Episode 746: Slow Flowers in Sweden, with Eva Eliasson, chairwoman of Snittblomsodlare (Slow Flowers Sweden)

https://youtu.be/D6ZrP98HNEg?si=xnsb-hjNywgQYrPr Today’s guest, Eva Eliasson, joins me from Stockholm, Sweden, where she is the chairwoman of Snittblomsodlare, the association of cut flower farmers in Sweden. We met virtually earlier this year when Eva reached out to introduce herself while on a family trip to the U.S. We scheduled time to chat further and I learned about the emerging market for locally-grown flowers in Sweden, a country with about 11 million citizens. Snittblomsodlare was formed in 2020 and has grown to include about 200 members across Sweden – representing farms in a diverse range of growing zones. I invited Snittblomsodlare to join Slow Flowers International and we’re thrilled to announce their official affiliation with the Slow Flowers Movement. I know you will enjoy our conversation as Eva and I discuss some of the same challenges and successes faced in their country and the impressive steps these growers are taking to change the floral marketplace. Eva Eliasson of Dalblomster and Snittblomsodlare Sweden makes global headlines today, December 10th, because it’s the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. To commemorate, the award ceremony honoring Nobel laureates traditionally takes place on December 10th. While that major event celebrates recipients of the Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and the prize in economic sciences, today’s guest, Eva Eliasson, chairwoman of Snittblomsodlare (the Swedish cut flower farmers association), will talk with me about big news in the Slow Flowers world, and how local, seasonal, and sustainable cut flowers in Sweden are gaining attention. More about the Swedish flower farm, dalblomster, owned by Eva Eliasson Dahlia fields in Sweden at Eva Eliasson's farm, dalblomster Eva is the owner of Dalblomster, a micro farm in rural Sweden, located about 500 kilometers north of Stockholm, where she lives during the offseason. She has been active in the country’s emerging cut flower growers association, which brought us together (virtually) earlier this year. Recently, Snittblomsodlare joined Slow Flowers International, our global movement, and I’ve been quite inspired by their leadership. Last month, I presented the Slow Flowers Story at the association’s annual conference, sharing about our movement’s history over the past 15 years. I was so inspired by the questions and the comments from the attendees – I loved meeting them virtually and I know they are doing amazing things to change the landscape for local flowers in Sweden. Above: a gallery of Eva’s design work as a farmer-florist, including the florals she designed for her daughter’s wedding here in the U.S. You’ll love her wild and beautiful aesthetic. Follow Snittblomsodlare on Instagram Join us at the Slow Flowers WORLDWIDE Summit! 2026 Slow Flowers WORLDWIDE Summit Speakers The countdown continues to our 2026 Slow Flowers WORLDWIDE Summit, taking place ONLINE January 30-31 – and I hope you check out the details in our show notes – or just log onto slowflowerssummit.com to register. And here’s some great news, our lead sponsor, MyPatioTree.com has extended their CyberWeek promotion through the end of this year. Purchase your Slow Flowers WORLDWIDE Summit ticket by December 31st and MyPatioTree.com will send you a patio-ready flowering tree (value $199) as a complimentary gift this spring. MyPatioTree.com grows premium patio-sized ornamental trees: compact, elegant standards designed to bring beauty and structure to any small garden space. Grown on a second-generation family nursery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, these exceptional trees are known as the “gold standard of standards,” and we know you’ll love yours. Each one ships directly from the farm so it arrives fresh to your door. After you register, you’ll receive a link in January to claim your free tree. If you’ve already purchased your ticket, you’re automatically included. Click for Registration and Free Tree Promotion! Thank you to our Sponsors This show is brought to you by slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 700 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers. Thank you to our lead sponsor, Flowerbulb.eu and their U.S. lily bulb vendors. One of the most recognizable flowers in the world, the lily is a top-selling cut flower, offering long-lasting blooms, year-round availability, and a dazzling petal palette. Flowerbulb.eu has partnered with Slow Flowers to provide beautiful lily inspiration and farming resources to help growers and florists connect their customers with more lilies. Learn more at Flowerbulb.eu. Thank you to Charles Little & Company for supplying our industry with some of the most beautiful and sustainably-grown design ingredients, available nationwide through their website at charleslittleandcompany.com. Based in Eugene, Oregon, the farmers at Charles Little & Company have been growing and drying flowers since 1986. New products and dried flower collections are added to their website at the first of each month. Check it out at charleslittleandcompany.com. Thank you to the Association of Specialty Cut Flowers. The ASCFG is a gathering place for specialty cut flower growers of all levels of experience. It is a hub of knowledge, where seasoned experts and budding enthusiasts come together to learn, share, and support one another. The ASCFG is dedicated to empowering its members with the knowledge and resources needed to thrive in the world of cut flower farming. From educational workshops and conferences to online resources and publications, they provide a wealth of information and support for all things related to growing exceptional cut flowers. Learn more about the ASCFG and how to be a part of it at www.ascfg.org! Thank you for joining me today! The Slow Flowers Podcast is a member-supported endeavor, downloaded more than 1.5 million times by listeners like you. Thank you for listening, commenting and sharing – it means so much. As our movement gains more supporters and more passionate participants who believe in the importance of our domestic cut flower industry, the momentum is contagious. I know you feel it, too. If you’re new to our weekly Show and our long-running Podcast, check out all of our resources at SlowFlowersSociety.com. Thank you for listening! Sending love, from my cutting garden to you! (c) Missy Palacol Photography I'm Debra Prinzing, host and producer of the Slow Flowers Show & Podcast. The Slow Flowers Podcast is engineered and edited by Andrew Brenlan. The content and opinions expressed here are either mine alone or those of my guests alone, independent of any podcast sponsor or other person, company or organization. Next week, you're invited to join me in putting more Slow Flowers on the table, one stem, one vase at a time. Thanks so much for joining us today and I'll see you next week! Music credits: Drone Pine; Gaena; Via Verreby Blue Dot Sessionshttp://www.sessions.blue Lovelyby Tryad http://tryad.bandcamp.com/album/instrumentalshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ In The Fieldaudionautix.com