Cut flowers remain trendy as pandemic wanes

"Previously, we thought this was going to slowly taper off as people returned to their normal habits of going out to eat more, going on vacation, and using their income for other things. We thought this would slowly decline," says Dr. Melinda Knuth, Assistant Professor of Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University.

"However, due to current economic circumstances in the U.S. and the continued threat of COVID-19 and economic pressures, we're seeing it sustained to a degree. It's not tapering off. People are continuing to stay home. They want to beautify their spaces, and they're not traveling as much this year," she says.

Membership in the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers increased by more than 100% in the last four years, according to Education Director Rebecca Marrall. Knuth says she sees a boom in local production.

There are many new cut flower growers with a few acres of production, and they sell to local grocery stores, at farmers' markets, or they provide flowers for local weddings. Knuth says that was more popular in California, Oregon, and Washington, but now it's everywhere. Also, larger international growers are maintaining their market share and expanding, she says.

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Photo: Erin Benzakein of Floret Flower Farm is featured in the Magnolia Network Series Growing Floret. The show follows Erin and her husband, Chris, as they grow their flower farm from 2 acres to 24 acres. Erin also published a book for professional and home gardeners called Discovering Dahlias. Credit: Chris Benzakein, Floret, Greenhouse Grower.

Source: Greenhouse Grower