Greenhouse, Nursery and Sod
- Many growers hit record sales in 2020 and have seen strong sales continue in 2021.
- Increases in freight costs and tight availability of long-haul trucks and drivers gives Northeast growers an advantage over West coast competitors, although Northeast growers themselves are challenged with the availability of CDL drivers.
- Many producers have been able to push through price increases for their products, however, managing profit margins in the face of rapidly rising input and labor costs has been a challenge for some.
- Inventory remains tight for popular plant varieties, but many growers are hesitant to add additional longer-range production as there is some concern whether current demand levels will be sustained over the long run.
- An increase in spending on the home, brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, continues, and consumer demand for lawn and garden products remains robust.
- As with other agricultural sectors, the availability and cost of labor continues to be a challenge, not just for entry-level production workers, but for supervisory and skilled staff as well.
