Maryland’s cut flower industry represents an expanding sector within the broader U.S. horticultural market, currently valued at $6.69 billion with Maryland alone contributing significantly ($139 million in 2018). Recent surveys conducted at the 2025 Bay Area Fruit School and University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Small Farm Conference-2024 provided critical insights into the demographic diversity, interests, and barriers faced by Maryland cut flower growers. Survey results indicated a diverse population, with participants spanning various ages, experience levels, and farming backgrounds. The largest demographic segment (25%) ranged between 35-44 years, suggesting an active, economically productive age group interested in cut flower production. Notably, the survey underscored a strong existing interest, with half of the respondents expressing a high level of enthusiasm toward cultivating cut flowers. Despite this enthusiasm, significant barriers impede growth and expansion. Key limitations identified included a lack of expertise and technical knowledge (41.7%), limited availability of relevant workshops and training (33.3%), and restricted market access (37.5%). Other reported challenges comprised high production costs (29.2%), pest and disease management issues (25%), limited labor availability (20.8%), and environmental factors such as weather variability and soil conditions. Dahlias emerged from these findings as a particularly promising crop, offering distinct advantages for Maryland farmers, especially those with constrained resources. Due to their delicate blooms and brief vase life, dahlia imports into the U.S. are minimal, primarily limited to pompon varieties. This creates a substantial market gap and an opportunity for local growers to supply diverse, premium-quality blooms tailored to consumer preferences. Consumers increasingly favor locally grown, sustainably produced flowers, especially when sourced directly from local farms, enhancing market potential for dahlias. To enhance dahlia production in Maryland, growers should consider collaborative research trials and evaluations of variety selection, sustainable cultural practices, and integrated pest management strategies under varying conditions, including open fields and protected cultivation such as high tunnels. Developing specialized extension materials, hands-on workshops, and practical demonstrations can also significantly address existing knowledge gaps. Such focused, region-specific guidance and facilitation of access to lucrative markets would empower Maryland's small-scale growers to capitalize fully on the growing demand for locally produced specialty flowers, significantly enhancing their productivity, profitability, and long-term sustainability.
