Putting Numbers on Our Industry: What the 2024 Horticulture Census Tells Us About Citrus Nurseries
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
For years, one of the biggest challenges facing the citrus nursery industry has been a simple question: how big is our sector?
With the release of the USDA’s 2024 Census of Horticultural Specialties, we now have a clearer, data-backed answer—particularly through Table 26, which tracks fruit and nut tree production, including citrus and subtropical trees.
📊 Key Numbers from the Census
According to Table 26:
294 operations reported producing citrus and subtropical fruit trees
Total sales: approximately $6.07 million
Wholesale sales: ~$5.71 million
Retail sales: ~$0.36 million
These figures confirm what many in the industry already know: citrus nursery production is a highly specialized, predominantly wholesale-driven sector.
🧠 Why This Data Matters
1. A Long-Missing Baseline
Historically, the citrus nursery industry has lacked reliable national statistics. Estimates were often fragmented or anecdotal.
This census provides an official USDA-backed benchmark, which is critical for:
Demonstrating industry scale
Supporting funding requests
Informing regulatory discussions
2. Supporting Policy and Advocacy
When engaging with regulators or policymakers, numbers matter.
Being able to say that nearly 300 operations are actively producing citrus nursery stock provides credibility and context when discussing:
Interstate movement regulations
Certification program requirements
Industry-wide impacts of policy changes
3. Business and Strategic Planning
For individual nurseries, this data helps frame:
Market structure (strong wholesale orientation)
Competitive landscape
Industry concentration
It also reinforces that citrus nursery production operates as a critical upstream component of the citrus supply chain, rather than a retail-focused sector.
⚠️ Important Caveats
While the census is valuable, it is important to interpret the data carefully:
The survey includes only operations with ≥ $10,000 in sales
Participation is self-reported, which may lead to under- or over-representation
Categories combine citrus and subtropical fruit trees, not citrus alone
Despite these limitations, this dataset represents the most comprehensive snapshot currently available.
🌱 What This Means for NCNA Members
This new data opens several opportunities for the industry:
✅ Stronger Advocacy
Use these numbers to support conversations with USDA, state regulators, and policymakers.
✅ Grant and Funding Justification
Quantifying the industry strengthens proposals for:
Research funding
Workforce development
Infrastructure support
✅ Industry Alignment
Helps NCNA and its members better communicate the importance and structure of the nursery sector.
🔗 Access the Data
Get involved
Join NCNA to access resources and shape priorities.
Attend the virtual and in-person events.
Share your needs so the Steering Board can target content and policy dialogues where they matter.
Wholesale vs. retail image created by ChatGPT2026
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