A Look Inside Pennsylvania’s Green Industry

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania’s green industry accounts for $3.1 billion in total sales to the state’s economy and has become the fastest growing segment of Pennsylvania agriculture, according to a statistical survey completed by the Pennsylvania State University.

The survey, which was a joint project between Penn State and the Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association, found that Pennsylvania’s green industry accounts for 73,000 employees, $1 billion in compensation and payroll and $151 million in business-related taxes.

In addition to being the fastest growing segment of Pennsylvania agriculture, the survey revealed the green industry to be the leading producer of all of the state’s crop sales – 26 percent related to nursery and greenhouse crops.
 Nationally, Pennsylvania’s landscape industry also ranking high, placing within the top 10 in numerous categories, including number of farms producing nursery and greenhouse crops, number of horticulture organizations and number of open space acres.

The author is managing editor of Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at nwisniewski@lawnandlandscape.com.