MDAR Commissioner Lebeaux Visits Flower Greenhouse Growers

WINCHESTER — In an effort to spotlight horticultural businesses that have diversified their operations, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner John Lebeaux was today joined by officials from the Massachusetts Flower Growers’ Association for a tour of flower nursery/greenhouse operations around the Commonwealth. Covering over 30,301 acres of land, Massachusetts’ 867 greenhouses and nurseries continue to lead in the agricultural sector with approximately $140 million in total sales, which is 29% of all total agricultural sales in Massachusetts.

“With Mother’s Day in just about another week, visiting your local nursery/greenhouse operation to purchase plants and flowers is a great way to support Massachusetts flower growers,” said Commissioner John Lebeaux. “Given that the greenhouse and nursery industry is the leading Massachusetts agricultural sector, purchasing Commonwealth-grown plants and flowers will greatly contribute to the agricultural economy.”

The tour included a stop at Mahoney’s Garden, where Commissioner Lebeaux walked through their full-service garden center which is dedicated to providing the highest quality of garden plants, gardening products, and gardening services. In order to diversify their services, Mahoney’s Garden Center also offers special events, seminars and florist services throughout the year. Mahoney’s has participated in MDAR’s MA Farm Energy Program (MFEP) which helped Mahoney’s apply for National Grid incentives to convert their entire greenhouse operation from a central steam heating plant into a highly energy efficient hydronic condensing boiler central plant and distribution system. Other visits for the day included Angel’s Garden Center in Hopkinton and Nunan’s Greenhouse in Georgetown.