E-mail: nass-ny@nass.usda.gov
(518) 457-5570

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:  Brent Farley
Monday, April 27, 2009

www.nass.usda.gov/ny

                       VALUE OF NEW YORK FLORICULTURE
                            PRODUCTION DECREASES

New York floriculture production ranked seventh in the nation for total
commercial sales in 2008.  The overall value of commercial sales for
operations with more than $10,000 in sales decreased 3 percent to $202
million.  Bedding and garden plants continued to be the highest component
of the total value of sales at $107 million.  Potted flowering plants were
second with a value of sales of $41.6 million, even with previous year.
Propagative materials ranked third at $19.5 million, a decrease of 6
percent from 2007.

During 2008, there were 824 growers.  The open ground area used to produce
floriculture crops in the state was up 11 percent to 1,184 acres.
Greenhouse space for operators exceeding the $10,000 sales level decreased
9 percent to total 23.3 million square feet in 2008.  This decrease brought
the total covered area down to 23.8 million square feet, 9 percent less
than 2007.

Nationally, the total wholesale value of floriculture crops grown by
operations with $100,000 or more of sales in the 15-State program is $4.04
billion for 2008, down 2 percent from the revised 2007 total. These largest
operations account for 96 percent of the total value of floriculture crops,
but comprise only 41 percent of all producers.  Bedding and Garden plants
wholesale value of bedding and garden plants, at $1.84 billion, is up 1
percent from the previous year.  Potted flowering plants for indoor or
patio use are valued at $698 million, down 1 percent from 2007.  The value
of 2008 foliage plant production, at $630 million, is down 4 percent from
the previous year.  Value of cut flowers, at $403 million, is down 5
percent, while cut cultivated greens, at $93.5 million, is down 5 percent
from 2007.

Additional details are available in  "The Floriculture Crop Summary -
2008", released April 23, 2009.  It is available on the Internet at
www.nass.usda.gov or by calling this office at the number listed above.

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4-27-08