Sarah Rose Bloom

Nuffield Australia 2014 Scholar

Sarah Rose Bloom from Swan Hill in Victoria, received a 2014 Nuffield Scholarship, supported by Horticulture Australia Limited using voluntary contributions from Nuffield Australia and matched funds from the Australian Government.

Sarah researched the commercial viability of alternative flower petal products, as well as advancements in the production, packaging and marketing of rose petals.

With her mother, Sarah founded Australia’s first rose petal farm and now they grow and freeze‐dry the largest colour range of rose petals in the southern hemisphere.

Sarah grows the rose petals outdoors on the family farm, where they have more than 6,000 rose plants and a small crop of hydrangeas, which produce from October through to July.

Sarah researched alternative flower petal products to ensure the domestic industry continues to evolve and thrive.

“My studies investigated the production and packaging of edible rose petals for culinary use as well as certified organic rose petals and their commercial viability,” Sarah says.

She also researched niche markets including rose petal oil, crystallized flowers and tourist shops or cafes on flower farms.

Sarah travelled to Ecuador, the UK, France, Bulgaria, Germany and the USA.