ORONO, MEWhether plants are grown for food or ornamental use, conventional
agricultural production methods have the same environmental impact. Pesticides,
herbicides, and chemical fertilizers can find their way into the air and
groundwater, ultimately affecting the environment, wildlife, and communities.
Interest in reducing detrimental environmental impact by using organic
production methods is catching on with growers and consumers alike. Increasing
numbers of consumers are choosing organic foods for ethical reasons; they view
organics as having a less harmful impact on the environment than foods grown
using conventional production techniques. These eco-conscious consumers are also
showing an interest in purchasing organically grown nonedible crops like
ornamental bedding plants and cut flowers. Assuming this green trend continues,
organic ornamental bedding plant production may soon be a new niche for
conventional bedding plant growers.
A recent USDA report showed that acreage of organic nurseries and greenhouses in
the United States has increased 83% since 2004. But supermarket sales of organic
ornamental plants are not keeping up with this growth; organic herbs and flowers
have been marketed primarily through the Internet, community-supported
agriculture groups, and local farmers markets. Now, some larger ornamental
greenhouse growers are starting to integrate organic production into their
facilities in anticipation of a growth in consumer demand.
Stephanie Burnett and Lois Berg Stack of the University of Maine and the
University of Maine Cooperative Extension surveyed growers in Maine to determine
the perceived research needs of this emerging industry. Both organic and
conventional greenhouse growers were included in the project to determine what
problems organic ornamental bedding plant producers encounter and to find out
what barriers prevent conventional bedding plant growers from converting to
organic production. The study findings appeared in a recent issue of
HortTechnology.
Organic growers were asked to identify their greatest motivator to determine
whether they felt that there is a real market for organically grown ornamental
plants. The greatest percentage (75%) of organic growers indicated that they
choose to grow plants organically because its the right thing to do.
Interestingly, none of the growers who responded said that market demand was
their greatest motivation for organic ornamental production.
When asked to identify their challenges, organic bedding plant growers
identified insect and disease management as their number one production
challenge, and problems with fertility as their second greatest concern.
Conventional growers indicated that they primarily avoid organic production
techniques because they consider organic fertilization or organic insect
management to be too big of a challenge.
According to Burnett, because both organic and conventional growers consider
insect and fertility or substrate management to be challenges facing organic
growers, these topics should be top priorities for future research on organic
greenhouse production.
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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortTechnology
electronic journal web site:
http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/19/4/743
About the American Society for Horticultural Science
Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the
largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural
research, education, and application. More information at ashs.org