Top 100 Growers: The 2011 List
Color Spot Nurseries (No. 1) and Kurt Weiss Greenhouses (No. 2) maintain their respective positions on our latest Top 100 Growers list with a staggering 26.4 million combined square feet of environmentally controlled greenhouse space. That’s virtually as many square feet as the bottom 30 greenhouse operations on our Top 100 Growers list combined.
Our report this year focuses on contract growing, which isn’t for everyone, but the majority of the Top 100 Growers are involved in one capacity or another. Many are the principal growers of Walmart, Home Depot and Lowe’s who contract others to produce particular crops for their big box customers. Others are the growers taking orders from those principal growers, filling up their greenhouses when they can with 100,000 pansy flats here and 75,000 color bowls there.
But regardless of whether a Top 100 Grower is involved in contract growing or not, the majority of the Top 100 (67 percent) believe contract growing is a healthy way to do business.
Click here to read more of our report:
Top 100 Growers: Growers Sound Off On Contract Growing
We surveyed the Top 100 Growers about their involvement in contract growing earlier this year. The majority say it works just fine for them.
Top 100 Growers: List Breakdown
One in four of our Top 100 growers report using additional greenhouse space this year. Find out who the biggest movers and shakers are.
2011 | 2010 | Operation | State | 2011 Sq Feet (% offshore) |
2010 Sq Feet (% offshore) | Crops By Percentage |
1 | 1 | Color Spot Nurseries | CA | 14,274,000 | 14,274,000 | 45% ornamental bedding plants, 19% container perennials, 19% woody ornamentals, 14% flowering potted plants, 3% other* |
2 | 2 | Kurt Weiss Greenhouses | NY | 12,146,020 | 12,146,020 | 40% ornamental bedding plants, 33% flowering potted plants, 10% woody ornamentals, 10% container perennials, 3% potted foliage, 3% plugs and propagation, 1% herbs* |
3 | 3 | Costa Farms | FL | 6,317,102 (9% offshore) | 7,111,322 (8%) | 50% potted foliage, 35% ornamental bedding plants, 15% plugs and propagation* |
4 | 5 | Paul Ecke Ranch/Ecke Geraniums LLC | CA | 5,805,180 (79% offshore) | 5,413,891 (78%) | 80% stock plants, 20% plugs and propagation* |
5 | 6 | Metrolina Greenhouses | NC | 5,600,000 | 5,400,000 | 65% ornamental bedding plants, 15% container perennials, 10% plugs and propagation, 5% potted foliage |
6 | 4 | Rocket Farms | CA | 5,500,000 | 5,500,000 | 64% flowering potted plants, 18% herbs, 9% potted foliage, 9% other* |
7 | 7 | Altman Plants | CA | 5,402,350 | 5,020,495 | 40% ornamental bedding plants, 20% container perennials, 20% potted foliage, 8% woody ornamentals, 5% flowering potted plants, 5% vegetables, 2% plugs and propagation |
8 | 8 | Color Star Growers | CO | 5,000,000* | 5,000,000* | 70% ornamental bedding plants, 25% flowering potted plants, 5% container perennials* |
9 | 9 | Hines Nurseries | CA | 4,834,000 | 4,834,000 | 50% woody ornamentals, 25% container perennials, 25% ornamental bedding plants* |
10 | 13 | Aris Horticulture | OH | 4,352,080 (40%) | 4,028,429 (49%) | 52% flowering potted plants, 25% container perennials, 8% herbs, 15% other |
11 | 11 | Bell Nursery | MD | 4,212,480* | 4,212,480 | 75% ornamental bedding plants, 10% container perennials, 5% flowering potted plants, 5% herbs, 5% vegetables* |
12 | 14 | Green Circle Growers | OH | 4,160,400 | 3,920,400 | 40% ornamental bedding plants, 30% flowering potted plants, 26% plugs and propagation, 4% potted foliage* |
13 | 12 | The Sun Valley Group | CA | 4,000,000 | 4,100,000* | 100% fresh cut flowers* |
14 | 15 | Delray Plants Co. | FL | 3,868,116 | 3,868,116 | 100% potted foliage |
15 | 10 | Speedling Inc. | FL | 3,807,688 (21%) | 4,787,000 (29%) | 50% ornamental bedding plants, 30% flowering potted plants, 10% plugs and propagation, 5% container perennials, 4% vegetables, 1% herbs |
16 | 16 | Milgro Nursery Inc. | UT | 3,500,000 | 3,500,000 | 90% flowering potted plants, 10% plugs and propagation* |
17 | 17 | Matsui Nursery | CA | 3,438,000 | 3,328,000 | 100% flowering potted plants |
18 | 22 | Hermann Engelmann Greenhouses | FL | 3,300,000 | 2,800,000 | 100% potted foliage* |
19 | 48t | Ivy Acres | NY | 3,253,290 | 1,481,040 | 50% ornamental bedding plants, 35% woody ornamentals, 10% container perennials, 5% flowering potted plants |
20 | 21 | Mid-American Growers | IL | 3,200,000 | 2,831,400 | 60% ornamental bedding plants, 35% flowering potted plants, 5% potted foliage* |
21 | 18t | Kerry’s Bromeliads | FL | 3,100,000* | 3,100,000 | 90% flowering potted plants, 10% plugs and propagation* |
22 | 20 | Woodburn Nursery & Azaleas | OR | 2,850,000 | 2,850,000 | 100% flowering potted plants* |
23 | 23 | Dallas Johnson Greenhouses | IA | 2,700,000 | 2,700,000 | 70% ornamental bedding plants, 20% container perennials, 5% flowering potted plants, 5% plugs and propagation* |
24t | 24 | Bay City Flowers | CA | 2,500,000 | 2,500,000* | 80% flowering potted plants, 20% ornamental bedding plants* |
24t | 18t | Nurserymen’s Exchange | CA | 2,500,000 | 3,100,000 | 90% flowering potted plants, 10% container perennials* |
26 | 25 | Tagawa Greenhouses | CO | 2,119,904 | 2,119,904 | 75% plugs and propagation, 25% ornamental bedding plants* |
27 | 26 | Floral Plant Growers LLC | WI | 2,103,105 | 2,103,105 | 71% ornamental bedding plants, 15% plugs and propagation, 7% flowering potted plants, 4% container perennials, 2% vegetables* |
28 | 28 | N G Heimos Greenhouses | MO | 2,030,000 | 1,940,000 | 50% ornamental bedding plants, 20% plugs and propagation, 15% flowering potted plants, 15% container perennials* |
29 | 27 | GroLink | CA | 1,970,000 (56%) | 1,970,000 (56%) | 95% ornamental bedding plants, 5% flowering potted plants |
30 | 32t | Smith Gardens | WA | 1,850,000 | 1,800,000 | 45% ornamental bedding plants, 35% container perennials, 10% plugs and propagation, 4% flowering potted plants, 3% herbs, 2% vegetables, 1% woody ornamentals |
31 | 30 | Wenke Greenhouses | MI | 1,829,520 | 1,829,520 | 72% ornamental bedding plants, 20% plugs and propagation, 6% vegetables, 2% herbs |
32 | 31 | Dan Schantz Farm | PA | 1,814,381 | 1,814,381 | 51% flowering potted plants, 47% ornamental bedding plants, 1% vegetables, <1% plugs and propagation, <1% herbs* |
33 | 32t | Barcelo Enterprises | FL | 1,800,000 | 1,800,000 | 40% woody ornamentals, 30% plugs and propagation, 20% flowering potted plants, 10% container perennials* |
34 | 34 | Battlefield Farms | VA | 1,785,960 | 1,785,960 | 85% flowering potted plants, 10% container perennials, 5% potted foliage* |
35 | 36 | Valley Flowers | CA | 1,740,000 | 1,740,000 | 100% fresh cut flowers* |
36 | 39 | Northwest Horticulture | WA | 1,698,840 | 1,611,720 | 55% plugs and propagation, 45% container perennials |
37 | 37 | Westland Floral Co. | CA | 1,677,060* | 1,677,060 | 90% fresh cut flowers, 10% flowering potted plants* |
38 | 38 | Ocean Breeze International | CA | 1,614,000 | 1,614,000 | 100% fresh cut flowers* |
39 | 47 | Bergen’s Greenhouses Inc. | MN | 1,611,720 | 1,498,600 | 75% ornamental bedding plants, 12% plugs and propagation, 5% flowering potted plants, 5% container perennials, 1% potted foliage, 1% herbs, 1% vegetables |
40 | 41 | Post Gardens Inc. | MI | 1,527,000 | 1,527,000 | 65% ornamental bedding plants, 21% flowering potted plants, 10% potted foliage, 4% plugs and propagation |
41t | 42 | Clearwater Nursery | CA | 1,525,000 | 1,525,000 | 97% flowering potted plants, 2% container perennials, 1% ornamental bedding plants |
41t | 49t | Young’s Plant Farm | AL | 1,525,000 | 1,481,040 | 60% ornamental bedding plants, 30% flowering potted plants, 10% plugs and propagation |
43 | 35 | Plant Marketing LLC | WI | 1,503,400 | 1,740,000 | 59% potted foliage, 41% ornamental bedding plants* |
44 | 43 | Garden State Growers | NJ | 1,502,820 | 1,502,820 | 45% ornamental bedding plants, 45% container perennials, 5% plugs and propagation, 5% vegetables |
45 | 44 | DeLeon’s Bromeliads | FL | 1,500,939 | 1,500,939 | 100% flowering potted plants* |
46t | 40 | Colorama Wholesale Nursery | CA | 1,500,000 | 1,591,196 | 50% ornamental bedding plants, 15% container perennials, 10% flowering potted plants, 10% herbs, 5% vegetables, 10% other |
46t | 45t | Kawahara Nurseries | CA | 1,500,000* | 1,500,000 | 50% ornamental bedding plants, 30% container perennials, 20% flowering potted plants* |
46t | 45t | Van Wingerden International | NC | 1,500,000 | 1,500,000 | 60% ornamental bedding plants, 20% flowering potted plants, 20% plugs and propagation |
49 | 48 | Dan & Jerry’s Greenhouse | MN | 1,445,000* | 1,445,000 | 85% ornamental bedding plants, 10% nursery crop, 5% flowering potted plants* |
50 | 58 | Willoway Nurseries | OH | 1,418,340 | 1,256,460 | 35% woody ornamentals, 33% container perennials, 20% ornamental bedding plants, 10% trees, 1% herbs, 1% vegetables |
51t | 51t | Gallup & Stribling Orchids Inc. | CA | 1,400,000 | 1,400,000* | 50% flowering potted plants, 50% fresh cut flowers* |
51t | 51t | Panzer Nursery | OR | 1,400,000 | 1,400,000 | 100% flowering potted plants* |
53 | 51t | Elzinga & Hoeksema Greenhouses | MI | 1,393,920 | 1,400,000 | 65% ornamental bedding plants, 15% vegetables, 10% flowering potted plants, 7% herbs, 2% plugs and propagation, 1% fresh cut flowers |
54 | 29 | B And H Flowers | CA | 1,350,000 | 1,929,000 | 100% fresh cut flowers* |
55 | 54 | Aldershot of New Mexico Inc. | NM | 1,317,000 | 1,317,000 | 85% flowering potted plants, 5% potted foliage, 5% ornamental bedding plants, 5% container perennials* |
56 | 64 | Henry Mast Greenhouses/ Masterpiece Flower Co LLC | MI | 1,312,700 | 1,050,000 | 65% ornamental bedding plants, 25% flowering potted plants, 9% plugs and propagation, 1% container perennials |
57t | 55t | Bailey Nurseries | MN | 1,306,800 | 1,306,800 | 37% plugs and propagation, 33% ornamental bedding plants, 30% container perennials* |
57t | 55t | Four Star Greenhouses | MI | 1,306,800 | 1,306,800 | 60% plugs and propagation, 40% ornamental bedding plants* |
57t | 55t | Johannes Flowers | CA | 1,306,800 | 1,306,800 | 100% fresh cut flowers* |
60 | 60 | Olson’s Greenhouse | UT | 1,300,000 | 1,186,729 | 55% ornamental bedding plants, 30% container perennials, 7% plugs and propagation, 5% flowering potted plants, 2% vegetables, 1% herbs |
61 | 59 | Rockwell Farms | NC | 1,220,000 | 1,220,000 | 65% ornamental bedding plants, 20% flowering potted plants, 15% plugs and propagation* |
62 | 69 | Young’s Nursery & Greenhouses | TN | 1,200,000 | 1,009,000 | 70% ornamental bedding plants, 15% flowering potted plants, 5% plugs and propagation, 5% potted foliage, 5% container perennials |
63 | 61 | Pacifica Flowers | CA | 1,176,120 (44.4%) | 1,176,120 (44.4%) | 100% fresh cut flowers* |
64 | 87 | Stacy’s Greenhouses Inc. | SC | 1,150,000 | 815,000 | 50% plugs and propagation, 29% container perennials, 15% flowering potted plants, 5% ornamental bedding plants, 1% vegetables |
65 | 62 | Timberline Nursery | TX | 1,100,000 | 1,100,000 | 85% ornamental bedding plants, 15% flowering potted plants* |
66 | 65 | Hiebert Greenhouse Inc. | SD | 1,089,000 | 1,047,644 | 50% ornamental bedding plants, 20% flowering potted plants, 10% container perennials, 7% vegetables, 5% plugs and propagation, 3% herbs, 3% woody ornamentalsm, 2% potted foliage |
67 | 100 | Riverview Flower Farm | FL | 1,078,656 | 696,960 | 60% container perennials, 30% ornamental bedding plants, 10% plugs and propagation |
68 | 63 | Sawyer Nursery | MI | 1,059,076 | 1,059,076 | 80% container perennials, 20% plugs and propagation* |
69 | 66 | Alex R. Masson | KS | 1,045,440 | 1,045,440 | 85% flowering potted plants, 10% potted foliage, 5% ornamental bedding plants* |
70 | NR | Armstrong Growers | CA | 1,044,344 | NR | NA |
71 | 67 | Heartland Growers | IN | 1,043,360 | 1,043,360* | 65% ornamental bedding plants, 25% flowering potted plants, 5% potted foliage, 5% plugs and propagation* |
72t | 68 | Dramm & Echter | CA | 1,040,000 (12% offshore) | 1,040,000 (12% offshore) | 100% fresh cut flowers* |
72t | 75t | Van de Wetering Greenhouses Inc. | NY | 1,040,000 | 940,000 | 80% plugs and propagation, 10% ornamental bedding plants, 10% flowering potted plants |
74 | 70 | Farmers’ West Flowers & Bouquests Inc. | CA | 1,003,950 | 1,003,950 | 67% fresh cut flowers, 33% plug and propagation* |
75t | 71t | Kent’s Bromeliad Nursery Inc. | CA | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 100% flowering potted plants |
75t | 71t | Kitayama Bros. | CA | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 100% fresh cut flowers* |
75t | 71t | Sunshine Floral Inc. | CA | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000* | 100% fresh cut flowers* |
75t | 71t | Welby Gardens Co. Inc. | CO | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 70% ornamental bedding plants, 13% container perennials, 10% plugs and propagation, 5% flowering potted plants, 2% herbs |
79 | 78 | Dewar Nurseries Inc. | FL | 971,600 | 914,000 | 75% flowering potted plants, 10% ornamental bedding plants, 7% container perennials, 5% potted foliage, 3% vegetables* |
80 | 77 | Maria Gardens Greenhouses Inc. | OH | 958,260 | 914,700 | 55% ornamental bedding plants, 20% flowering potted plants, 20% potted foliage, 5% container perennials* |
81 | 75t | Hart’s Nursery | OR | 940,000 | 940,000 | 70% ornamental bedding plants, 15% container perennials, 15% vegetables and herbs* |
82 | 82 | Nash Greenhouse | MI | 913,000 | 871,200 | 86% ornamental bedding plants, 5% plugs and propagation, 5% vegetables, 2% herbs, 2% container perennials |
83 | 80 | Petitti Garden Center (Casa Verde) | OH | 895,000 | 895,000 | 54% ornamental bedding plants, 35% container perennials, 5% vegetables, 2% flowering potted plants, 2% plugs and propagation, 2% herbs |
84 | 81 | Richardson Bros. Inc. | IL | 892,980 | 892,980* | 53% ornamental bedding plants, 30% flowering potted plants, 15% plugs and propagation, 2% potted foliage* |
85 | 91 | Lucas Greenhouses | NJ | 883,896 | 770,000 | 67% flowering potted plants, 20% plugs and propagation, 10% ornamental bedding plants, 2.5% container perennials, 0.25% herbs, 0.25% vegetables |
86 | 83 | White’s Nursery & Greenhouses Inc. | VA | 860,000 | 860,000 | 65% flowering potted plants, 35% ornamental bedding plants* |
87 | 84 | Twixwood Nursery LLC | MI | 851,000 | 851,000 | 51% container perennials, 40% plugs and propagation, 5% other, 4% woody ornamentals* |
88 | 85 | Blue Ridge Growers | VA | 850,000 | 850,000 | 62% ornamental bedding plants, 18% flowering potted plants, 15% plugs and propagation, 5% vegetables |
89 | 86 | Kube-Pak | NJ | 845,000 | 845,000 | 44% ornamental bedding plants, 35% plugs and propagation, 10% flowering potted plants, 5% container perennials, 5% vegetables, 1% herbs |
90 | 93 | Bob’s Market & Greenhouses Inc. | WV | 815,000 | 765,000 | 70% plugs and propagation, 28% ornamental bedding plants, 2% flowering potted plants, <1% container perennials, <1% herbs* |
91 | 88 | Grower Direct Farms | CT | 802,000* | 802,000 | 70% ornamental bedding plants, 25% flowering potted plants, 5% vegetables* |
92t | 89 | Plants Unlimited | MI | 800,000 | 800,000 | 97% ornamental bedding plants, 3% flowering potted plants |
92t | NR | South Central Growers | TN | 800,000 | NA | 77% ornamental bedding plants, 10% flowering potted plants, 8% potted foliage, 5% vegetables |
94 | 90 | Cuthbert Greenhouses | OH | 782,000 | 782,000 | 60% ornamental bedding plants, 20% flowering potted plants, 10% potted foliage, 10% plugs and propagation* |
95 | 94 | Olive Hill Greenhouses Inc. | CA | 760,000 | 760,000 | 50% flowering potted plants, 50% potted foliage |
96 | 92 | California Pajarosa | CA | 750,000 | 765,576 | 100% fresh cut flowers |
97 | 97 | Myriad Flowers International | CA | 740,520 | 740,520 | 100% fresh cut flowers |
98 | 99t | Esbenshades Greenhouse | PA | 740,000 | 710,000 | 80% ornamental bedding plants, 20% flowering potted plants* |
99 | 99 | Knox Nursery | FL | 700,000 | 700,000 | 70% plugs and propagation, 25% ornamental bedding plants, 5% flowering potted plants* |
100 | NR | Parks Brothers Farm | AK | 677,000 | NR | 90% ornamental bedding plants, 5% flowering potted plants, 4% vegetables, 1% herbs |