Fynbos Harvesting

harvesting Fynbos Flower Valley Farm was under threat from agricultural development and was purchased in April 1999 by the Flower Valley Conservation Trust (FVCT) with help from Fauna & Flora International's Arcadia Fund. Since then, FVCT has turned it's attention to improving the economic viability of the flower business, aware that this is a key to balancing social, economic and conservation issues in the region

Research is helping to achieve the optimum balance between conservation and sustainable use of fynbos. We are developing strict environmental guidelines for the harvesting of the wild growing flowers & greens, to ensure that we are not over-harvesting any one plant or picking threatened species.

Flowers are not only harvested from the farm at Flower Valley, but also from a supply network of privately owned farms and state conservation areas covering 20 000 hectares, mostly based in the threatened Agulhas Plain. Without this income these farmers would have to seriously consider sacrificing the natural flora for other agricultural uses.

In order to prevent this, Flower Valley's strategy is to improve the market positioning of wild harvested fynbos material, using eco/ethical labelling to add value, gain market access and a price advantage. In other words, utilise market mechanisms to reward landowners for sustainable land management, thus enhancing bio-diversity conservation in the region.

Flower Valley bouquets are now available in Shell Select stores in the Gauteng area.

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