Agriculture has always been an important industry on Long Island, providing fresh food, fiber and horticultural products for our residents as well as preserving wildlife habitats and aesthetic beauty.  Farmland also provides a buffer against urban sprawl and maintains the traditional rural character of the East End of Long Island.  Long Island agriculture provides the landscape and scenic beauty that help make tourism Long Island’s largest industry with over $1 billion in revenues annually.  Agriculture provides the scenic vistas desired by visitors and proximity to farm markets where visitors and year-round residents enjoy the advantage of locally produced fruits, vegetables, ornamental horticulture products and wine.

Long Island’s agricultural industry is centered on, but not exclusive to, the eastern two-thirds of Long Island known as Suffolk County.  Bounded on the north by Long Island Sound, between the forks by Peconic Bay and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean, Suffolk County has a high water to land ratio that provides for moderate temperatures, mild winters, an average of 42 inches of rainfall annually and extended growing seasons.  With excellent, well-drained soils, more sunshine than any other area in New York, abundant fresh water and nearness to wholesale and retail markets, it’s not surprising that Long Island is one of the most important agricultural regions in New York.  However, it does surprise many people to learn that Suffolk County is New York’s leading county in wholesale value of agricultural products.  In 1992, Suffolk County was ranked 49th in the state for acres in farmland yet it was ranked 1st in market value with $115.2 million of agricultural products sold.  With over 100 different crops grown, Long Island is proud to offer an agricultural diversity that few other areas in the state can match with a commitment to produce an abundance of quality products in areas such as Vegetable and Potatoes, Fruits, Wine and Grapes, Poultry and Livestock, Nursery, Floriculture and Fishing.

FLORICULTURE

New York floriculture production was ranked third in the nation in 1992 and Long Island’s floriculture industry is responsible for producing more than 50 percent of the crops.  Climate and local market demand are key elements to the success of this industry.  Long Island’s modern industry applies intensive technology to the production and marketing of potted plants, cut flowers, bulbs, tropical plants, perennials, ground covers and bedding plants.  There are approximately 350 acres of greenhouses whose crops yield more than $300 million at wholesale value.  With up-to-date research on production technology, marketing concepts, pest control and agricultural engineering.  Long Island produces an abundance of quality crops.

POTATO AND VEGETABLE

Long Island’s vegetable industry has changed dramatically over the past ten years.  Potatoes are still one of the largest crops grown but there are now approximately 10,000 acres of mixed vegetable and 5,000 acres of potatoes, yielding cash values of $40 million and $16 million, respectively,  Sweet corn, pumpkins and cabbage predominate the mixed vegetable crops but there are from one to several hundred acres of almost every type of vegetable grown on Long Island.  According to the 1987 Census of Agriculture’s New York State County Estimates, Suffolk County ranked 1st in potato production and 4th in production of all vegetables.

WINES AND WINE GRAPES

One of Long Island’s fastest growing agricultural industries is the wine and grape industry.  Prior to 1973, there were only a few acres of commercially grown grapes on Long Island, none used for wine.  Today there are 16 wineries and approximately 16,000 acres of grapes, most dedicated to premium wine grapes, namely the European Vitis Vinifera varieties.  Although Long Island wineries produce only 2% of the total wine in New York, this represents 90% of premium wine sales.  It is estimated Long Island wineries produce 600,000 gallons of wine annually, which translates to 3,000,000 bottles.  Long Island’s wine region is reaching such great popularity levels it is also estimated that 30 wineries will be in operation by the turn of the century.

TURFGRASS

Long Island’s sod and turfgrass industry, which has been strong for at least three generations, is enjoying one of its most successful periods ever.  Originally centered in eastern Nassau County, Long Island’s sod production is now mainly located within 20 miles of Riverhead in Suffolk County.  Today, there are approximately 4,000 acres of sod in production with an annual wholesale value of $18 million.  Harvesting processes have been greatly improved over the last 20 years, allowing growers to plant larger crops and harvest much more efficiently.  With the introduction of the Kentucky bluegrass cultivars, which are very attractive, disease resistant, vigorous and can be produced in just 15 to 18 months, Long Island growers produce crops with quality second to none.

FRUITS AND BERRIES

Long Island’s favorable growing conditions have allowed the fruit and berry industry to produce a wide variety of crops, some that aren’t found anywhere else in New York.  Suffolk County is ranked among the highest producing counties for pumpkins, cantaloupes, raspberries, strawberries, peaches and grapes and with 62 farms growing berries, Suffolk County has the most berry producing farms in New York.  In fact, Suffolk County boast over 60 acres of cantaloupes and 600 acres of pumpkins, making it the top producing county for both crops.

FISHING

With over 400 different species of finfish and 100 species of shellfish harvested each year, Long Island has one of the largest and most diverse fish markets in the world.  Long Island makes up at least 95% of New York’s fishing industry and generates about $55 million in dockside landings producing approximately $250 million for Long Island’s economy.  In recent years Long Island’s fishing industry has seen a shift away from traditional species such as Flounder and Codfish toward less traditional species such as Whiting, Squid and Surf Clams.  Hard Clams, Squid, Lobsters, Whiting and Surf Clams make up the majority of Long Island’s landings but a considerable amount of Tile Fish, Tuna, Flounder and Oysters are caught each year.

NURSERY

Long Island’s Nursery Industry has grown and expanded to cover 6,000-7,000 acres of land producing an estimated crop valued at $57 million annually.  Continued availability of productive soil, fresh water for irrigation and proximity to a major market has helped Suffolk county become one of the leading nursery crop production areas in the United States.  Long Island is home to several large wholesale operations (100-700 plus acres) and some small but very successful nurseries that cover fewer than 15 acres.  These smaller operations often specialize in a certain growing technique or crop species.  Long Island has seen many years of growth in the nursery industry and many shifts in production including the shift to the culture of shade and flowering trees, evergreen and deciduous shrubs, groundcovers, vines and herbaceous perennials that allow Long Island to produce 60% of New York’s total nursery production.

DUCKS

Long Island has always been world famous for its duckling and the reputation for quality product is as strong as it has ever been.  Long Island’s duck industry has traditionally been a family industry with generations of pride at stake.  There are six duck farms on Long Island employing between 150-200 people, including all farm workers, processors, distributors, etc., but those six farms produce 2.5 million ducks and generate $20 million dollars annually, making them six of the most import farms on Long Island.

EQUINE

Long Island is home to a booming equine industry with over 60,000 pleasure horses and more than 12,000 thoroughbreds.  Long Island ranks number one in New York in horses per capital and number three nationwide.  There are 20 horse clubs on Long Island and over 150 registered horse shows every year that attract tourists from the United States and abroad.  Suffolk and Nassau counties rank 7th and 8th, respectively, for equine inventory value in New York and Long Island’s equine industry generates over $1 billion each year for Long Island’s economy.