More collaborative than competitive: Growing flowers in the Northeast

Flower production in the Northeast is experiencing a revival as consumer demand for locally grown flowers rises alongside increased interest in sustainable agriculture.

That’s according to work from Ankit Singh, Ph.D., UMaine assistant Extension professor and Maine Sustainable Agriculture & Ornamental Horticulture educator. He spoke about the opportunities – and challenges – for Northeast flower growers at the most recent meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science.

From March to December 2024, Singh and his team conducted 45 in-person farm visits and stakeholder meetings across the state of Maine. They asked flower growers what was going well for them, what challenges they’re facing and what knowledge gaps exist for them.

The good news is indeed good: The seasonal tourism of Vacationland boosts sales, especially for flowers and direct-market produce. A thriving wedding industry also drives floriculture demand. U-pick models and CSAs are likewise performing well. Shoulder season growing is “very helpful” in keeping operations profitable.

Community and collaboration are also boons. Social media and online platforms have been increasing their outreach and visibility. Growers said shared knowledge and peer-to-peer mentorship is valuable to them. Organizations such as the Maine Flower Collective help with marketing and logistics. Informal networks among flower farmers also create trust and shared growth.

“Flower farmers in Maine are more collaborative than competitive,” Singh said.

But there are two sides to every coin. The most discussed challenge was labor and input costs. Wages paid can total up to 70% of the budget for some growers. There’s also difficulty in hiring, training and retaining solid staff. Apprenticeship and labor programs, like H-2A, are seen as hard to navigate. There’s also a lack of local housing for workers – “there are more vacation homes than residences,” some growers stated.

Across the entire agriculture industry, climate variability, including frosts, storms, flood risk and disease pressure, are perennial concerns. When these uncontrollable issues occur, insurance gaps can leave farms vulnerable to major losses.

In a largely rural state, growers also reported difficultly accessing parts and equipment. “If money were no object, there is lots of interest in controlled environment agriculture and automation,” Singh noted.

Another industry-wide problem: Succession planning is lacking. Few young farmers are entering the field.

“There’s a lot of diversification from vegetable growers [into growing flowers], but they don’t always stick with it,” Singh added.

There is interest in more greenhouse and high tunnel usage, especially in winter. There’s also interest in more hands-on training in IPM, disinfection, fertigation and energy-efficient greenhouse management.

For those wanting to learn more about Northeast floriculture, the Flowering in the North Conference is taking place Jan. 27 – 29 in Portland, Maine. Learn more about it and register at extension.umaine.edu/agriculture/flowering-in-the-north-conference.

by Courtney Llewellyn