A Look at Horticulture Production Trends in Virginia Ahead of CEA Summit East 2026
As the controlled environment agriculture sector continues to evolve, data out of Virginia provides valuable insight into where the industry is headed next. Drawing from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) census of agriculture, Virginia Tech’s Eric Stallknecht, Assistant Professor and Greenhouse Specialist, School of Plant and Environmental Science, Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center; and Kaylee South, Assistant Professor, School of Plant and Environmental Science, Institute for Advanced Learning and Research highlight key horticulture trends across the Commonwealth, including growth in protected food crops, foliage plants, and small-scale specialty production. These trends will also be part of the conversations shaping this year’s CEA Summit East.
From VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION:
Introduction
Similar to all agricultural products, consumer trends, the cost and availability of labor, changing weather patterns, and government regulations or incentives can all collectively influence the profitability of horticultural crops and the number of farmers growing them. Data on the performance of the horticultural industry is therefore highly valuable in helping to set regulatory policies, identify research initiatives, and spot commercial trends relevant to businesses’ profitability. The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts a regular census of agriculture to inform federal government programs and provide unbiased information to the public on various aspects of agriculture. In this case, our primary interest is to gain a deeper understanding of trends in the cultivation of horticultural crops in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
As defined by the USDA, horticulture is the cultivation of plants used by people for food, medicinal purposes, and aesthetic gratification. In practice, horticulture becomes a broad umbrella term for plant-based agricultural products that are not the traditional large-acreage agronomic crops, such as corn, wheat, soybeans, and cotton, among others, which often require a higher degree of labor, environmental control, and crop management to produce. Horticultural crops, therefore, have a higher monetary value on a per-acre basis.