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.

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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.

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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

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