Sales dip takes bloom off nursery industry

Sales of flowers and nursery plants grown in Hawaii dipped 2 percent last year, but the small slip marked a fourth consecutive year of decline to a 14-year low.
Hawaii’s 970 flower and nursery plant farms reported $69.6 million in sales last year, down from $71.1 million the year before, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Last year’s total was about two-thirds the record sales of $108.7 million in 2007, and was the lowest since 1997, when industry sales were $66.6 million.
The statistics service said dry weather, vog, high costs and slow market conditions are prompting farmers to adjust business plans and products to boost income.
PLANTEDThe five biggest crops by sales volume in the category last year $3.7MPOTTED PALMS Don't miss out on what's happening!Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser's and Google's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA.
$3.4MPOTTED DENDROBIUM $3.2MPOTTED DRACAENA $3.1MCUT ANTHURIUM $1.6MCUT DENDROBIUM |
Close to half of Hawaii’s flower and nursery products are sold outside the state, represented largely by potted foliage, potted orchids and cut anthuriums.
Overall, the five biggest crops by sales volume in the category last year were potted palms ($3.7 million), potted dendrobium ($3.4 million), potted dracaena ($3.2 million), cut anthurium ($3.1 million) and cut dendrobium ($1.6 million).
The industry category includes potted, unpotted and cut plants including plant rentals, lei flowers and ti leaves.