Where we stand

Hey There,

As we head into Valentine’s Day — one of the most important moments of the year for our business — I want to pause and speak to you directly.

This is usually a season filled with beauty, connection, and celebration. But like many of you, I’ve found myself distracted and deeply unsettled by what we’ve been witnessing in near real time — the violence, dehumanization, and loss of life tied to ICE’s actions and enforcement practices. We should all demand accountability.

I know we are living in a divided time, and that political affiliation may influence how people view ICE, immigration, and the current administration. Farmgirl Flowers is a privately owned company, and one of the responsibilities I carry as its founder is deciding when we use our voice. This is one of those moments. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me — but I do believe transparency matters, and that silence in moments like this is not neutral.

Floriculture, like agriculture, is inextricably linked to the work of immigrant communities. Farmgirl would not exist without their labor, care, and expertise. That is a simple fact. From a business standpoint alone, this issue has shaped how we operate and how we are able to continue doing what we do.

But this goes far beyond business.

At its core, I believe this is a matter of basic morality and shared humanity. As someone who values integrity above all else, I believe that when we stand by and condone — even silently — what is happening, we become complicit in it.

I also recognize that this may never directly affect my own family. My ancestors immigrated at a moment in history that — often cruelly and unethically — allowed them to build the life I now benefit from. But caring about injustice shouldn’t depend on whether it touches us personally. With privilege comes responsibility — the responsibility to stand up for those who were not afforded the same opportunity. That is a responsibility I choose to take on, even when it comes at personal or professional cost. Because, not only is it just the right thing to do as a human being, but also because without that privilege, Farmgirl Flowers would not exist in the first place.

I want to share a bit of personal context that shapes how I see this moment. I was raised in a deeply religious and highly restrictive household, where church was central to our lives and the Bible was deeply imprinted in me. While my beliefs have evolved, the core values I was raised with — loving your neighbor and standing up for those with less — are ones I still hold deeply and live by. From my learnings, this is not what Jesus would do — plain and simple. He consistently taught love above all else, spent time with those society cast aside, crossed boundaries to care for the marginalized, and reminded us that how we treat “the least of these” is how we treat him. While I no longer hold many of the beliefs I was taught, I do believe deeply that how we treat the most vulnerable among us reflects who we are.

I know that taking a public stance like this will be divisive. I’m prepared for that, and I believe it’s still the right thing to do. I also know that some of you will not agree with our choice — and that’s okay. My father used to tell me and my siblings that integrity is what you do when no one is watching. I believe that’s true — and I also believe integrity means standing up for what’s right even when it’s risky and comes with personal loss. So I’m willing to accept that loss in order to do what I believe is right.

We’re still working through the details of how we’ll be adding our voice — and our dollars — to this cause. But here’s what we’re committing to right now, with more to come:

• We are removing vendors who are actively aiding ICE and DHS from our supply chain.

• We will be launching a flexible With Heart collection, with proceeds supporting organizations fighting ICE, providing legal aid, and supporting affected communities. This collection will run for as long as this crisis persists.

• We are calling on our state representatives to defund ICE and to hold agents responsible for these deaths accountable. We’ll share resources publicly for those who wish to do the same.

If you have suggestions for organizations we should consider supporting through our With Heart program, we welcome them. Please respond here or reach out to Kat at [email protected] or to me directly at [email protected]. We won’t engage with hate — but we will continue to lead with compassion, even when it isn’t returned.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting a small business that believes flowers can be beautiful — and that integrity matters just as much, if not more.

With heart,

Christina