Buying local is getting tough to do when it comes to Christmas poinsettias, once a common component of Kalamazoo County's commercial greenhouse industry in Michigan. Ten years ago, more than a dozen greenhouses in Kalamazoo County contributed to Michigan's production of that icon of Christmas, the poinsettia. Statewide, poinsettia production has fallen off from $13.8 million in 2000 to $8.5 million last year, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
Today, only two local greenhouses still grow the plants. "I'm stupid," quipped Dean Panse, one of those growers, as a prelude to explaining why others no longer grow the plants.
He makes a good case for his joke. Poinsettias take months to grow from patented cuttings that must be ordered now for planting next July, Panse said. The grower pays royalties on the plant variety patents, and must assure plants must reach exacting specifications for holiday delivery. "They're easy to screw up," Panse said.
The cost of growing all plants, not just poinsettias, has soared, especially the costs to heat and light the greenhouses and pay for workers. "(Profit) margins are slim to none," when it comes to poinsettias, Panse said. The big box stores have driven margins down, he said.
id.
"It's not the industry it was 10 years ago," Wenke said of the greenhouse business. Michigan's cloudy skies and chilly weather put the state at "a substantial disadvantage" in an industry that has seen "labor and heating costs increasing year to year while sales prices are stagnant or in decline," he said.
Source: Mlive.com
Announcements
Vacancies
"Tweeting Growers"
Top 5 - yesterday
Top 5 - last week
Top 5 - last month
- "Vertical solar panels under the gutter can provide significant savings in plastic greenhouses"
- The differences between greenhouse growers in US and Canada
- German grower reduces moisture in slabs with Spacer
- Half the labor if tomato grows upside down?
- China: Abundance of crops grow in arid Xinjiang desert
Receive the daily newsletter in your email for free | Click here
Other news in this sector:
- 2023-05-29 Hydroponic strawberries from Turkey are exported to various countries
- 2023-05-29 Glasshouses relocated and repurposed to provide quality growing facility for Guernsey-based charity
- 2023-05-29 US (IN): Flanner House to unveil greenhouse and mental health center to support urban core
- 2023-05-26 US (NC): California company makes $9M investment in Mills River-based greenhouse
- 2023-05-24 "Power lies in the marriage between 'ag' and 'tech'"
- 2023-05-24 Revol Greens unveils new Texas facility to meet increased demand
- 2023-05-24 CAN (NS): Province announces new funding for greenhouse in New Glasgow
- 2023-05-19 Indoor Farm Guwahati now largest indoor farm in the region with a capacity of over 13,000 plants
- 2023-05-19 Another 20 hectare for Tunisian glasshouse project Hicha joy
- 2023-05-19 10 foil greenhouses will be built in Cukurca, Turkey as part of municipality project
- 2023-05-18 Tornado destroys 100 greenhouses in Mersin, Turkey
- 2023-05-18 "Growing demand for construction professionals in CEA"
- 2023-05-18 20-hectare Senegal project includes greenhouses, packing house and supermarket
- 2023-05-18 Construction of Europe's largest agri-PV project starts at Dutch grower
- 2023-05-17 US (PA): In vitro diagnostics lab to add 32,000 sq. ft. predictive diagnostics innovation center
- 2023-05-17 First harvest for vegetable roots takes place in geothermal hydronic greenhouse in Ankara
- 2023-05-17 UK: Double-decker bus to be transformed into greenhouse in Newcastle
- 2023-05-17 Major Turkish company started production in geothermal greenhouses in 60 hectares
- 2023-05-15 Bombus bees are produced in laboratories to be used in greenhouses
- 2023-05-15 CAN (ON): New urban farm greenhouses draw praise
