Page 24 - Rural Tourism Report Washington County

CHAPTER 2: THE WASHINGTON COUNTY AGRICULTURE SECTOR

Young trees grow under the protection of a greenhouse. The nursery stock industry is on the road to recovery after it suffered declines caused by the
great recession. Photo courtesy of Tiffany Woods, OSU EESC

Greenhouse and Nursery Market - Slow and Steady Recovery
As noted earlier, the greenhouse and nursery He expressed concern about the deterioration of
stock crop category has the highest market value water distribution channels caused by deferred
in Washington County. Historically, the vitality of maintenance and replacement costs for irrigation
the greenhouse and nursery stock sector reflects piping. Jeff is also concerned about the deterioration
the health of the national economy, since this of roads in the metro area, which he feels will
commodity relies heavily on demand from the eventually hamper the ability to efficiently transport
construction industry and housing starts. Sales in the nursery products to market. Semi-trucks and

sector dropped markedly during the Great Recession box trucks are used to haul product from the
and showed improvement in 2011. It is estimated that greenhouse and nursery to market.
market value for this category increased 11 percent
statewide between 2011 and 2014 . Some nursery operations choose to include a retail
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outlet on their farms (considered farm stands).
Oregon Association of Nurseries Executive Director These specialty garden centers draw additional

Jeff Stone predicts the industry will continue a slow traffic and noise to their vicinities.
and steady recovery in the next 10 to 20 years. “The
good old days will be harder to return to,” he says. Major threats to this industry include a weak
economy/market, lack of labor, disease and pests,
One of the “pinch points” in the future, according the high price of land, and concerns about road and
to Jeff, will be water supply and water quality. He bridge quality/safety, and water quantity and quality.

is encouraged by the willingness of cities, counties,
and the agriculture community to discuss strategies
for water use and conservation.
25 Oregon Association of Nurseries. September, 2015. Curt Kipp.
20 WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM STUDY