The number of commercial growers decreased for the fifth consecutive year. During 2002, there were 663 growers. The area used to produce floriculture crops in the state was up approximately 4 percent. Greenhouse space for operators exceeding the $10,000 sales level increased 3 percent to total 24.4 million square feet in 2002. This increase pushed the total covered area (greenhouse plus shade and temporary structures) up to 25.3 million square feet, 4 percent more than 2001.

The total U.S. wholesale value of floriculture crops grown by operations exceeding the $100,000 sales level reached $4.62 billion in 2002, up 3 percent from the revised 2001 total. These operations, which comprise 45 percent of all growers, account for 95 percent of the total value of floriculture crops. Bedding and garden plants wholesale value, at $2.28 billion, is the largest contributor to the value of production, up 5 percent from the previous year. Potted flowering plants value, at $822 million, is virtually unchanged from 2001. The foliage category is valued at $663 million for 2002. This is up 2 percent from the revised 2001 estimate. Value of cut flowers, at $410 million, is down 2 percent, while cut cultivated greens, at $111 million, is down 1 percent from 2001.

Additional details are available in "The Floriculture Crop Summary - 2002", released on April 23, 2003. It is available on the Internet at http://www.usda.gov/nass or by calling this office at the number listed above.