Highlights From The 2013 USDA Floriculture Crops Summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its 2013 Floriculture Crops Summary in June. Here are some of the highlights:

• $4.4 billion: the total crop value at wholesale for the 15-state program for all growers with more than $10,000 or more in sales.
• The total wholesale value of floriculture crops is up one percent from 2012, from $4.36 to $4.4 billion.
• California continues to be the leading state with crops valued at $1.14 billion, up three percent from 2012.
• Florida’s wholesale value, the next largest producer, is down one percent from 2012 at $888 million.
• California and Florida account for 46 percent of the 15-state total value.
• The 2013 top five states are California, Florida, Michigan, Texas and North Carolina.
• These five states account for $2.96 billion, 67 percent, of the 15-state total value.
• 6,042: The total number of producers in the 15 states, down two percent from 2012.
• Total area covered for floriculture crop production: 701 million square feet, down four percent from 2012.
• Average peak number of hired workers employed on operations in the 15 states: 19.
• 4,525 operations hired workers during 2013.
• 75% of operations used some hired workers during 2013, consistent with 2012.