Test Marketing and Financial Analysis of Fresh Cut Flowers

Information about the economics and marketing of fresh cut flowers is not always available to small and part-time farmers who are considering establishment of fresh cut flower enterprises. When beginning growers attempt commercial production of fresh cut flowers, they often have to discover this information for themselves.

The producer determined costs of growing and marketing twelve species of fresh cut flowers on his small-scale commercial operation. He gathered information about the following aspects of a fresh cut flower business.

A. All hours of labor in growing and marketing the flowers.
B. All machinery costs in growing and marketing the flowers.
C. All materials costs in growing and marketing the flowers.
D. Total yield of each species and percent of yield that is marketable.
E. All sales receipts.

The species grown and sold included gladiolus, asters, annual statice, liatris, gypsophila, tall phlox, yarrow, Asiatic lilies, celosia, zinnias, German statice and lavender. As a result of the SARE Producer Grant, the grower increased production of cut flowers. As a result of what he learned, he has cleared an additional six acres to put into cut flowers.

The information on the production and marketing of these species will be made available to other farmers throughout the Southern Region.