Top 100 Grower Cuts Work Force In Half

By Greenhouse Grower staff|July 21, 2010

Nurserymen’s Exchange, a Top 100 operation that mainly produces flowering potted plants and spans 3.1 million square feet of greenhouse space, laid off nearly half its work force earlier this month.

Jack Pearlstein, Nurserymen’s Exchange president, issued a statement July 12 citing challenging economic times as the reason for the layoffs.

“The ongoing recession and its impact on sales have made this one of the most challenging times our family-owned business has faced in its over 60-year history,” Pearlstein wrote. “These decisions are never easy, particularly for a family business that has always treated our employees with dignity and respect. It was with great regret that we had to make these cutbacks. We did so because of the recession’s impact on our business.”

The Mercury News reports 132 employees were laid off while the Half Moon Bay Review reports 135 employees were laid off. Regardless of the exact number, the reduction nearly halves the total workforce of Nurserymen’s Exchange, which previously included about 300 employees.

The Half Moon Bay Review reports between 500 and 700 people gathered to protest the layoffs July 11. The newspaper also reports the United Farm Workers brought in around 50 people to protest for the day.