Is the Vegetable Industry Set for a Greenhouse Boom?
November 27, 2024 
Vegetable growers across the country have greenhouses on their minds, according to our 2024 State of the Vegetable Industry Survey. We added a new question this year: What is your next large purchase? Nearly 300 growers shared their plans. The top response was a new tractor, followed closely by a new greenhouse or hoop house.
That’s a striking result. About half of all U.S. vegetable farms have a protected ag division. Almost all farms use tractors. For so many growers to mention greenhouses when only half of the industry uses them is intriguing.
Something to note is we didn’t create percentages from this particular question. It was an essay question, allowing people to mention more than one item. We merely looked for trends.
Some shared why they’re building new greenhouses. Several reported storms had damaged existing structures, requiring replacements. Many indicated they are expanding their existing protected ag production.
We asked growers why they turn to protected ag as a production method in another section of the survey. The main reason growers use greenhouses is to extend the season (87% of growers with a protected ag division). A little more than half say they use their greenhouses to grow their own transplants, followed by needing protection from unreliable weather (36%) and reducing pest pressure (33%).
As for greenhouse equipment, growers most often mentioned lighting, heating, and coverings.
What Is Your Next Big Purchase?
Vegetable growers volunteered what their next big-ticket buy. would be. The first three items were mentioned far more often than any other categories.
- Tractors
- New greenhouses or hoop houses
- Coolers (post production)
- Harvesters
- Tie: Sprayers; planters
- Weeders
- Trucks (work trucks like Ford, Chevy, etc.)
- Irrigation equipment
Why Growers Select Specific Purchases
Growers shared their considerations for choosing specific suppliers or products when making major purchases. Here are some of the most common responses they shared.
- Longevity and how they will lighten the load
- Cost
- Will it pay for itself?
- Profit
- Improve efficiencies
- Return on investment
- Cashflow
- Someone to stand behind it.
- Ease of use
- Supplier’s service standards
- Suitability for mixed vegetables
- Parts availability
- How much it reduces labor
- Reliability
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