Labor rights are a growing concern as the “Occupy Wall Street” movement gains steam both in the United States and abroad. But even as workers demand better conditions on the job, consumers are demanding ever-lower prices. Is it possible to satisfy both the worker and the consumer — or does something have to give? Roberto Nevado founded Nevado Roses in Ecuador in 1996 with a focus on improving the rights of workers in one of the world’s most prolific rose-producing regions. The company also places an emphasis on sustainable production, using an organic process to grow roses and carnations. Nevado co-owns the business with his son John.
This is the latest installment in the “Five Questions” series where we ask industry, thought and academic leaders five questions about what’s next.
1) Sustainable agriculture is frequently associated with higher product costs. How have you managed to stay competitive, while still improving working conditions and reducing environmental impact?
We acknowledge that sustainable cultivation of roses is more expensive than that for normal roses. In light of this, we sell our organic roses in niche markets that can pay a slightly higher price. We are also continually innovating around new usage areas for USDA organic roses. For example, we are currently looking to target supermarkets with pre-packaged, organic rose petals for salads and desserts. So far, we have managed to get into a few of the world’s top gourmet restaurants, among them Per Se in New York. Today, we are still investigating niches that will help us meet our costs, and we anticipate it will take two more years before we reach our goal.
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