Stat of the Week: 81% of growers reported higher gross sales during the first half of 2026 than during the same period last year

Each year, the AmericanHort State of the Industry address at Cultivate'26 offers a snapshot of where the green industry stands — and where it may be headed next.

This year's session featured AmericanHort Chief Economist Charlie Hall, who examined the industry's economic performance, followed by AmericanHort Vice President of Advocacy and Government Affairs Matt Mika, who outlined the organization's priorities on Capitol Hill.

Hall's first message was one of perspective. Although many growers experienced only modest gains this spring, he cautioned against relying solely on year-over-year comparisons.

"If you ask me was spring good or bad, I'll say yes," Hall says. "That's my answer."

According to Hall's benchmarking data, 81% of growers reported higher gross sales during the first half of 2026 than during the same period last year, but most increases were between 0% and 5%. More importantly, 98% of growers remain ahead of where they were in 2019.

His takeaway: "There’s mixed regional performance across all sectors in the industry. Negative comps aren't the whole story."

Read more takeaways from the Cultivate’26 State of the Industry keynote address.