U.S. sees $18.3 billion in horticulture sales

WASHINGTON — American horticulture operations sold $18.3 billion in floriculture, nursery and specialty crops in 2024, according to the newly released Census of Horticultural Specialties report.

The number of horticulture operations in the United States totaled 23,060. That number now includes mushroom and hemp farms.

“First conducted in 1889, the horticulture census provides data on sectors for which there are no other comprehensive data sources,” said National Agricultural Statistics Service Administrator Joseph Parsons.

“It is a valuable tool to highlight the contribution horticulture growers bring to our local, state and national economies, as well as changes in the industry over the past five years.”

The report showed that most operations, or 56%, were family or individual owned; however; corporate-owned farms accounted for 63% of sales.

Industry expenses went up 33% since 2019, with the largest cost being labor.

The top commodities in U.S. horticulture sales in 2024, compared to 2019, were:

• Nursery stock — $5.34 billion, up 17%.

• Annual bedding and 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, bare root and unfinished plant materials — $780 million, up 8%.

• Food crops under protection — $1.01 billion, up 44%.

Indiana is a powerhouse for several specialty crops, consistently ranking in the top 10 nationally for items like pumpkins, watermelons and mint.

Although Indiana-specific data was not shared in this report, the 2022 Census of Agriculture showed Indiana horticulture and specialty crop categories had the following market values:

• Nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, sod — $140.4 million.

• Vegetables, melons, potatoes — $217 million.

• Fruits, tree nuts, berries — $25.3 million.

• Cultivated Christmas trees — $3.7 million.

Indiana holds impressive national rankings, including:

• No. 1 in the United States for gourds.

• No. 2 in the United States for pumpkins.

• No. 3 in the United States for spearmint.

• No. 4 in the United States for peppermint.

• No. 6 in the United States for watermelons.

• No. 10 in the United States for floral hemp.

For more information and to access the full report, visit nass.usda.gov/AgCensus.