Isle plant industry sales rise 11%

Hawaii farmers raising plants for landscaping had a good year in 2016 and led the state’s flower and plant nursery industry in a sales rebound, according to a new report.

A preliminary estimate by the U.S. Department of Agriculture said floriculture and nursery product sales statewide rose 11 percent to $74.5 million last year from $67.4 million the year before.

While the gain was fairly moderate, the value of sales last year was the highest since 2009. Moreover, the sale total for 2015 was the lowest since 1997.

The high point for sales was $109 million in 2007.

Last year’s rebound was driven mainly by growers of landscape plants, including trees and sod. Sales for this part of the industry soared 52 percent to $23.1 million last year from $15.2 million the year before.

Other segments of the industry that also had higher sales included potted palms, cut dendrobiums, cut heliconias and cut anthuriums.

Products that suffered sales declines included birds of paradise, pink and red ginger, potted dendrobiums, potted anthuriums and plant rentals.

The USDA report, which is produced with help from the state Department of Agriculture and based on surveys the agency sends to farmers, said Hawaii farmers grew flowers and nursery plants on 2,264 acres last year. That was down slightly from 2,281 acres the year before. The report used to disclose the number of farms but hasn’t done that since 2011, when the count was 970.