Statistics issued by the Guernsey's Committee for Horticulture show how the the island's horticultural industry has reduced in size.
The number of businesses has fallen to 172 from a figure of 2,432 in 1976 and the number of people working in the industry is now at a low of 800. Following the collapse of the tomato industry the 227.5 hectares of edible crops in 1976 has fallen to 22.2ha. The area of cut flowers for the same period has fallen from 5,222ha to 90ha.
However, there has been growth in plant production with a healthy increase from 1.6ha in 1976 to 13.8ha. The postal flower sector appears to have blossomed under the adoption of e-business.
The successful sectors of the industry represent a present turnover of £45.5million which remains a vital contribution to the island.
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