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 wh
olesale 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% G
arden 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
