Learn About the Industry

What is Horticulture? Horticulture is an intensive subset of agriculture that includes the science, business and art of growing and marketing fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants.

Economic Overview:

Ornamental Horticulture: One of the fastest growing segments of New Hampshire agriculture. Ornamental horticulture includes greenhouse and nursery production, flowers, turf, landscape materials and services. Annually, this sector produces $381 million in New Hampshire alone.

In New Hampshire there are 450,000 acres of agricultural land operated by 3,400 companies. The greenhouse/nursery industry is currently the top agricultural commodity in the state.

Sample Job Titles:

• Retail Manager
• Landscape Contractor or Designer
• Greenhouse or Nursery Grower
• Farm Manager
• Fruit, Vegetable, Flower or Tree Grower
• Flower or Nursery Stock Buyer

Who Hires Horticulture Professionals?

• Agriculture chemical companies
• Agriculture equipment companies
• Arboreta, botanical gardens, parks
• City, county, and state agencies
• Cooperative Extension
• Environmental consulting firms
• Fertilizer companies
• Flower growers and wholesalers
• Garden centers
• Garden magazines
• Golf Courses
• Nurseries
• Retail flower shops
• Seed companies
• Sod farms
• Theme parks
• Tissue culture firms
• Turf management firms
• Universities and Colleges
• U.S.D.A.