Food gardening sales total $3 billion for the second year in a row

According to the recently-released results of National Gardening Association’s 2011 National Gardening Survey, consumers spent nearly $3 billion for the second year in a row on food gardening last year while sales for other types of lawn and garden activities saw a small decline.

In 2010, sales for vegetable gardening, fruit trees, berries and herb gardening totaled $2.990 billion and $2.989 billion in 2009. “That's the highest level of spending on food gardening seen in more than a decade and a 20-percent increase over the $2.409 billion consumers spent in 2008 before the economic downturn,” said Bruce Butterfield, NGA research director.

Total sales for all types of do-it-yourself lawn and garden activities declined by 5 percent in 2010 to $28.409 billion from $30.121 billion the previous year. Apparently homeowners did more for themselves and fewer hired someone to do it for them last year, but they spent a little less money

The number of households that hired lawn care and landscape services last year declined by 8 percent from 24 million households to 22 million households. That's the lowest level seen in households hiring someone to do it for them in the past 5 years. Nearly four times as many households, 80 million, participated in do-it-yourself lawn and garden activities as hired someone to care for their lawns and gardens for them.

The nationwide average amount spent on all lawn and garden activities in 2010 was $363 compared to $355 in 2009, a difference of only $8 per household.

Coming soon in the August edition of Garden Center:
Longtime contributing editor and industry consultant Ian Baldwin will offer an in-depth analysis of how the numbers from the National Gardening Survey indicate a change in today’s consumers.

For more information about the 2011 National Gardening Survey or to purchase a copy please visit www.gardenresearch.com.