Sheena Flowers

Sheena Flowers is part of the multi-estate company Southern Roses that is comprised of six farms around the capital Harare. At the moment only the Sheena farm is Fair Trade Certified™, but the company hopes to bring more of its branches into the Fair Trade market. Sheena has been part of Fair Trade since 2008; it currently employs 60 workers. Today, much of what we hear about Zimbabwe is news of their ongoing economic and political crises. However, the country does have significant infrastructure investment and a dynamic population. The situation is not idyllic though; there is a significant economic crisis. Unemployment is one of the main problems facing the people of Zimbabwe. Economic investment can and does play a part in changing the situation and that is why Fair Trade is so important for Zimbabwean flower farms. The financial situation is quite critical for most flower farms in the country and specifically for Fair Trade farms as their costs are higher to produce goods according to strict environmental standards. Protective equipment for workers and alternative agricultural inputs (because Fair Trade prohibits the most dangerous pesticides and chemicals) mean that Zimbabwean companies invest much more in their product and in their worker safety than the typical farm. Through Fair Trade flower purchasing, flower workers at Sheena and other Zimbabwean Fair Trade farms earn fair wages and are guaranteed fair working conditions. In addition, Fair Trade premiums from flower sales allow workers to implement projects like emergency funds and school support campaigns.