Organic Bouquet was formed in January 2001 with the goal to establish the national market for organic flowers. They have accomplished this by encouraging both small and large flower growers to initiate organic production while creating widespread trade and consumer awareness of the need for organic flowers. Their ultimate goal is to protect the environment and improve farm worker safety by eliminating millions of pounds of toxic pesticides from agricultural usage. Organic Bouquet has quickly become the market leader in organic flowers and is recognized in the trade as having established the natural products industry's newest category--organic floral. Their flowers are available online and in some of your favorite natural food stores, including Whole Foods Markets nationwide.
Gerald Prolman, CEO of Organic Bouquet, has a long and successful history of developing and introducing innovative organic perishables products on a large scale. His previous company, Made In Nature, was the first to successfully market a line of organic produce under a brand to mass-market retailers in the United States. During the early 1990s, Prolman's commercialization of organic fruits and vegetables resulted in the conversion of more than 10,000 acres of land to organic production in the U.S. and abroad. In 1994, Prolman sold Made In Nature to Dole Food Company, an event that was the catalyst for exponential growth of the organic category. Prolman began Organic Bouquet with no supply of product, no apparent demand and very little money. He started the company just as the dot.com boom came crashing down, and investors were extremely reluctant to entertain new business ideas. Undaunted by the challenge, Prolman was convinced that if he could create the supply, he would awaken the inherent demand among consumers concerned about the effects of chemicals on farm workers and the environment.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Gerald recently about his progress and accomplishments with Organic Bouquet, helping to establish a new type of floral certification, living a vegetarian lifestyle, the purchase of Organic Style from Rodale, and even more. Read on to find out more about this revolutionary company and its dynamic founder.