The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is known worldwide and occurs annually in the spring. Blooms are weather dependent but are usually expected in April. This year, cold temperatures kept the tulips from peak bloom until late April.
It’s a huge economic generator for Skagit County and Western Washington. Four tulip farms welcome visitors from across the globe to see the tulips in bloom.
The Bellingham Herald took a look at the festival by the numbers.
- About 500 acres of tulips are grown in Skagit Valley, which represents 75% of the total U.S. commercial production of tulips.
- More tulip and daffodil bulbs are produced in Skagit County than in any other county in the United States.
- About 20 million bulbs are harvested each summer in Skagit County. They are shipped to buyers throughout the United States and Canada.
- About 75 million cut flowers are grown in Skagit greenhouses and fields every year, accounting for over 50% of overall sales. Fresh-cut flowers make up the majority of revenue, with the remaining revenue generally split between bulbs and festival attendance during the spring. Fresh-cut flower sales are a bigger percentage of business than bulb sales because growers can sell flowers year-round.
Read more at yahoo.com