Greenhouse, sod and nursery industries, 2025

Released: 2026-04-22

Sales at greenhouse, nursery, field-grown cut flower and sod operations increased 7.5% to $6.5 billion in 2025, marking a fifth consecutive annual increase.

Greenhouse growers accounted for just over four-fifths (84.4%) of total sales in 2025 at $5.5 billion, driven by increased production of greenhouse fruits and vegetables and by higher prices.

Chart 1 
Sales of greenhouse, nursery and sod products

Greenhouse vegetables are the biggest sellers

Tomatoes were the top greenhouse crop by sales in 2025, up 4.5% year over year to 334.7 million kilograms. Although cucumber production was higher (+5.2% to 384.1 million kilograms), tomatoes accounted for a slightly larger share of sales (19.4% versus 18.8%).

Greenhouse area growing

Total greenhouse area increased by 1.4% to 35.9 million square metres in 2025. Ontario accounted for just under two-thirds (64.9%) of total greenhouse area nationally in 2025, followed by British Columbia (17.4%) and Quebec (10.4%).

Greenhouse harvested area dedicated to strawberry production grew at the fastest pace in 2025, rising 45.5% to 1.2 million square metres. Harvested area dedicated to lettuce (+8.1% to 414.1 thousand square metres), fine herbs (+11.2% to 200.6 thousand square metres) and Chinese vegetables (+23.0% to 114.0 thousand square metres) were also up significantly.

Almost all of Canada's greenhouse exports are destined for the United States

Tomatoes and cucumbers were the leading greenhouse export commodities from Canada to the United States in 2025.

In 2025, cucumber exports increased 12.7% to 290.0 million kilograms and tomato exports rose 0.5% to 231.7 million kilograms. The United States remained Canada's primary export market, accounting for approximately 99% of Canada's greenhouse export market.

Potted plant production picks up

In 2025, sales of potted plants increased 8.9% to $1.5 billion, driven by a 3.9% rise in production to 269.1 million pots. Cut flower sales increased 9.8% year over year to $252.7 million.

Canada's total nursery area decreased 2.4% to 37.2 thousand acres in 2025, largely driven by declines in Ontario (-5.3%), Alberta (-1.5%) and British Columbia (-0.9%). In contrast, increases were reported in Quebec (+4.6%), New Brunswick (+3.2%) and Nova Scotia (+1.7%).

Despite the reduction in area, nursery sales rose 1.8% to $852.7 million.

Canada's total sod area edged up 0.1% to 50.9 thousand acres in 2025 while sales rose 2.1% to $164.8 million.

Operating costs are rising, led by electricity costs

Canada's total greenhouse operating expenses increased 4.3% to $4.2 billion in 2025 on higher input and production costs. Plant material costs rose 16.3% to $759.5 million and gross yearly payroll increased 2.6% to $1.2 billion.

Electricity costs rose by over one-fifth (21.2%) year over year to $181.9 million in 2025, while other fuels (+12.2%) and heating oil (+11.0%) costs were up by over one-tenth. Natural gas costs rose 4.7% to $265.4 million.

In the nursery sector, total operating expenses edged up 0.5% to $721.1 million.

In contrast, operating expenses in the sod sector fell 3.3% to $130.6 million.

Contact information

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