Artificial flower exports produced by 360 women in seven rural communities in southern Honduras came to US $ 120,000 in 1988 and $ 300,000 in 1989. They are expected to reach the $ 500,000 mark this year and surpass $ 1 million in 1991. In addition to contributing to overall foreign exchange earnings, these exports have supported the country's rural development activities, in particular its efforts to generate employment in rural areas and to use the potential that exists among women in this sector. The way in which these exports were developed, including the problems encountered and how they were overcome, may provide ideas for other developing countries considering export-oriented rural development activities. Honduran exports are mainly rural based. Traditional exports are coffee, bananas, sugar and beef. Among the nontraditional exports developed in recent years have been handmade, artificial flowers, which were introduced in the country in 1975 when a handicrafts specialist working for the Ministry of Labor taught several groups of Honduran women to manufacture them. The flowers had the advantage of using raw materials readily available in the countryside: vegetable glue, crepe paper, fish scales, thorns, seeds, flower sepals and locally manufactured tie wire. They also were an attractive product from the overall development point of view because they involved rural women who could do this work in their homes. Although some groups of women in urban centres were among those who initially learned the craft, those groups ceased to exist after a year or two. The majority of people who choose artificial flowers do it because they require no maintenance. All you have to do is put the floral arrangement it in a corner, forget about it and go about your business, because you won't have to worry about any water spills or having to change the soil or even prune the leaves. So you can simply consider it a part of the static decor of your office or home. Artificial flowers might require a little cleaning every once in a while, but don't worry too much about it: all you have to do is wipe them with a damp cloth. Another advantage of purchasing artificial flowers would be the price. Most of the times the cost of artificial flowers is lower than the price of natural flowers, however, remember that the quality often matches the price of the artificial flower product. Now if you are thinking about giving a gift of artificial flowers to someone dear, think twice before you go shopping. Sure, artificial flowers might last longer, but fresh flower arrangements are truly an expression of love and respect.