The Thing About Buying Grocery Store Flowers

I’m writing from our small, local flower shop in Portland, Oregon. Across N. Williams Avenue from Portmanteau Flower Company’s floral art studio, I can see a New Seasons Market. This is one of Portland’s big grocery chains. They have a flower department that sells bouquets and such. Have you ever wondered where corporations like this get their flowers or what those products represent?

In a pinch, grabbing a bouquet from a grocery store might seem like a quick and easy option. They’re cheap, convenient, just sitting there, ready to go. What could be better, right? Hmmmm . . .

It’s little known by most of us that such bouquets are purchased by big corporate stores pre-made from foreign flowers overseas, ultra-processed in facilities of machines or by humans paid almost nothing, and shipped huge distances. They arrive often totally out of season for our PNW region. The clerks there probably couldn’t tell you where the blooms came from. In wintertime here, this kind of process to get flowers is actually unavoidable and understandable, even for local florists, since our growing season in zone 8 is not favorable for winter blooms. But outside of winter, the case should absolutely be different, shouldn’t it?

These questions scratch the surface of whether we should choose a small, local florist near us when we need flowers or rather support the corporate grocery stores that don’t even hire real florists to make things. Small, local florists, we find out, offer so much more than pre-packed blooms in plastic sleeves. I’ll touch on a number of interesting reasons that may have you second guessing that next purchase at some large chain.

Craftsmanship & Care Over Mere Convenience

As I said, grocery store flowers are mass-produced and often pre-arranged by machines or large-scale processing centers. Local florists, on the other hand, treat floral design as a craft. They hand-select each stem freshly, design intentionally with palette in mind, match textures thoughtfully, and create arrangements with genuine care and intention. A far cry from a processing center in another country! What you get from a florist is not just your typical, cheap grocery bouquet—it’s a valuable work of floral art.

Longer-Lasting, Fresher Flowers

Small florists like Portmanteau source their flowers more directly through local and regional growers. We actually know flower farmers in our Portland metro and PNW area. We order straight from them. This means the cut blooms are delivered in a more sustainable, eco-friendly way. The flowers haven’t spent days in hot airplanes flying over oceans, hours in smoking trucks or days in storage coolers like those at grocery stores. Fresher flowers last longer and look better. So you get more beauty and value for your money at a local florist.

Personalized Service and Expertise

Try asking a grocery store clerk which flowers are pet-safe, which ones last longest, or what blooms best suit a fall wedding theme. Now ask a local florist the same questions—you’ll get thoughtful, expert answers every time from a florist. Florists have chosen this profession out of love for beauty and blooms. They dedicate themselves to helping you choose the perfect arrangement for any occasion. And they can customize according to your preferences.

Ikebana style in shell with Tulips and Anemone

Designs That Tell a Story

Grocery store flowers tend to be generic—same colors, same plastic wrap, same flowers, made for the “same” people, same “one size fits all” approach. Cookie cutter. You are getting nothing unique, special or custom-made out of Fred Meyers’ bouquets. There’s no individual story there, and little if any design. There is, in fact, not even a real florist there! On the other hand, local florists take the time to understand your reason for buying flowers and design with that in mind. A florist’s piece can reflect the communicated sentiment you want because they’ve talked with you about the occasion. It’s one of the greatest joys of the job for a florist to learn about their client’s needs and craft a beautiful work with them specifically in mind.

You’re Supporting Local & Small, not a Supply Chain

Every bouquet from a small florist supports a real person in your community—someone who pays local taxes and contributes to the character and economy of the city or neighborhood. Grocery store flowers are just another product on the shelf at a rich, impersonal, big corporation. Ask yourself who you would rather support?

Sustainability and Seasonal Beauty

Our florists most often work with locally grown and seasonally available flowers. This reduces the environmental footprint of your bouquet. We also compost and recycle materials. Grocery store flowers, in contrast, are usually flown in from overseas, packed in single-use plastics, and built for volume, not sustainability. Super wasteful and damaging to nature and the earth’s ecology.

The Bottom Line: Intention vs. Transaction

Giving flowers should never feel like just another errand. It’s an act of kindness, love, care—something worth doing well, something community-oriented and special. Small local florists help you do it right. Their arrangements come with heart, quality, high values, eco-sensitivity, and that very personal touch that no grocery store can replicate.

So next time you think about picking up flowers, consider where they come from and what they represent. Skip the supermarket. Step into your nearby flower shop instead. You’ll feel more responsible and walk out with something far more meaningful and beautiful.