355a Comparison of Regional Consumer Preferences for Packaging of Nursery Stock

Abstract

<jats:p>During the Spring of 1992 a survey of over 2000 respondants was conducted as personal interviews at Flower/Garden Shows in Atlanta, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Portland.</jats:p> <jats:p>When asked how the plants you buy are packaged? Nine percent of the Los Angeles (LA) sample said they purchased trees as balled and burlapped (B &amp; B) while over 40% of the consumers from the other regions purchased trees as B &amp; B. Over 40% of all respondents purchased shrubs in “container”.</jats:p> <jats:p>When asked how would you like to have landscape plants packaged? While only 31% of the LA sample chose to purchase trees as B &amp; B, over 70% of the consumers from other regions preferred to buy in a B &amp; B form. More than 50% of all respondents also preferred to purchase trees in “Container”. By a two to one margin consumers chose to purchase ornamental shrubs in “Container”. Regardless of the region of the country, “bare-root” and “plastic package” were least desired. About 1/2 of the respondents were couples, 80% owned their own homes, over 50% had an income of $25,000 to $75,000 and more than 75% did own plantings.</jats:p>