North Carolina Horticulture We’ve got a lot growing on.

NC Ag History In 1790, 93% of the population in the USA was rural, most of them farmers. In 1990, 200 years later, barely 2% of our population are farmers.

NC Ag History Very few people farm now Little understanding of food production Food production is taken for granted No experience with food scarcity

NC Ag History Supermarkets full and food is cheap. Today we spend 10% of our income on food 1950, spent 22% 1935, spent 47% In the past it took time and effort to obtain and produce food

NC Ag History

NC Agriculture Today

Top Commodities: Broilers Hogs Greenhouse/Nursery Turkeys Tobacco

NC Floriculture

Floriculture NC ranks 6th, behind CA, FL, MI, TX, & NY growers, 20.4 million square feet of covered area, 637 acres of outdoor production $170.9 million in cash receipts

NC Floriculture Bedding plants $93 million Potted flowering plants $35 million Herbaceous Perennial Plants $28.3 million Foliage Hanging Baskets and Potted Foliage $28.3 million Cut Flowers $3.2 million

NC Pomology Grapes Explosive growth over last five years Vineyards increasing 75%, acres 125% Vineyards in 77% of counties Increases due to health benefits, attractive alternative to tobacco

NC Pomology Peaches Decline in acres, trees, and orchards (23%) Piedmont remains the major peach growing region with 72% of the trees Young trees available with a brighter future for peach industry

NC Pomology Blueberries Solid growth over the last five years Coastal plain region has 55% of states growers and 96% of acreage Future is bright… demand is increasing for this healthy fruit.

NC Pomology Apples Largest fruit crop in North Carolina 34% decrease in acreage and 23% decrease in trees and orchards since million apple trees maintained Mountain Region highest producer

NC Olericulture Sweet Potatoes 555 million pounds were harvested in 2000, 47% increase from 1999 Valued at $58.3 million

NC Olericulture Cucumbers 16,500 tons of cucumbers were harvested Value of the crop was $24.3 million, an increase in of $3.7million

NC Olericulture Sweet Corn 81 million pounds Valued at $12.2 million

NC Agriculture Ranking st Sweet Potatoes- Yams 1 st Tobacco (all and flue-cured) 2 nd Christmas Trees Cash Receipts 2 nd Hogs and Pigs2 nd Trout Sold2 nd Turkeys 3 rd Cucumbers for pickles 3 rd Strawberries (fresh market) 4 th Cucumbers Fresh Market 5 th Broilers (meat chickens) 5 th Burley Tobacco5 th Catfish sold 5 th Greenhouse/ Nursery $ 5 th Peanuts

NC Agriculture Agriculture is a fusion of the food, fiber, and forestry industries. Agriculture provides $62.6 billion to the state’s economy (20.3%) Agriculture employs 17% of the state’s workforce. Agriculture utilizes 8.9 million of the 31 million acres in North Carolina.

National Horticulture

How does Horticulture Help the Economy? The Importance of Horticulture is in 3 forms: Economic: Money Aesthetic: Appearance Environmental: Health and Comfort

Economics Horticulture puts over $25 BILLION into the U.S. Economy a year 1. It provides jobs. 2. Produces food- fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc. 3. Increases the value of homes through landscaping

Aesthetics: Appearance 1. Improves appearance of homes and buildings through landscaping 2. Improves appearance of land from fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops grown.

Environment: Health and Comfort 1. Provides Clean Air 2. Prevents erosion 3. Provides shelter 4. Nutrition The outlook for the horticulture industry in the future is to GROW because of the increase in population and home construction!!

Horticulture Conclusion There are a plethora of job opportunities in horticulture and the agriculture industry. Horticulture is what you eat, enjoy in the landscape and in the home, and what you play sports on. If you didn’t have horticulture… what would life really be like? So, remember at your dinner table to thank Horticulturists.

NC Green Industry’s Video

1.What part of the state has the youngest average farmer? What Co.? 2. What is the No. 1 Co. with Total Cash Receipts? Do you want to know any thing else about any County or the state? asp asp NC Ag Statistics

NC Ag…

Top 20 Ag. Commodities