Crisis in Horticulture

Did you know . . .

August 09, 2018

Horticulture affects everything, from the air we breathe, to the food we eat, and to the beautiful landscapes and floral arrangements we enjoy. But few youth make this critical connection.   

That’s why the GCA is part of a coalition of horticulture companies, gardening organizations, schools, and universities, called Seed Your Future, to excite young people about the power of plants. GCA clubs literally are on the front lines as they introduce youth to the awe-inspiring potential of the natural world.

Did you know...

• Most schools stop teaching plant-based concepts in third grade?

• Most middle schoolers have never heard of the word "horticulture"?

• University and college horticulture programs are being eliminated or consolidated across the country?

• There are 57,500 annual job openings in food, agriculture, natural resources, or the environment every year that remain unfilled?

Here is a recent piece in the Washington Post that underscores the importance of attracting youth to horticulture.