U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue supporting the American floral and horticulture industry. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, Murphy emphasized the importance of supporting the America’s floricultural industry. Murphy urged USDA to feature American flowers at government events, launch public relations campaigns, and fully fund programs that support flower farmers.
In Connecticut, over 1,700 nurseries, landscapers, perennial growers, and landscape designers support 30,000 local jobs and more than $800 million in economic activity each year.
“I write to you today to ask for your continued support of the American floriculture industry. Today—Valentine’s Day—is the number one holiday for florists and floral purchases, representing 30% of all transactions for the year. In 2019, 28% of American adults purchased flowers or plants as gifts for Valentine’s Day, according to the IPSOS Floral Tracking Study. This year, the National Retail Federation estimates $2.3 billion will be spent on Valentine’s Day floral products, meaning lots of romantic gifts, but also important job-creating revenue for U.S. floral producers, wholesalers, and retailers in both urban and rural areas”, wrote Murphy.