily, so strip, handle and move them carefully.
• Post-harvest care: Cut into and hold in a low-sugar holding solution (Chrysal #2 T-bag or similar). Can be held up to about 6 days at 32–35°F (0–2°C). Snapdragon tips bend upward, so store upright and fill buckets fully to keep stems straight in storage and transit. Some varieties are sensitive to ethylene, so keep them cold and away from ethylene sources such as ripening fruit.
• Stems per bunch: 10–15, with more needed for side shoots and thinner stems.
• Standard Height: 18–24 inches.
• Typical vase life: 8–14 days; a floral preservative is recommended.
• Shipping Notes: If harvested and conditioned as described, snapdragons can be packed flat and shipped dry by air. Wrap bunches in paper or perforated plastic to keep stems from breaking.

Stages of sunflower development at harvest.
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• Harvest Stage: Sunflowers have a short harvest window and develop quickly, especially in warm weather, when you may need to cut two or three times a day to catch them at the right stage. Get cut stems from the field into the cooler fast so they do not keep opening.
  • Stage 1: petals are just beginning to unfold from a tight bud. Best for longer-distance shipping.
  • Stage 2: the center shows and the petals are fully colored but still held forward; the small florets in the center disk have not started to open. The ideal stage for every sales channel, including grocery and shipping.
  • Stage 3: petals are further along but still face forward. Suitable only for market-floor sales.
  • Stage 4: petals have opened and two rings of disk florets are open in the center. Cutting this late shortens vase life considerably, and these flowers should not go to market.
• Post-harvest care: Cut into and hold in a low-sugar holding solution (Chrysal #2 T-bag or similar). Slow-release chlorine tablets can help, particularly in hot weather. Store at 36–41°F (2–5°C) for up to about a week. Tighter flowers travel better; keep the cold chain unbroken, because warm sunflowers open fast.
• Stems per bunch: 5 stems for standard types; 10 for novelty or mini types.
• Height: 28–30 inches for standard types; about 20 inches for novelty and mini types.
• Typical vase life: 6–10 days, depending on the variety.
• Shipping Notes: Ships dry-packed. Cut at stage 1 or 2 to avoid petal damage in transit.

Tulip (double, parrot, and single hybrid)

For best quality, cut tulips when the buds show color but have not started to open.
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• Harvest Stage: Cut when buds are colored but not yet opening. Tulips cut at this stage open reliably and work for every sales channel. In warm weather you may need to harvest several times a day. Buds cut too soon will open but stay small. Fully colored tulips that are starting to open are only suitable for market-floor sales, not for storage, grocery or shipping, and vase life drops the later they are cut.
• Post-harvest care: For short-term storage, pull the stems with the bulb attached and hold for up to about a week in a low-sugar bulb-flower solution (Chrysal Bulb T-bag or similar). Tulips bend toward light, so keep stems upright and straight in buckets. They keep elongating after harvest, and the heads snap off easily, so transport them carefully. Sleeving can help prevent damage.
• Stems per bunch: 5 for double and parrot types; 10 for single hybrids.
• Standard Height: 12–16 inches.
• Typical vase life: 7–10 days.
• Shipping Notes: Ships well dry-packed when cut at a tighter stage.

Zinnias should reach market, and customers, as soon as possible after they are cut.
Above: 'Ballerina' Zinnia.

• Harvest Stage: Check zinnias every few days so you catch them at the right stage. Immature flowers have rubbery stems; cut as soon as the stems feel firm. A ring of yellow pollen-bearing florets may be visible, but the center should still look tight and fresh. Stems cut too early will bend in transit. Double-flowered varieties such as Benary's Giant and the Queeny series also throw some single and semi-double flowers; leave singles out of standard bunches. For the longest vase life, cut in the afternoon after plants have stored up sugars from the day's sun.
• Post-harvest care: Zinnias are prone to bacterial stem rot, so clean tools and buckets are especially important. Handle gently and do not overcrowd buckets, because the hollow stems bend and break. Their hairy stems pick up debris that fouls water, so move bunches into fresh water after harvest. Slow-release chlorine tablets are recommended. Skip holding solutions and preservatives, since the sugar can brown the petals, especially on white, cream and green types. Zinnias need to reach buyers quickly: hold no more than about 3 days before delivery, at 40–45°F (4–7°C).
• Stems per bunch: 5 for Benary's Giant, Uproar Roseand the Queeny series; 10 for smaller-flowered varieties.
• Standard Height: 14–16 inches.
• Shipping Notes: Dry-pack shipping is not recommended for more than a few hours.

Stage of Harvest Considerations for Shipping

These seven crops show how much correct harvest and handling vary from flower to flower. Knowing the details lets growers make good choices for each sales channel. Letting ranunculus open once or twice gives the best show for local buyers, for example, while tighter buds hold up better for distant markets. Same flower, different harvest stage, depending on where it is going.

Snapdragons are similar: a grower might cut them more open for a farmers market and tighter for dry-pack shipping. Zinnias are hard to ship far, since they dislike being out of water and have a fairly short vase life. That gives local growers who follow good standards a real opportunity to offer the best zinnias in town.

For the co-op's growers, the old saying that knowledge is power has proven true when it comes to harvest and post-harvest care. The hope is that Floral Standards will be just as helpful to growers elsewhere, whether they sell together or on their own.

Learn More

• Collective Selling Models for Flower Farmers: Flower Hubs That Work • Article
• Producer Cooperatives for Small-Scale Farmers • Webinar
• 5 Factors That Affect the Vase Life of Cut Flowers • Article
• Cut-Flower Harvesting & Post-Harvest Care• Article
• Building a Better Market Bouquet: Tips & Techniques for Growers • Article