Industry Support Letter

December 2008
Dear Floriculture Producer:
You have been selected to participate in the 2009 Commercial Floriculture Survey conducted
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Your
participation is critical, so please take a few minutes to fill out and return the questionnaire.
This survey is the only comprehensive measure of U.S. floriculture production and provides
useful and important information on many levels. As a grower, the completion of your survey
provides a systematic way to review what your operation did in 2008. When the results are
published in the USDA Floriculture Crops 2008 Summary in April 2009, you will be able to
compare your own operation to industry averages, identify state and national trends, and better
plan the future of your business.
In addition, the industry as a whole – growers, buyers, suppliers and others – rely on this timely
information to help make sound business decisions. The results of this survey provide a reliable
source of public information for individual growers and industry representatives working with
policymakers at the state and national levels. Such information is crucial to obtaining research
funding and government support. Only with comprehensive, accurate data on the size, scope
and economic impact of our industry will we be able to get our fair share of limited resources.
Your survey response is crucial and will be kept completely confidential, as required by federal
law. NASS safeguards the privacy of all survey respondents and publishes only state- and
national-level data from this survey, ensuring that no individual operation or grower can be
identified.
On behalf of your fellow growers throughout the United States, we thank you in advance for
your service to agriculture through participation in this important survey.
Sincerely,

---------Carlos Fighetti, President
American Orchid Society

Dave Dowling, President
Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers

Leo Roozen, President
Society of American Florists

Caroline Kiang, President
Perennial Plant Association

Gene Pielin, President
Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association

Bobby Barnitz, President
OFA – an Association of Floriculture
Professionals

Wilja Happe, President
California Cut Flower Commission

John Tornatore, President
Connecticut Florists Association

Rosemary Warner, President
Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association