While the wholesale value of floriculture crops grew modestly in 2007, bucking a previous downward trend, the total number of floriculture producers declined from 2006 to 2007. Those were just two of the trends the Floriculture Crops 2007 Summary identified in a USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) report published in April.

Reversing the downward slide identified for 2006, the 2007 wholesale value of floriculture crops was up 2 percent to $4.1 billion from the revised 2006 valuation (revised based on farms that responded in 2007, but not in 2006, so their figures were added to the previous year). Once again California was the leading state among the 15 states surveyed, with crops valued at $1 billion, nearly identical to the values in 2005 and 2006. However, Florida, the second highest state, was up 14 percent from 2006 to $915 million. In 2006, Florida's value fell 16 percent. The top five states ranked in order of production value in 2007 were California, Florida, Michigan, Texas and New York, accounting for two-thirds of the total 15-state value, or $2.75 billion.

The total number of floriculture producers fell 6 percent to 6,140 from 6,562 in 2006. The tally of producers with sales of $100,000 or more fell 4 percent. These larger producers accounted for 96 percent of the total value of sales, but comprised only 47 percent of all producers.

Segment Sales of Larger Producers

The value of bedding and garden plants was down 3 percent to $1.76 billion and represents the largest segment of floriculture production (45 percent). Potted flowering plants for the indoor or patio use segment was up 6 percent in sales. Foliage plant sales rose 19 percent, exactly reversing the decline in 2006. The wholesale value of cut flowers increased 1 percent compared to an increase of 4 percent in 2006. The value of cut cultivated greens was down 5 percent while total value of sales of propagative floriculture materials was down 1 percent.

SAF is working with USDA/NASS to reinstate the number of states surveyed from the current 15 state program to the 36 states of recent years before NASS budget cuts forced the downsizing of the survey. Since this is the only annual data on floriculture production collected nationwide, it is important to have as comprehensive a picture of this industry segment as possible.

--Ira Silvergleit
isilvergleit@safnow.org

 

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