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Conducted by Dr. Robin G. Brumfield,
Dr. George Wulster and Dr. A. J. Both
The green (greenhouse and nursery) industry is the number one agricultural commodity in New Jersey with a
value of cash receipts of $390,356,000, totaling 42.3% of the state's total farm receipts and 2.3% of the total
US value for this commodity (2006 data, Economic Research Service, USDA, Washington, DC).
We conducted a survey to get recent and accurate data relevant to the New Jersey greenhouse industry on a range
of topics, including: business location and size, expansion plans, types of crops grown, employee information,
sales, competition, business challenges, new business opportunities, finding aid, advertising, etc.
Greenhouse Survey Fast Facts
- Average Size - 44,284 sq ft.
- Average Annual Gross Sales - $23,747
- Age of Business - 59% were established between 1976 and 2000
- Business Type:
- 64% sole proprietorship
- 13% sub-chapter S-corporation
- 11% C-corporation
- Retail vs. wholesale:
- 17% operate an entirely retail business
- 33% run an entirely wholesale operation
- Operation Expansion
- 70% remained the same size since the year 2000
- 17% increased in size
- 4% decreased in size
- 27% plan to expand their operation within the next five years
- Growing Area by Crop
The approximate percentage of growing area of total sales is:
- 46% perennials
- 12% bedding plants
- 9% other
- 9% other potted plants
- 5% poinsettia
- 5% hanging baskets
- 5% geraniums
- 3% flowering bulbs and vegetables
- 2% hardy mum
- 1% field grown cuts
- Plug/Plant Information:
- 38% produce their own plugs
- 62% buy in plugs
- 31% buy pre-finished plants
- 12% sell pre-finished plants
- 4% sell plugs
- Change in Employees Since 2000:
- 11% increased the number of employees
- 10% reported a decrease
- Full or Part-Time Business:
- 56% of greenhouse operations are a full time business
- 35% are part-time business
- Major Source of Income:
- 41% of greenhouse businesses are the major source of income
- 48% are not
- Distribution:
- 84% sell their finished product in state
- 44% sale nothing to out of state costumers
- Major Competition for Retail Greenhouse Operators:
- 32% Mass Merchandisers
- 35% Garden Centers
- 19% Supermarkets
- Major Competition for Wholesale Greenhouse Operators:
- 46% Other New Jersey Growers
- 11% Out-of-state Growers
- 11% "Other" Sources
- Greatest Challenges to Business Expansion:
- owner/operator age
- availability of capital
- supermarket chains
- competition
- costs
- customers
- deer/groundhogs
- economy
- energy prices
- insurance
- labor
- land
- long hours
- marketing
- market saturation
- regulations
- relocation
- resources
- time
- water issues
- weather
- Production Practice:
- 43% of growers used conventional production practices
- 6% use IPM
- 37% use a mixture
- 1% use other methods
- 11% of the respondents were considering organic production
- Considering Technology:
- 35% Automation for Labor Saving
- 12% Nutrient Delivery System Update
- 10% Rainwater Collection System Installation
- 13% Water Recirculation System
- 61% Energy Saving Technologies
- 17% Alternative Energy Sources
- 10% Co-generation Consideration
- 11% Installing a Computer Operated Environment Control System
- 29% Constructing Additional Greenhouses
- 41% Renovating and or Upgrading Existing Greenhouses
- 2% Considering High Tunnels
- 25% Considering Double Poly Greenhouses
- 3% Considering Glass Greenhouses
- 8% Considering Open Roof Greenhouses
- 1% Considering Retractable Roof Greenhouses
- 5% Considering Single Span Greenhouses
- 12% Considering Gutter Connected Greenhouses
- 11% of the respondents were considering organic production
- Concerned About:
- 69% Water Use Restrictions and Regulations
- 54% Concern Over Disease Issues In Recirculation System
- 9% Workers Protection Standard
- Computer Technology:
- 78% own a computer
- 68% use the Internet
- 41% use the Internet for Business
- 24% own a Website
- 14% desire to own a website
- 9% sold their products on the web
- Advertising Methods:
- 30% Newspapers
- 29% Direct Mailing
- 29% Signs/Posters
- 24% Brochures
- 22% Other
- 13% Internet
- 7% TV
- 7% Radio
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