Introduction
E
nvironmentally sound production techniques, increased farm diversification,
and increased farm income are basic
parts of sustainable farming systems.
Specialty cut flower production and marketing
offers both small- and large-scale growers a...
More
Introduction
E
nvironmentally sound production techniques, increased farm diversification,
and increased farm income are basic
parts of sustainable farming systems.
Specialty cut flower production and marketing
offers both small- and large-scale growers a
way to increase the level of sustainability on
their farms.
The tremendous variety of plants
that can be grown as cut flowers allows growers to choose those which are well-adapted
to the farm site and grown without large offsite inputs.
This variety also makes diversity
in both production and marketing possible.
And the high value of specialty cut flowers
can increase farm income.
The phrase “specialty cut flower” originally
referred to all species other than carnations,
chrysanthemums, and roses.
As recently as
1986, these three cut flower species, plus
gladiolus, accounted for more than 80 percent of total cut flower production.
(Dole and
Greer, 2004) Since then, specialty cut flowers have become the most important part of
the U.
S.
Less
