Floriculture

Floriculture
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The total market for greenhouse flowers and plants in Canada grew by 2.6% to $1.4 billion in 2013, with indoor and outdoor potted plants accounting for over half of total sales.  It is now estimated that more than 9,000 retail outlets sell floriculture products across Canada, as local florists face mounting competition from supermarkets, big box stores and mass merchandisers as well as online retailers. Canadian domestic growers face increasing price competition from foreign imports, particularly from Colombia, which has benefited from the 2011 signing of the Canadian-Colombian Free Trade Agreement. Floriculture imports reached a five year high in 2013, at $370 million, led by mushroom spawn and other live plants including roots and cuttings ($136.5 million), cut roses and buds for bouquets or other ornamental purposes ($64.5 million), and cut flowers and buds for bouquets or other decorating purposes ($41.7 million). Imports rose from $344 million in 2012, and are on track for another annual rise in 2014 as buyers in Canada sourced 7% more from overseas suppliers in the first nine months of 2014 than in the same period the year before.