by CDFA Office of Public Affairs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) recently released the 2024 Census of Horticultural Specialties report, the only source of detailed production and sales data for floriculture, nursery, and specialty crops for the entire United States.
Horticulture production occurred primarily in 10 states, which accounted for 67% of all U.S. horticulture sales in 2024. California ($3.07 billion), Florida ($2.15 billion) and Oregon ($1.29 billion) led the nation in sales.
The national data show that horticulture operations sold a total of $18.3 billion in floriculture, nursery and specialty crops in 2024. Horticultural sales in 2024 compared to 2019 all show an increase in sales and number of operations due to the addition of mushroom and hemp grown under protection in the latest Census of Horticultural Specialties. The number of horticulture operations in the United States totaled 23,060.
Top commodities in U.S. horticulture sales in 2024, and compared to 2019, were:
- Nursery stock, $5.34 billion, up 17%
- Annual bedding/garden plants, $2.67 billion, up 19%
- Sod, sprigs and plugs, $1.70 billion, up 34%
- Potted flowering plants, $1.29 billion, up 7%
- Potted herbaceous perennials, $1.36 billion, up 47%
- Propagative horticultural materials, bareroot, and unfinished plant materials, $780 million, up 8%
- Food crops under protection, $1.01 billion, up 44%
Other key findings from the 2024 Census of Horticultural Specialties report include
- Family- or individually-owned operations made up the largest number of operations, accounting for 56%, but corporate-owned operations accounted for 63% of sales ($11.6 billion).
- Total industry expenses were up 33% since 2019, with labor being the largest cost, accounting for 36% of total expenses in 2024.
