About
The UMass Extension Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture Team supports the greenhouse industry with research and information on environmentally safe production practices and marketing. The greenhouse industry is one of the largest production agriculture moneymakers in Massachusetts's, valued at $78 million dollars. There are over 1000 commercial greenhouse and flower producing operations growing potted plants, perennials, bedding plants and cut flowers. The team's overall goal is to help Massachusetts greenhouse growers remain profitable within the environmental, social, and economic climate of the state.
The team's educational activities include newsletters (Floral Notes), two websites (New England Greenhouse Update and Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture), publications, workshops, conferences, training programs, diagnostic services and research. The team also works with Extension Specialists and grower representatives throughout the northeast to host The Northeast Greenhouse Conference, held every other year. The conference includes over 60 educational sessions and 200 exhibitors.
The Floriculture Staff consists of two Extension staff in the Department of Plant, Soil & Insect Sciences with University Faculty support and research in plant nutrition and pathology. The UMass Extension Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture Program is a part of UMass Extension's Agriculture and Landscape Program.
Feel free to contact members of the team to discuss specific issues. Contact information is provided at the top, right-hand corner of every page.
Massachusetts Flower Power: Floriculture Statistics in Massachusetts
According to the 2010 New England Agriculture Statistics Service, greenhouse and nursery sales remained the top contributor to Massachusetts' total cash receipts, with sales estimated at $154 million.
A recent study (2009) of the impact of the Environmental Horticulture Industry on the New England economy is available at http://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/nesurvey/index.htm
- Wholesale floriculture and nursery production is 29.8 percent of cash receipts for agricultural crops.
- Greenhouse and nursery production is ranked 2nd in New England in cash receipts for all agricultural commodities. Dairy is number one.
- Massachusetts is ranked 19th in the nation for wholesale value of floriculture crops.
- There are 10 Million square feet of greenhouse space devoted to floriculture in Massachusetts and this figure is growing all the time.
- There are about 400 acres of field production in floriculture in Massachusetts.
- Each household in the northeast spends an average of $44 annually.
- Land and building in floriculture production in Massachusetts is valued at $320 Million.
- The amount of payroll paid to hired labor in Floriculture in Massachusetts in 2001 was $45 Million.
- There were 5,000 employees hired in wholesale Floriculture industry in Massachusetts.
Sources: New England Agricultural Statistics Service, May 19, 2005 report for CT & MA, USDA Floriculture Crops 2001 Summary, USDA Floriculture and Nursery Crops Outlook, September 2002, 1997 Census of Agriculture
Greenhouse Vegetables
According to the 2007 Census of Agriculture there are 120 growers and 577,000 sq. ft. in greenhouse vegetables and fresh cut herb production in Massachusetts. Of those 120 growers, 57, each have under 3,000 sq. ft. in production, 51 have 3,000-10,000 sq. feet of procution. Twenty four growers have more than 10,000 sq. ft. in production.
Source: 2007 Census of Agriculture - Massachusetts
As growers extend markets through winter, greenhouses are playing an important role:
See article: Greenhouse help Western Mass. farmers sell crops even in winter
