Did you know that gardening is the fastest growing outdoors-recreational activity in North America? The province of Newfoundland and Labrador is no exception, and there is evidence that citizens are taking great pride and interest not only in their homes and gardens but also in the natural environment and in our built public landscapes. In fact, the landscape and horticultural industry (non-food sector) is an important contributor to the provincial economy and a growth point in the economy overall, as the industry is expanding at an annual rate of 35%! The industry is providing valuable employment, opening new career opportunities and providing a comprehensive range of quality products and services to the general public.

According to a study undertaken in 1998, payroll and gross sales figures for the landscape and horticultural industry as a whole in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador (including the contribution of the public sector) approached totals of $30m and $250m respectively. These figures do not include hardware and warehouse stores, or supermarkets.

Included in the industry are the following sectors: 

• Landscape architectural / landscape designers

• Landscape installers ('hard' and 'soft' landscape elements)

• Landscape maintenance operators

• Nursery and floriculture producers

• Turfgrass producers (nursery sod / hydroseeding)

• Retail garden centre operators

• Equipment providers (sales, rentals and service) 

• Suppliers (concrete, stone/brick, sand/gravel, topsoil and a range of horticultural products)

LNL believes that the industry is well positioned for future growth and will be taking the lead in strategic planning on a number of critical issues, in collaboration with industry stakeholders and various government department and agencies.

For more information on the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, check out their web site at:

http://www.nr.gov.nl.ca/nr/

A Profile of the Landscape/Horticultural Industry in Newfoundland and Labrador
Axis Consulting 1998

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