Approximately 90% of fresh flowers in the United States are imported from South America - mostly from Colombia and Ecuador. These farms rely heavily on chemical pesticides and fertilizers. A study in 2007 by the International labor Rights Fund found that 20% of chemicals sprayed on Colombian flowers are illegal in the U.S. and Europe, as they contribute to the contamination of soil and caused health problems for field workers. These same chemicals impact the surrounding flora and fauna, spreading by wind and contaminated water :-(