The 2009 wholesale value of floriculture crops is down 7 percent from the revised 2008 valuation. The total crop value at wholesale for the 15-state program for all growers with $10,000 or more in sales is estimated at $3.83 billion for 2009, compared with $4.11 billion for 2008.
California continues to be the leading state with crops valued at $935 million, but is down 12 percent from the 2008 value. Florida, the next largest producer, at $696 million is down 9 percent from the prior year to in wholesale value. These two states account for 43 percent of the 15-state total value. For 2009, the top 5 states are California, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, and Texas, which account for $2.53 billion, or 66 percent, of the 15-state total value.
Number of Producers: The number of producers for 2009, at 6,457, is down 13 percent in the 15 States compared with the revised 2008 count of 7,362. The number of producers with sales of $100,000 or more dropped 3 percent to 2,919 for 2009 from 3,019 in 2008.
Area Used for Production: In the 15-State program, total covered area for floriculture crop production was 806 million square feet. However, these data are not comparable to the 2008 revised area of 756 million square feet due to the combined data collection efforts of the Census of Horticulture and the Annual Floriculture Survey. The data in 2009 include area used for production of nursery crops as well as floriculture crops.
Peak Hired Workers: The average peak number of hired workers employed on operations in the 15-State program in 2009 is 18.3. A total of 5,044 operations hired workers during 2009. Overall, 78 percent of operations used some hired labor during 2009. The 2009 hired worker data are not comparable with 2008 data due to the combined data collection efforts of the Census of Horticulture and the Annual Floriculture Survey.
Production from Operations with Sales of $100,000 or More
Total Wholesale Value: The total wholesale value of floriculture crops grown by operations with $100,000 or more of sales in the 15-State program is $3.69 billion for 2009, down 6 percent from the revised 2008 total. These largest operations account for 96 percent of the total value of floriculture crops, but comprise only 45 percent of all producers. California contributed 25 percent of the total wholesale value in the 15 States. Florida ranks second with 18 percent; while Michigan, North Carolina, and Texas round out the top 5 States accounting for 10 percent, 7 percent, and 7 percent of the total, respectively.
Bedding/Garden Plants: The wholesale value of bedding and garden plants, at $1.81 billion, is down 2 percent from the previous year. This is the largest contributor to value of production and represents 49 percent of the wholesale value of all the reported crops. California, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas, and Ohio the top 5 States in this category, account for 79 percent of the total 15-State bedding and garden value. The number of growers producing annual bedding and garden plants is 1,317, up 1 percent from 2008.
Potted bedding and garden plants, both annuals and perennials, are valued at $1.10 billion for 2009, down 4 percent from 2008. This value represents 61 percent of the bedding and garden category. Potted annual bedding and garden plants are valued at $606 million, up 1 percent from the revised 2008 valuation.
Potted herbaceous perennials, valued at $492 million for 2009, is down 10 percent from 2008. These crops account for 27 percent of the bedding and garden category. The number of growers producing herbaceous potted perennial plants is 1,416, two percent fewer than in 2008.
The value of annual bedding and garden flats is up 2 percent from a year earlier to $501 million. Flats represent 28 percent of the total value for bedding and garden plants.
Flowering hanging baskets account for $209 million in wholesale value, up 7 percent from 2008. Hanging baskets account for 12 percent of the total bedding and garden value.
Potted Flowering Plants: Potted flowering plants for indoor or patio uses are valued at $632 million, down 5 percent from 2008. California accounts for 40 percent of the 15-State value in this category, and Florida accounts for 26 percent. The value of Potted Orchids is $160 million, up 26 percent from the previous year. Crops in this category with increased values include florist Easter lilies and orchids. Potted flowering plant producers increased by one percent to 1,259 in 2009.
Foliage Plants: The value of 2009 foliage plant production, at $401 million, is down 12 percent from the previous year at the 15-State level. Florida continues to dominate this category with 67 percent of the value. Potted foliage plants represent 88 percent of the total foliage value. The remainder of the value is from hanging baskets. The number of foliage producers decreased 10 percent to 879 in 2009.
Cut Flowers: The wholesale value of domestically produced cut flowers is $359 million for 2009, 14 percent less than 2008. California's value is $269 million, accounting for 75 percent of the total cut flower value in the 15-State program. In 2009, the number of producers dropped slightly to 362.
Cut Cultivated Greens: Cut cultivated greens wholesale value for 2009, at $74 million, is down 19 percent from 2008. Florida's value, at $55.7 million, represents 75 percent of the category total. The number of producers for 2009, at 171, decreased 10 percent from the previous year.
Propagative Floriculture Materials: Total value of sales of material for propagating annual bedding and garden plants, potted herbaceous perennials, potted flowering plants, foliage plants, cut flowers, and cut cultivated greens is $358 million for 2009, down 7 percent from the previous year. The three leading States, Florida, Michigan, and California, account for 61 percent of the 15-State total.
Source: USDA