Abstract

The economic impact of Florida's environmental horticulture industry in 1997 was estimated based on a telephone survey of wholesale plant nurseries, horticultural retailers, and landscape service firms. Sales of ornamental plants and related horticultural goods and services by the production, retail, and service sectors were estimated at $1.46 billion (B), $1.75B, and $2.70B, respectively. Domestic and international exports of horticultural products and services from Florida amounted to $659 million (M). Economic multiplier effects of commercial activity associated with purchased inputs from other industries and personal consumption expenditures by employees were estimated with an input-output model. Regional impacts of the wholesale nursery sector were also estimated separately for seven areas of the state. Economic impacts of Florida's environmental horticulture industry included total value added of $5.42B and employment of 187,000 people. These impacts are greater than for any other sector of agriculture and associated manufacturing in Florida, including the large fruit and vegetable industry.