regional customs

AMA quality seal identifies plants with Austrian origin

Vienna (OTS) – On All Saints Day on November 1st, all deceased people are remembered. Many people visit the cemeteries and decorate the graves with colorful flowers to mark the occasion. In plants with the With the AMA quality seal you can be sure that the goods come from Austria.

1,381 florists and 214 cemetery gardeners provide expert advice

According to the WKO, there are currently 214 cemetery gardeners across Austria. Like the 1,381 florists, they play an essential role in the preparation of All Saints’ Day. They look after the cemeteries all year round and ensure that the graves are well maintained and look attractive. They grow flowers and plants specifically used for All Saints Day. The professionals advise customers on choosing flowers and plants that suit their individual needs and preferences. Florists are responsible for creating floral arrangements and wreaths that are placed on graves on All Saints Day. They tie wreaths, create floral decorations and use various techniques to harmoniously combine flowers and plants.

Chrysanthemums and heather for All Saints Day

Typical plants used on graves and memorials on All Saints Day are chrysanthemums. They symbolize remembrance of the deceased and are often grown in different colors such as white, yellow and bronze. Heather is also a popular plant for All Saints Day. It blooms in fall and comes in purple and pink. Autumn asters are popular flowers in the fall and can be found in white, pink and purple on All Saints Day. They symbolize hope and affection. In addition to flowers, evergreen plants such as boxwood, yew and holly are also used as they remain green all year round and symbolize the hope of eternal life. White flowers often represent purity and innocence, while red flowers can represent passion and love.

Austrians spend 89 euros on flowers

Flowers and plants are not only popular on All Saints’ Day: according to Statistics Austria, Austrians spend an average of 89 euros per year on live plants and goods from the flower trade. The main buyers for cut flowers are food retailers and floristry shops, while ornamental plants are predominantly marketed by the gardeners themselves. It also depends on the origin: flowers from Austrian production are fresh and are characterized by short transport routes. The challenges facing the industry include rising inflation resulting in consumer reluctance, unpredictable weather, labor shortages and high energy costs.

AMA quality seal for flowers and ornamental plants

Since 2020, the AMA seal of quality for flowers and ornamental plants has identified independently controlled plants of particular quality. Regional origin, location-appropriate and resource-saving production are the central criteria of the award. They are the focus of comprehensive controls that are carried out along the entire manufacturing and marketing chain. This means that plants with the AMA seal of quality and the region name Austria are guaranteed to have grown in this region. They are verifiably potted, cultivated, sorted and packaged here. “We are committed to increasing the quality of food, flowers and ornamental plants. That’s why we control the quality and inform consumers. This is how we support the sales of our products,” says AMA Marketing Managing Director Christina Mutenthaler-Sipek. You can find the participating companies with this link. You can find a list of Austrian gardening businesses at: https://zumgaertner.at/gaertnerfinder

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Christian Lastra
Corporate communications
Mobil: +43 664 837 64 20
E-Mail: presse@amainfo.at