By Mᴀʀʏ Mᴡᴇɴᴅᴇ
Every day, trucks leave farms loaded with flowers bound for markets far from home. It is a routine so familiar, we sometimes forget to ask, who will grow for tomorrow?
As an industry, we spend so much time navigating market demands and certifications that we forget to consider who will carry this work forward. Not just in terms of labour, but in mindset, skill, and leadership. The day-to-day challenges of meeting quotas and ensuring quality sometimes leave little room to focus on the broader picture.
The question isn’t whether Kenya can continue to grow flowers. We know we can. The question is whether we are building the systems, knowledge, and opportunities that will outlive the generation currently steering this industry. Are we investing in young growers? Are we nurturing innovation on the farm? Are we creating space for new voices that challenge the status quo and envision a future beyond the one we see today?
The world’s markets will always have a say in what we grow, when, and for how much. But the vision for why we grow and the legacy we intend to leave behind belongs to us. It’s a conversation long overdue. Maybe today is the perfect time to start it.
Enjoy this week’s Floriweek!